Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey releases in 2026: Here’s why fans are booking 70mm IMAX tickets a year in advance

Christopher Nolan’s next film The Odyssey is a full year away from release, but fans have already begun securing their seats. The 70mm IMAX tickets went on sale this week, and theatres in cities like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco have already listed showtimes.

This is despite the fact that the movie is still being filmed. It is rare to see tickets go up this early, but the excitement surrounding this project feels unprecedented, even for a director like Nolan.


Nolan’s name alone is enough to draw massive crowds, but The Odyssey is a different beast altogether. Based on Homer’s epic poem, it is one of the most famous stories ever told, packed with gods, monsters, and legendary trials.

It is not just about watching a film. For many, it is about witnessing a story of myth and adventure, brought to life on the biggest canvas available, through the lens of a director who has never failed to make cinema feel larger than life.


Part of the hype comes from the star-studded cast Nolan has assembled. Matt Damon leads the lineup as Odysseus, while Tom Holland plays his son Telemachus. Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, and Lupita Nyong’o also feature, giving the movie an extra layer of appeal.


Every casting announcement made headlines. Fans of Marvel, DC, and Nolan’s own filmography are seeing their favourite actors come together in one of the most ambitious films of the decade.


Nolan is known for original storytelling, but The Odyssey is his take on an existing myth. Yet, no one expects a straightforward adaptation. The director’s ability to blend complex narratives with stunning visuals ensures that this will not just be a retelling, it will be a reimagining.

His last epic, Oppenheimer, won Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars. The expectation is that The Odyssey will raise the bar even higher, both technically and artistically.


Another major reason for the early ticket sales is the IMAX 70mm experience. Nolan is one of the few filmmakers who still shoots on this format, giving audiences visuals that feel immersive and grand.


Watching The Odyssey in this format will be like entering another world. From ancient Greek landscapes to intense sea voyages and mythical creatures, the scale of the story matches the format perfectly.


No trailer is out yet. The film is still shooting. The listed runtime of 2 hours and 40 minutes is likely just a placeholder. Yet fans are committing now, a full year ahead, purely based on Nolan’s reputation and the film’s potential.

It is a cinematic pilgrimage. A decision to trust that whatever Nolan is creating, it will be worth the wait and the ticket price.


With so many factors, a visionary director, a legendary story, a stunning cast, and an unmatched visual format, The Odyssey is shaping up to be one of the biggest films of 2026. If tickets are already flying off the shelves, imagine the rush.