Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey is the first feature film shot entirely on IMAX film cameras, and only 41 cinemas worldwide can project it in true IMAX 70mm—the format it was made for. Six of them are in Europe: three in the UK (two in London, one in Manchester) and three in the EU (Brussels, Prague, and Montpellier). Screenings sell out fast, so if you want the full experience, book ahead.
Here’s the thing worth understanding before you buy a ticket: “IMAX” is a brand, not a single format. The version Nolan actually shot—15-perf film projected at the tall 1.43:1 ratio—plays in only a handful of rooms on the planet, which is precisely why fans are traveling across countries to catch it. This guide covers where those European screens are, how the format differs from ordinary IMAX, and how to plan a trip around a screening.
Why is The Odyssey a landmark in IMAX 70 mm?
The Odyssey is the first narrative feature captured entirely with IMAX film cameras—whereas Nolan’s earlier films mixed IMAX sequences with conventional footage, here every scene was shot on the format’s highest-resolution film. It’s also the widest 70mm IMAX film release of the modern era: 41 equipped cinemas worldwide, up from 30 for Oppenheimer in 2023, after IMAX refurbished and installed extra 15/70 film projectors specifically for this release.
That still makes it a rare thing. True IMAX 70mm film is a specialized, analog operation—heavy film reels, dedicated projectors, and trained projectionists—which is why only a few dozen venues can run it. For many fans, Odysseus’s sea voyage in the full, uncropped frame is reason enough to plan a trip around it.
Where can you watch The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm in Europe?
Six European cinemas are equipped to show The Odyssey in true IMAX 70mm. Here’s the full European list:
| City | Cinema | Country |
|---|---|---|
| London | BFI IMAX | United Kingdom |
| London | The Ronson Theatre, Science Museum | United Kingdom |
| Manchester | Vue Manchester Printworks | United Kingdom |
| Brussels | Kinepolis Brussels | Belgium |
| Prague | Cinema City Flora (IMAX) | Czechia |
| Montpellier | Pathé Odysseum | France |
Within the EU specifically, only Brussels, Prague, and Montpellier have the format—which is why travelers from across the continent are converging on those three cities. Showtimes and any newly added dates change often, so the most reliable place to check availability is the film’s official IMAX showtime finder and each venue’s own booking page.
What’s the difference between IMAX 70mm and other formats?
The format matters more here than with almost any other film, because The Odyssey was shot “open-matte” for the tall 1.43:1 frame—so every other format is a crop, not just a drop in sharpness. Here’s how the options compare:
- True IMAX 70mm (15-perf film, 1.43:1) — the version Nolan shot and intended. The frame is roughly ten times the area of standard 35mm, and the 1.43:1 image shows about 40% more picture, top and bottom, than digital IMAX. This print is the version in the six European cinemas above.
- IMAX with Laser (4K digital, 1.43:1) — the best option if there’s no film screen near you. It has the same tall aspect ratio and full frame and is just as bright, but uses 4K digital rather than the far higher-resolution film print, so it is a little less sharp.
- Digital IMAX (1.90:1) — a brighter, big-screen presentation, but the frame is cropped compared to 1.43:1.
- Standard 70mm (5-perf, 2.20:1) — genuine film and a lovely way to watch, but it is not the IMAX frame. It’s often confused with IMAX 70mm because both say “70mm.”
The practical takeaway: if a listing says “70mm” but the cinema isn’t one of the six above, it’s standard 70mm, not the IMAX version—and “IMAX with Laser” on its own means digital.
Is it worth traveling to see The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm?
If you want the film exactly as it was photographed—the full 1.43:1 frame, maximum resolution, and the sweeping seascapes filling the screen top to bottom—then yes, the true IMAX 70mm version is the one to seek, and with only six screens in Europe, it’s genuinely worth building a short trip around. It’s the closest thing to standing where Nolan’s cameras stood.
That said, you won’t be missing the film if you can’t reach one. Digital IMAX and standard presentations show the same movie with the same performances—just a slightly cropped frame—and IMAX with Laser keeps the full 1.43:1 image at high brightness. Whether the trip is worth it comes down to how much the format matters to you and whether one of the six cities is somewhere you’d enjoy a weekend anyway.
How to plan a trip around an IMAX 70mm screening
Book the film first, then the trip — not the other way around. Demand has been intense, with European screenings selling out weeks ahead, so secure your seat before you lock in flights or a hotel. Once you have a confirmed screening, the logistics are simple: all six European venues sit in easy-to-reach cities, and the cinema is usually a short ride from the airport or the center.
If you’re flying in for a screening, a private airport transfer takes the guesswork out of arriving in an unfamiliar city — useful when your evening is built around a fixed showtime you can’t miss. Welcome Pickups operates in every European city with an IMAX 70mm screen, including London, Manchester, Brussels, Prague, and Montpellier’s nearest airports. And if the film leaves you wanting to see the real thing, our guide to The Odyssey filming locations in Greece maps out the beaches and castles where it was shot.
Frequently asked questions
How many cinemas show The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm? 
There are 41 cinemas worldwide equipped to project The Odyssey in true IMAX 70mm film — 25 in the United States, nine in Canada, three in the UK, and one each in Belgium, Czechia, France and Australia. Six of those are in Europe. It’s the widest 70mm IMAX film release of the modern era, ahead of Oppenheimer‘s 30 venues in 2023, after IMAX added an extra 15/70 film projector for the release. Because the format is a specialist, analog operation, the list is small and screenings sell out quickly, so it’s worth checking the official IMAX showtime finder for current availability.
Where can I watch The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm in the UK?
Three UK cinemas show The Odyssey in true IMAX 70mm: the BFI IMAX and the Ronson Theatre at the Science Museum, both in London, and Vue Manchester Printworks in Manchester. These are the only screens in the country running the film in its original 1.43:1 format, and demand has been high, with London dates selling out well in advance. If those are booked, check each venue’s site for returns and newly added showings, or look at IMAX with Laser screenings elsewhere, which keep the full tall frame in 4K digital.
Which EU cities have IMAX 70mm screenings of The Odyssey?
Within the EU, three cities have cinemas equipped for true IMAX 70mm: Brussels (Kinepolis Brussels), Prague (Cinema City Flora) and Montpellier (Pathé Odysseum). That makes them the only places in the EU to see The Odyssey exactly as Nolan shot it, so travellers from neighbouring countries are heading to these three cities specifically for the format. As always, showtimes shift and seats go fast, so book through the venue’s official page and treat any listing that says “70mm” at a different cinema as standard 70mm rather than the IMAX version.
What is the difference between IMAX 70mm and digital IMAX?
True IMAX 70mm uses 15-perf film projected at a tall 1.43:1 aspect ratio — the format The Odyssey was shot in, showing roughly 40% more image, top and bottom, than digital IMAX. Digital IMAX presents the film at about 1.90:1, which crops the top and bottom of the frame. Because the film was shot open-matte for 1.43:1, every non-1.43:1 format loses picture, not just sharpness. If there’s no film screen near you, IMAX with Laser keeps the full 1.43:1 frame in 4K digital — brighter, though not as sharp as the film print.
Was The Odyssey really shot entirely on IMAX?
Yes. According to IMAX, The Odyssey is the first narrative feature filmed entirely with IMAX film cameras. Nolan has used IMAX for years, but his earlier films combined IMAX sequences with conventional footage; here, every scene was captured on the format’s highest-resolution film, with longtime collaborator Hoyte van Hoytema as cinematographer. That’s why the format you watch it in matters so much — the film was designed for the full 1.43:1 IMAX frame, and only dedicated IMAX 70mm venues can reproduce it exactly as it was photographed.
Do I need to book IMAX 70mm tickets in advance?
In practice, yes. With only 41 equipped cinemas worldwide and six in Europe, IMAX 70mm screenings have been selling out weeks ahead, and some venues released tickets long before the film opened. If you’re travelling for a screening, book the seat before the trip. If your preferred showing is sold out, it’s worth checking the venue directly for early-morning, late-night or weekday screenings, and for returned tickets, which can reappear close to the date.
