History is soon to be made as The Odyssey, a film adaptation of the epic ancient Greek poem slated to release in 2026, is set to become the first movie to be entirely shot using IMAX cameras while shooting on film.
In recent years, the popularity of IMAX films has increased, in particular among Genration Z.
As MotivatalMorgan states, IMAX movies in particular have been established, "as a go-to destination for Gen Z audiences, who value immersive, high-quality entertainment experiences.”
Unlike regular movie theaters, IMAX screenings are a unique experience themselves.
Massive screens and immersive visual and audio experiences make films shown in IMAX theaters stand out from the rest. It defines, "cinematic escapism."
There has also been an increase in films having even at least a few scenes shot, "with IMAX cameras or 'filmed for IMAX' using IMAX-approved cameras." Just this year, Sinners, Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and Formula One have all had scenes shot using IMAX cameras.
With that type of knowledge, it’s especially exciting to know that acclaimed director Christopher Nolan is bringing his next big blockbuster to the big screen in a way that will particularly appeal to IMAX fans.
The Odyssey, the latest film that Christopher Nolan is directing, will be the first movie to be shot entirely with IMAX cameras on film.
It is important to note that this is not the first film to entirely use Imax hardware. That would be an honor earned by 2018's Avengers: Infinity War, as clarified by The Verge.
However, The Odyssey makes history in that it's the first movie to be shot entirely in Imax while, "shooting on film, rather than digital."
The film is currently in production, with Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Anne Hathaway among the cast.
This news broke at the Cannes Film Festival on May 15 when the CEO of IMAX, Rich Gelfond, made the announcement.
"During a press lunch as part of the Cannes Film Festival," Gelfond explained that, "Chris called me up and said, ‘If you can figure out how to solve the problems, I will make [Odyssey] 100 percent in IMAX.’ And that’s what we’re doing."
These problems included issues with, "scanning and processing the cameras’ 70 mm film stock."
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gelfond explained that, "new film scanning and processing techniques will allow a faster turnaround for dailies."
Nolan has long been associated with bringing stories to life through the lens of an IMAX camera. He made history in 2008 when it became, “the first Hollywood movie to utilize IMAX cameras to shoot select action scenes,” with The Dark Knight.
He’s also no stranger to making history with the film-making process in general. As years passed on and he made more critically acclaimed films, Nolan used IMAX progressively in his scenes.
In 2023, the Academy Award winning film for Best Picture, Oppenheimer, made history in the fact that it became the, “first movie to use IMAX black-and-white 65 mm film.”
This is added to the fact that the cinematography of Nolan films are among the most breath taking, and as a result, a frequent Nolan collaborator is returning to work on The Odyssey.
Hoyte van Hoytema is a cinematographer who has worked with Nolan on some of his other films, such as Interstellar, Dunkirk, Tenet, and Oppenheimer.
Filming Oppenheimer on IMAX 65mm black-and-white helped award Hoytema an Academy Award for best cinematography.
He is set to do the cinematography on The Odyssey.
With this type of background knowledge in filming a movie with IMAX cameras, it makes perfect sense that the duo of Nolan and Hoytema will reunite to film not only scenes or only using digital IMAX cameras, but an entire production using IMAX cameras on IMAX film.
This focus on the actual cameras came as a direct result of Oppenheimer's success in IMAX, earning over $190 million, 20% of the film's gross.
This looks to change the way films may be made in the future. While these new film cameras are only reserved for Nolan, after The Odyssey finishes filming, "IMAX will begin renting them out to other directors," as explained by The Hollywood Reporter.
As the LA Times reported in 2024, "films shown on IMAX are reaping bigger box office numbers, helped in part by higher ticket prices, and that’s a powerful allure for studios and filmmakers."
The report adds that IMAX as a company, "hopes its brand awareness eventually looms so large that viewers come to its screens first."
The story on which the film will be adapted from, Homer’s The Odyseey, is an epic poem from ancient Greek literature, and is not only powerful in story but in length.
It will be a treat to see Nolan, known for his strong and powerful storytelling in his films, bring The Odyssey to the big screen and in an epic way by using only IMAX cameras while shooting on film.
Universal Studios will release the picture. The distribution chief of Universal Studios, Jim Orr, believes that The Odyssey will be, “a visionary, once-in-a-generation cinematic masterpiece that Homer himself would quite likely be proud of.
The Odyssey is currently expected to be released in theaters on July 27, 2026.