AceShowbiz - The film Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey sold 28,000 tickets at BFI IMAX within the first 24 hours of sales, Superherohype reports. The surge generated £750,000, smashing the venue’s previous single-day ticket record.

Deadline and Collider confirm that The Odyssey is set for release in IMAX theaters on July 17, 2026. Motionpictures adds that the film’s strong early demand also led to sold-out screenings at BFI IMAX, including four opening weekend showings disappearing in under an hour despite tickets going on sale a full year before release. The advance sales surpassed those of Nolan’s prior hit Oppenheimer and the sci-fi epic Dune: Part Two at the same venue. Additionally, the film set a new high for first-day advance premium large format ticket sales at AMC theaters across the U.S., where heavy traffic caused wait times up to an hour. AMC’s CEO Adam Aron issued an apology but reassured audiences that seats remain widely available.

Christopher Nolan, a London-based filmmaker known for his work as screenwriter and director, has long championed IMAX technology in his productions. He is behind acclaimed titles like Oppenheimer and Interstellar. For The Odyssey, Nolan pushed technical boundaries by shooting entirely on IMAX 70mm film, making it the first feature film to do so. The historical epic stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, alongside Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, and Charlize Theron. The project involved building a full-scale Trojan Horse and filming on location in the Aegadian Islands, embracing challenging ocean shoots to capture the story’s maritime journey authentically.

This remarkable early sales performance signifies widespread anticipation for Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s ancient epic poem. With its unprecedented ticket demand and innovative filmmaking approach, The Odyssey is positioned to be a major cinematic event upon its 2026 release, reflecting both Nolan’s stature as a visionary director and the enduring appeal of the legendary tale.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Superherohype.