A full year ahead of its scheduled release, pre-sales have already begun at Prague’s IMAX cinema for The Odyssey, the next film from director Christopher Nolan. Marketed as his most ambitious work to date, the film was shot entirely on 70mm IMAX film and promises a cinematic experience unlike anything currently on screens.
This early pre-sale marks an unprecedented move for the Czech cinema market and signals the enduring popularity of Nolan’s work, particularly following the success of Oppenheimer in 2023. That film also screened at Prague’s IMAX in its original 70mm format—something no other cinema in the European Union offered—drawing record crowds from across the continent and and multiple revival screenings months after its release.
A technical and cinematic milestone
The Odyssey continues Nolan’s dedication to analog filmmaking, using large-format 70mm IMAX film that delivers a resolution up to ten times sharper than standard 35mm prints. Beyond image clarity, the film stock offers superior color depth and dynamic range, aspects that remain difficult to replicate with digital projection.
Prague’s IMAX, located in the Flora shopping center and operated by Cinema City, is uniquely equipped to handle this format. It was the only EU cinema to project Oppenheimer in 70mm IMAX and is preparing for similar demand in 2026.
“Christopher Nolan pushes the boundaries of cinematic storytelling with every project, and The Odyssey will be no exception—especially in authentic 70mm IMAX,” said Lenka Al-Rihani, marketing manager at Cinema City. “We’re thrilled to offer audiences the chance to secure this unique experience so far in advance.”
This early launch of pre-sales reflects the confidence of exhibitors in the film’s potential appeal. It also underlines a growing audience for analog and large-format projection, driven in part by Nolan’s vocal advocacy for preserving traditional film methods in an increasingly digital age.
A mythic journey with a star-studded cast
Based on Homer’s Odyssey, the film chronicles King Odysseus’s ten-year journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. Along the way, he encounters mythical creatures, navigates deadly challenges, and contends with divine forces. Meanwhile, his wife Penelope and son Telemachus must fend off their own struggles as they await his return.
The ensemble cast includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, Barry Keoghan, and Lupita Nyong’o. While plot specifics remain under wraps, the story is expected to blend epic scale with Nolan’s signature narrative complexity and philosophical undertones.
Nolan’s The Odyssey is scheduled to premiere in summer 2026. The Prague IMAX’s move to open pre-sales a full year in advance not only highlights the film’s anticipated draw, but also positions the Czech capital as a regional hub for large-format film exhibition.
For now, European fans eager to secure a seat for one of the most talked-about releases of 2026 can do so exclusively through Prague’s 70mm-equipped IMAX theatre—a rare opportunity to experience Nolan’s work as he intended.
Just hours after announcing the pre-sale, tickets for the opening night screening on July 16, 2026, were already sold out. Keep an eye out as Cinema City Flora adds additional screenings.
