The Big Rush for Nolan's The Odyssey Tickets

Christopher Nolan's upcoming film, "The Odyssey, " has sparked a frenzy among movie fans. Tickets for select IMAX 70mm screenings went on sale a full year before the movie's release, and they sold out in minutes. This unusual move by Universal Studios has left many people talking. The demand for these tickets was so high that some people resorted to buying them in person at their local theaters. Julian Flores, a 24-year-old from Burbank, did just that. He wanted to ensure he got a seat for the opening weekend, exactly as director Christopher Nolan intended the film to be seen. When he bought his ticket a year in advance, the theater employees laughed, thinking he was crazy. But Flores had the last laugh when tickets sold out nationwide within hours. This early ticket sale strategy is a bold move by Universal. Typically, tickets for new movies go on sale a few months before release. But "The Odyssey" is still in production, and its official runtime hasn't even been announced yet. Stars like Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Zendaya were recently spotted filming scenes in Scotland. The high demand for "The Odyssey" tickets highlights Christopher Nolan's status as a box office draw. His films, like the "Dark Knight" trilogy, "Inception, " and "Oppenheimer, " have been huge commercial successes. But it's not just about seeing a Nolan film; it's about experiencing it the way he envisions it. Nolan is a strong advocate for IMAX and filming on film, believing it provides a crisper visual experience and a more immersive setting. The rapid sell-out of IMAX 70mm tickets shows a significant consumer embrace of this format. Just a decade ago, it was only recognized by hardcore cinephiles. Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst at Comscore, calls this move "bold, brilliant, and audacious. " He argues that only someone of Nolan's stature could pull it off. However, this new approach has its downsides. By opening IMAX 70mm showtimes a year out, Universal has fostered a secondary market of ticket scalpers. Ebay auctions for "The Odyssey" admissions were posted within hours of initial sales opening, with some prices going upwards of $200. But whether these scalpers will be successful is another matter. Unlike live events, "The Odyssey" will have a robust supply of showtimes, with screenings likely going on sale closer to the release date. For Nolan's devoted fans, the rush to be among the first to see "The Odyssey" on its director's favorite big screen was worth it. They're even willing to take a chance that their schedules will be free in 365 days. As Sean Collins-Smith, a 37-year-old screenwriter, puts it, "It's unusual to make this kind of commitment a year ahead of time — it could blow up in my face. "