Moviegoers are scrambling to secure seats for The Odyssey, and their mad dash to see what director Christopher Nolan has created has hit an unexpected hurdle.
Demand for premium large-format screenings of Imax and other adventure blockbusters is so high that AMC’s ticketing app appears to have been temporarily suspended. Sales have resumed, but the wait time is about an hour. On social media, users complained that it was difficult to book tickets in this format. Director Nolan is a huge supporter of Imax and shot The Odyssey using the company’s own cameras, so it’s clear how he wants his new movie to look. IMAX and PLF screenings went on sale Thursday, and the rush to buy seats began. AMC isn’t alone. Users also seem to be experiencing long wait times on Fandango’s website.
Last summer, weekend screenings of “The Odyssey” in Imax 70mm began and quickly sold out. It’s almost unheard of for a movie to start offering seats this early, but thanks to Nolan’s conversion, fans crossed state lines to see his previous film, “Oppenheimer,” in that format.
“Odyssey” will be released in theaters on July 17th. The film cost $250 million to make and stars an A-list cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson. Universal will release the film, which is expected to be one of this summer’s biggest hits. The film is a retelling of Homer’s poem about Odysseus’ long journey home. It’s a quest as daunting as finding tickets to an opening day 70mm Imax screening of The Odyssey.
But there’s a reason moviegoers trust Nolan. In an age where movie theaters are filled with superhero sequels and franchises, Nolan’s immersive films offer something unique.
“When I’m writing, I visualize the movie as an audience member, as someone experiencing the story,” Nolan told 60 Minutes in a recent interview. “And when I direct a story, I’m trying to take the audience there. So with ‘The Odyssey,’ I’m trying to put them on that horse. I’m trying to put them on the deck of Odysseus’ ship.”
It’s not unheard of for AMC’s website to crash due to ticketing demands. A similar thing happened with Taylor Swift’s concert film Ellas Tour, which was released in 2023, and a similar thing happened with Taylor Swift’s film Showgirls in 2025. AMC is the world’s largest exhibition chain and has the most Imax screens in the United States.
An AMC spokesperson declined to comment. Spokespeople for Universal and Fandango did not respond to requests for comment.
