Odyssey Success Spurs Full Imax Shoots Beyond Nolan
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- Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" was revealed in May 2025 as the first feature shot entirely with Imax 70mm cameras and has reached nearly $300 million domestically, with Imax 70mm screenings sold out for weeks in advance
- "The Odyssey" cost $250 million to produce, burning through roughly two million feet of film stock (~$1.50/foot, or ~$3 million in stock alone) at $50,000 per single print
- Denis Villeneuve shot much of "Dune: Part Three" on Imax 70mm film for the first time, saying "I hope I will have the chance to do it again," with the upcoming James Bond film as a possible next Imax canvas
- Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" used 15-perf Imax film (1.43:1 ratio) alongside Ultra Panavision 70, and Marvel's Comic-Con panel confirmed "Black Panther 3" will be the first Marvel film to partially shoot in large-format 70mm
- Imax says it has "enough cameras and enough blimps" to support any filmmaker who wants to shoot entirely on the format and will create film prints in partnership with Kodak and Fotokem on a production-by-production basis
- "Project Hail Mary" was shot using Imax-certified digital cameras but received Imax film prints, illustrating the hybrid options available beyond a full 70mm production
Why it matters: The $250M production cost and ~$3M in raw film stock behind "The Odyssey" set a steep resource bar, but Imax's confirmation that it can equip other productions — combined with Villeneuve's and Coogler's public interest — means a second all-IMAX feature is now a question of studio budget rather than camera availability. Premium-format exhibitors and the filmmakers who want a true Imax canvas are the clearest beneficiaries.
