Elijahturner011 asked a simple question: “Can someone please release the ticket to me?”
“I’ve been trying to get tickets for so long. I’ve been scammed left and right,” they wrote in a subsequent Reddit post on July 20. “I just want one ticket for 70mm… It breaks my heart that I can only get one ticket for one day, and I’ve heard that some people didn’t come to see the movie. So if you’re in doubt or don’t plan on going, please send me your ticket. I’m calling Zeus himself.”
This is just one of dozens of desperate moviegoers’ posts on the subreddit r/NYCmovies. This post is a place dedicated to discussing “Watching Movies in New York City – AMC, Regal, Film Forum, IFC Center, Lincoln Center Movies, New York Film Festival, and More.” And even if everyone hasn’t revealed the name of the movie, it’s clear what the treasure they’re coveting is. That’s your ticket to see “The Odyssey” in Imax 70mm.
While some New York City movie fans are lucky enough to experience Nolan’s films in their preferred format, screenings are selling out at an unprecedented rate. Only wheelchair seating remains for showtimes at AMC Lincoln Square 13. AMC Lincoln Square 13 is one of only 41 Imax 70mm screens worldwide and the only one in New York City.
The sold-out Lincoln Square Imax 70mm screenings include all 2 a.m. screenings that run through August 2nd and all other listed showtimes that run through August 12th. An AMC spokesperson declined to comment when asked if more showtimes are planned.
The home page of r/NYCmovies clearly states the rule: “No ticket scalping.” Nevertheless, many intruders have stopped by this page to try to perform miracles and even have even more sinister plans to deceive movie lovers.
Tessa, one of the page’s modders who has worked to protect readers, told Variety that the community has worked hard to keep scalpers and scammers at bay. But given Reddit’s anonymity, that’s difficult.
“When someone tries to sell a ticket for more than face value (scalping), people immediately report it,” she says. “Whenever we receive reports that someone is doing this, we ban their account. However, in many cases these scalpers delete their account and create a new one once they are discovered, so we do not ban them completely. It can be difficult. Some users will actively offer to pay more than the face value (other users also report), and I’m sure there will be others who are willing to pay more than the face value. Worst of all, some users will pretend to have a ticket that they don’t have at all. Again, we’ll ban you if you report us, but they often just need to create a new account, be careful, check your posting history, get proof of your ticket, and exchange it in person if possible (printing your ticket at a kiosk will give you double If you make an online transaction, most legitimate users with extra tickets will issue a refund and notify your subscription when they drop additional tickets.
Although the Reddit community maintains its own community, there are many other places scalpers can attack. The $33 ticket has bids on eBay starting at $69 for the Lincoln Square screening and up to $1,200 for paired seating on July 22nd.
Perhaps a better idea for New Yorkers? Head upstate to Cinemark Tinseltown Rochester, a 6-hour drive from Midtown. Tickets are available for this week’s Imax 70mm showtimes. After all, it won’t take as long to get there as it took Odysseus to return to Ithaca.
Additional reporting by Matt Minton.
