Fans seeking to experience Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" in its intended Imax 70mm format are discovering a significant scarcity of suitable theaters worldwide. The film, which was shot entirely using 1570 cameras, has driven some enthusiasts to travel internationally to find one of the 41 cinemas globally equipped to project in this high-resolution film format.
Despite this overwhelming demand, Imax CEO Richard Gelfond indicated that increasing the number of theaters capable of showing films in Imax 70mm is not a straightforward solution. "We’re sold out in some theaters into the fifth week already," Gelfond told Variety, highlighting the strong audience interest. "The problem is they haven't made new Imax film projectors in about 50 years."
Imax relies on retrofitting and rebuilding existing projectors rather than manufacturing new ones for the 1570 format. Gelfond explained that while Imax produces new digital projectors regularly, utilizing the specific film format for "The Odyssey" requires finding and refurbishing older equipment. "Film projectors using this film, it’s not practical," he stated, implying that the components and manufacturing processes for these older projectors are no longer readily available or economically viable.
While Gelfond expressed a desire for more Imax 70mm screens, he acknowledged that equipping all of Imax's approximately 2,000 theaters with this technology is unfeasible due to the limited availability of the necessary projectors. The challenges extend beyond just the projectors; the large film reels themselves, such as the one for "The Odyssey" which reportedly measures over 17 kilometers and weighs 240 kilograms, require significant handling and maintenance. The shift to digital projection in most cinemas over the past decade has also meant that the infrastructure and expertise for maintaining and operating large-format film projectors have become rarer.