Christopher Nolan’s latest epic, The Odyssey, has sparked a global quest for the scarce IMAX 70mm venues capable of projecting the film in its intended format. The 15‑70 mm (1570) film stock, used for the first time ever across an entire feature, promises unmatched visual fidelity, prompting fans to travel across borders for a true cinematic experience.

History and Technical Hurdles of IMIMAX 70mm

Since the 1990s, IMAX 70mm has been celebrated for its gigantic screens and extraordinary resolution. Nolan, a long‑time champion of the format, helped refine noisy, heavy cameras to capture clean dialogue, yet the film had to be re‑loaded every three minutes, underscoring the logistical challenges that only a handful of theaters can manage.

CEO Richard Gelfond’s Perspective

In a recent interview with Variety, IMAX chief executive Richard Gelfond explained why the company cannot simply produce more 1570 projectors. “We build new digital projectors every day, but film projectors using this film are not practical. We have to retrofit and rebuild the existing ones, which is what we did for The Odyssey,” he said, noting that the last new IMAX film projector was built about 50 years ago.

Economic and Commercial Realities

Operating a 1570 system is far more expensive than modern digital projection. Nolan’s film alone requires a reel exceeding 17 km and weighing roughly 240 kg, demanding meticulous handling and higher maintenance costs. Because such large‑format films are rare, cinema owners cannot justify the capital outlay for a technology that may see limited repeat use.

Looking Ahead

Despite sold‑out shows extending into the fifth week, Gelfond acknowledges that demand exists but “there’s just not that many” projectors available. Unless more filmmakers adopt the 1570 format, the technology risks becoming a niche curiosity, pushing the industry toward alternative high‑resolution solutions while preserving the artistic ambition that drives movies like The Odyssey.