Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Went on Sale Early, and It’s a Problem

The Odyssey continues to defy all preconceived notions of what is expected of a film leading up to its release, with the latest bit of news about its ticket sales. In an unprecedented move, select theaters will be selling tickets to IMAX 70mm screenings of The Odyssey a full year before the film’s release. Typically, tickets for a motion picture go on sale about two months before it hits theaters, usually after the film’s runtime is finalized.

Since The Odyssey is still in production, much about the movie remains unknown, leading some to feel this is a marketing gimmick that may adversely affect regular moviegoers. In the current digital age of scalping, mass purchasing, and social media hype, it’s easy for The Odyssey to get swept up in the currents of social trends, becoming another ticketed event that falls prey to scalpers. The theatrical experience is one of the few events that hasn’t fallen victim to gouged ticket prices, that is, until The Odyssey.

The Odyssey

Release Date

July 17, 2026

Producers

Emma Thomas

The Theatrical Experience Has Barely Recovered, But ‘The Odyssey’ Ticket Sales Could Compromise It

Universal Pictures

Slowly but surely, the movie-going experience has returned to the forefront of pop culture. Just a few years ago, during the COVID-19 pandemic, movie theaters were closed due to the need for social distancing and the pandemic’s lethal threat, which had endangered the communal experience. While the protocols were eventually lifted, it would take a year or so before going to the theater became a regular occurrence again. Thankfully, there were big event films, such as Spider-Man: No Way Home and Top Gun: Maverick, as well as other blockbusters, that were incredibly successful at the box office and got general audiences excited to return to the movies.

Interestingly, the premium release of Oppenheimer set the standard for what is considered an ‘exclusive’ theatrical experience. Oppenheimer’s simultaneous release with Barbie, combined with the fact that this was Nolan’s first film since departing Warner Bros. over the botched theatrical distribution of Tenet, had many film fans looking forward to the biopic, made in a way that only the acclaimed director could. Although many showtimes were widely available, the IMAX 70mm screenings (limited to 30 theaters worldwide) set a new standard for the movie-going experience.

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The viral ‘Barbenheimer’ trend and the evolving social media landscape post-COVID have made IMAX 70mm screenings highly sought after. This creates a potential problem with The Odyssey’s ticket sales. What has almost always been an easily accessible experience is now suddenly difficult to obtain, with early ticket sales for the movie already sold out at most IMAX 70mm locations. Instead of feeling like an event that everyone could experience together, Nolan’s latest film now has an air of exclusivity, which could be detrimental to movie fans in the long run.

The Ticket Sales for ‘The Odyssey’ Could Set a Dangerous Precedent

Universal Pictures

The aftermath of the ticket sales announcement also speaks for itself, as listings on sites like eBay have already driven up prices for showtimes of a movie that won’t be released for an entire year. While this may have sparked a conversation around the picture, the long-term consequences could lead to other films adopting the same method of releasing tickets, perpetuating a cycle of inflated prices. However, most showtimes will not be in IMAX 70mm, and there will still be many other opportunities to see The Odyssey when general tickets go on sale a few months before the release.

Film fans have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the poor release and announcement of ticket sales. One user on X shared the IMAX official account’s announcement about tickets being available, ridiculing them and saying, “posting it 32 minutes after they went on sale. What an absolutely abysmal roll-out.” Now, if someone wants to attend The Odyssey in 70mm on opening night, they will have to contend with ticket prices that range from $150 to $300. It’s a situation incredibly similar to what one would find at a concert or live production, rather than a theatrical screening of a movie.

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Christopher Nolan, who is no stranger to shooting with IMAX cameras, is making his boldest move yet in using the format.

Christopher Nolan has long advocated for movie theaters and the importance of experiencing his and other filmmakers’ projects on the big screen. However, ticket rollouts like this severely limit everyone’s ability to experience a movie like The Odyssey in the format Nolan intended, while jeopardizing future theatrical releases to a similar fate. Earlier this year, IMAX 70mm screenings of Ryan Coogler’s film Sinners sold out quickly after online hype and extra showtimes, with scalpers taking advantage of the demand. While filmmaker-driven projects being successful is a big win for the industry, generating buzz and hype through very early ticket sales could ultimately discourage general audiences from seeking out premium-format screenings.

Only Time Will Tell if Early Ticket Sales for ‘The Odyssey’ Will Harm the Movie-Going Experience

Universal Pictures

With a year left until the release date and the movie still in production, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey​​, starring Matt Damon, has already positioned itself as one of the most anticipated films of 2026. It’s astonishing to think that financial projections are already being made based on ticket sales for select screenings across the U.S. for a movie that’s still a year away from release. It’s an interesting and unconventional marketing tactic to say the least, and its success is also dependent on how long The Odyssey ends up playing on IMAX screens. Nolan’s deal with Universal for Oppenheimer allowed the film to have a 100-day theatrical window, so it’s safe to assume his next project will have a similar, if not longer, theatrical window.

It will be interesting to see how this impacts future theatrical releases for big event films. Depending on how successful this ends up being for The Odyssey in the long run, there’s potential for early ticket sales to premium-format screenings of other big movies, such as the highly anticipated MCU entry Avengers: Doomsday, well ahead of its release. Overall, while this bold ticketing strategy for The Odyssey may have been exciting for some fans who acquired tickets, it’s a concerning sign for the future of the movie-going experience and an invitation for some to try and exploit it. The Odyssey will release in theaters on July 17, 2026.

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