Christopher Nolan fans delay pregnancies, fly cross-country for 'The Odyssey' IMAX 70mm experience

Fans go to extremes as demand for the film's premium screenings continues to grow ahead of its release on Friday

Christopher Nolan fans are travelling across the United States and making significant personal commitments to experience The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm, as demand for the film's premium screenings continues to grow ahead of its release.

 The Odyssey is the first feature film to be shot entirely with IMAX cameras, prompting strong demand for the limited number of cinemas capable of projecting the 70mm format.

Tickets for many screenings sold out after Universal released them a year in advance, with additional ticket releases also attracting long online queues and website crashes.

Amber Connaghan, a 29-year-old tech editor from California, told Variety she even postponed plans to have a second child to ensure she could attend the opening-day screening.

“One of my friends got pregnant last year, and she’s like, ‘OK, it’s time for you to have your second child,’” Connaghan said. “I was like, ‘No, I have to wait a few months. Otherwise, it’s going to be too close to ‘The Odyssey.’”

Other fans are travelling hundreds or even thousands of kilometres to secure the experience.

Pittsburgh resident Tim McHugh is flying to Los Angeles to watch the film at Universal CityWalk, while others have purchased multiple tickets or opted for overnight screenings after standard showings sold out.

“This is the biggest movie of the year from the biggest director of our lifetime,” Hogan Shay told Variety. “We grew up with Nolan’s work. He’s a household name for my generation like Spielberg or Scorsese were for my parents.”

Some fans have gone even further, with New York attorney Simon James purchasing 18 tickets for IMAX 70mm screenings during the film's first three weeks.

“Chris Nolan is my favorite director, and I really believe him when he says that the best way to see a Chris Nolan film is in an IMAX theater,” James said. “The experience of his films is exponentially elevated by viewing it in the right conditions.”

Directed by Christopher Nolan, The Odyssey is expected to be one of the year's biggest cinema releases, with strong advance ticket sales reflecting sustained interest in both the filmmaker and the premium large-format viewing experience.

The film is set to release in cinemas globally on July 17.