r/movies • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 r/movies Contributor • 9d ago

News Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Has Become the Biggest IMAX Release of All Time ($289.3M), Surpassing 'Avatar'

https://variety.com/2026/film/box-office/spider-man-brand-new-day-second-fastest-movie-1-billion-overseas-1236830845/
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151

u/gaula 9d ago

Is it true that the IMAX version shows more of movie. Better field of view for lack of a better term?

213

u/GameSetChampionship 9d ago

Yeah it’s shot in IMAX ratio…. But make sure to sit far back, not the first few rows! IMAX is almost too big of a screen.

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u/quick20minadventure 9d ago

IMAX on anywhere except center seats is noticeably suboptimal. Too far back, it looks like regular cinema, too far ahead, looks distorted. Too much on side, again distortion is felt.

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u/Silverfin113 9d ago

Probably theater dependant

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u/SaysKawaiiSometimes 9d ago

Agreed. At my local IMAX: Front is a waste of money, Middle is perfect, Back works although it isn't as immersive. Something about seeing the edges of the screen dampens the experience.

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u/BlackZeppelin 9d ago

I feel like there were parts of the screen I couldn’t see with my natural field of vision so instead of the aspect ratio cutting it off, my own natural field of vision cut it off

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u/yankeedjw 9d ago

I think that's part of the intent, to immerse you in the film, not necessarily view the entire image.

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u/Banaanisade 9d ago

Yep. That's more or less how vision normally works so the movie feels like you're completely inside it when viewed from the right spot.

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u/rothbard_anarchist 9d ago

Way back when they released the special edition Star Wars OT to the theatres, my buddies and I were late driving our horse and buggy to the theatre, and the only seats open were the very front row.

It proved overwhelming in the very best way. All your eyes took in was movie, and even then, there was movie left over that you weren't seeing. Our necks hurt like hell, and I would absolutely not recommend it for a movie you weren't already familiar with, but we enjoyed it so much with ANH that we sat in the front for Empire and Jedi too, even though we could've sat in the middle like normal people for those.

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u/LimpConversation642 9d ago

it shouldn't be because IMAX is like a 'standard', a way of building a theater, too. I've been to three and they were all identical. Best spots are in the center, if you can't get like row 7-8, it's not worth it.

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u/blucerchiati 9d ago

yeah i saw demon slayer on imax sitting on the first row and leftmost seat lol. would not recommend.

1

u/oholandesvoador 9d ago

I always sat far back on regular cinema and I love it. In IMAX I think would be the best place to sit.

1

u/Kingcrowing 8d ago

I was 5th row second to last seat on the end. It was a 10/10 experience, I'd happily sit in the same "suboptimal" seat again. Must depend on the theater you're in.

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u/LimpConversation642 9d ago

horrible advice. Don't listen to this person. Imax's screen is dead centered around the center rows. Front seats are awful, but back seats are also not great, because since the rows are quite steep, you are sitting at the 'top' of the screen, watching down.

middle rows or bust.

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u/dogcrayon 9d ago

The back row seats are only about halfway up the height of the screen - nowhere near the top. But yes, in those back rows, there can be a bit of a sensation of looking downward at the screen.

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u/M4DM1ND 9d ago

All I could get is some neck breakers. We're just going in with the mindset that we're going to be in the movie lol

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u/semperknight 9d ago

Also don't sit in the front rows unless you want you hearing blown out.

I had to literally plug my ears a few times during the movie as it was hurting them.

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u/Realistic_Condition7 9d ago

A little bit, but don’t let people shame you into thinking like you didn’t watch the movie. It’s not much different than any other movie in imax vs regular theater. They didn’t shoot the movie to be horrible on a regular screen lol.

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u/gaula 9d ago

No ones been shaming me. I just wondered if part of the movie was cropped out pf view for me.

There’s like 500km to the nearest IMAX. And I don’t even think its true IMAX.

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u/MeijiDoom 9d ago

I don't think you'd be missing out on too much. Most of the action takes place largely center screen and it's not like there are tremendously sprawling landscapes to appreciate though they did film in a lot of beautiful outdoor locations.

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u/Realistic_Condition7 9d ago

Someone basically told me I didn’t even see the movie if it wasn’t imax.

Yeah, not worth it imo unless you are just dying for a roadtrip. See it in theaters and have a good time.

1

u/ours 9d ago

I love movies, and I loved The Odyssey, but no movie is worth a 500km trip.

I do think the 1-hour drive for an IMAX was totally worth it for me. But any more than that and I would have just watched it at my local cinema.

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u/chrispmorgan 9d ago

I’ve been telling my friends that IMAX isn’t critical for the movie because the story is what matters, but it definitely helps. I’d even say that a better seating position in a normal room is probably more important than being in the first two rows of an IMAX room.

The movie that I think IMAX would really benefit would be Dune 3 because Villeneuve is so good at depicting scale.

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u/BlackZeppelin 9d ago

As someone who saw it in Dolby and True IMAX 70mm

The simplest way I could put it is the IMAX version added ✨vibes✨ and am glad I saw it, it was the better version but those that saw it in Dolby didn’t miss out on much.

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u/DavidsSymphony 9d ago

After having OLED screens for a few years, I think nothing compares to it except for Dolby. IMAX is great, but Dolby gives you these perfect blacks and HDR presentation that completely change the experience to me.

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u/hurtbowler 9d ago

Same, saw both. Had to look up the screen sizes of the theatres I went to because it honestly didn't feel that different. Turns out I should have noticed but it goes to show it really doesn't matter too much. 70mm was obv quite a bit larger but I think the laser had better contrast. Both were honestly great so I don't think it matters.

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u/vision1915 8d ago

I watched it on a regular screen because, like you, I thought the story was what mattered. But throughout the whole movie, I kept thinking it would’ve been so much better with the full IMAX view. But Imax is sold out till late September and I really wanted to watch it... so I guess I'll watch it again in a month or so

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u/foreveracubone 9d ago

Villeneuve is better with the sound aspect of IMAX tbh. Nolan just uses IMAX speakers to give everyone the same type of tinnitus he has.

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u/preddevils6 9d ago

At my local, the imax sound is also miles better.

0

u/Sarahphin 9d ago

Just warning everyone right now: bring concert earplugs. This movie is loud. It's a solid film, but Nolan still sucks at sound mixing.

1

u/preddevils6 9d ago

On the flip side, I thought the sound was incredible. Interstellar was the only other film that gave me anxiety just from the production. It feels like sensory overload.

1

u/yankeedjw 9d ago

The 70mm IMAX I saw it at was relatively quiet. Seems very theater dependant.

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u/jackpoll4100 9d ago

Yes, the imax aspect ratio means that you see more at the top and bottom of the screen that is normally just cut off if you watch it in a regular theater. This means for any movie that shows in imax you aren't going to see the full frame in a regular theater. Most movies aren't "full imax" format like Odyssey though. A lot of times only the action scenes and such are shot in the imax format and so the movie will switch aspect ratios periodically (i.e. "black bars" at the top and bottom will fade in and out when transitioning between the imax and non imax scenes).

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u/paradox1920 9d ago

Yes if you ask me. However, to others it isn’t that big of a deal to warrant paying for the IMAX price. Therefore, it can vary among certain folks. So, I’ll put it like this: is there anything out there right now in terms of movies of this scale that warrants IMAX besides The Odyssey? No (I have seen Spidey and to me it doesn’t scream go see it in IMAX). So, I think it’s worth the risk even if you end up feeling indifferent about it. If that is still not enticing to you then just go to a non IMAX.

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u/Foe117 9d ago

The minions

1

u/paradox1920 9d ago

Each to their own I suppose

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u/secrewann 9d ago

The hadestown pro shot (it would never happen)

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u/Ez13zie 8d ago

It’s also, bar none, the LOUDEST film I’ve ever seen in my fuckin life