Los Angeles: Renowned filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey has made cinema history with its tickets selling out a year ahead of its scheduled release, setting what may be the longest pre-sale record in cinematic history.
Slated for release on July 17, 2026, The Odyssey is based on Homer’s legendary Greek epic. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, the hero who embarks on a perilous journey home following the Trojan War.
Described as Nolan’s most ambitious project to date, the film is currently in production and is being shot in the 1570 format—considered the world’s largest and highest-resolution film format, promising a visually immersive experience.
'The Odyssey' is being hailed as Christopher Nolan's biggest project to date, with filming still underway. The movie is being shot in the 15/70mm format, considered the world's largest and highest-resolution film format.
On Thursday, IMAX began pre-selling tickets for the film in 26 select cinemas worldwide — venues equipped to showcase films in the exclusive 15/70mm format. These limited shows are scheduled to run from July 16 to 19, 2026. Due to the film's anticipated long runtime, each cinema will host only one show per day.
The ticket sales were extraordinary. IMAX Melbourne alone sold 1,800 tickets overnight, while most tickets in the United States were snapped up within an hour. Iconic venues like London's BFI IMAX and the Science Museum IMAX also saw their tickets sell out instantly. This intense demand has led to a thriving online black market, where tickets are reportedly being resold for $300 to $400 USD.
"The public's enthusiasm for a Christopher Nolan film, especially one on this epic scale, is always immense, but this level of pre-sale is truly remarkable," commented an industry insider. "It speaks volumes about the anticipation for 'The Odyssey' and the unique cinematic experience of the 15/70mm format."
This record-breaking pre-sale highlights Nolan's continued ability to draw massive audiences, reaffirming his status as a cinematic visionary capable of generating immense excitement for his projects well in advance of their release.
