Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Drops 6-Minute Prologue In 70mm IMAX Ahead Of Epic 2026 Release

Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film The Odyssey is beginning its theatrical rollout much earlier than expected. Starting December 12, audiences will be treated to a nearly six-minute prologue of the film, exclusively attached to 70mm IMAX screenings of Sinners and One Battle After Another, both of which are returning to theaters for limited re-releases.

The following weekend, beginning December 19, a shorter full-length trailer of The Odyssey will be shown ahead of screenings of Avatar: Fire and Ash. This early preview strategy reflects the massive buzz around Nolan’s next project and the studio’s confidence in its box office potential.

The prologue is screening specifically in 70mm IMAX because the format is Nolan’s longtime preferred

choice — and this time, the choice is historic. The Odyssey marks the first feature film ever shot entirely using IMAX cameras, making the cinematic experience even more immersive for viewers.

Nolan’s previous film, Oppenheimer, was a major IMAX success, with the premium format accounting for nearly 20% of the film’s global box office earnings. At the time, film enthusiasts traveled across state lines just to experience the film in 70mm IMAX, with many screenings selling out for weeks.

This is not the first time fans have seen footage from The Odyssey. A brief one-minute teaser was released during the summer, shown ahead of Jurassic World Rebirth and Superman screenings, building excitement more than a year before the film’s official release on July 17, 2026.

Based on Homer’s legendary Greek epic, The Odyssey stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, and follows his dangerous and emotional journey home after the Trojan War. Tom Holland plays his son Telemachus, while the film also features an ensemble cast including Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron and Jon Bernthal.

In an unprecedented move, Universal has already placed tickets on sale for select 70mm IMAX screenings a full year before the film’s release. These early-access tickets are limited to premium large-format theaters, while standard tickets will be released closer to the film’s theatrical debut.