LOS ANGELES — Universal Pictures released Christopher Nolan's film, The Odyssey, in theaters on July 17, 2026. The movie is based on the epic poem by the ancient Greek writer Homer.
IMAX and premium large format tickets for The Odyssey went on sale on June 4. High traffic caused AMC's ticketing website and app to briefly pause on the day tickets went on sale. Users of the AMC app experienced wait times of up to an hour while attempting to purchase tickets. Fandango's website also experienced long wait times during the ticket launch. By Thursday afternoon, the AMC application remained operational but continued to show wait times of over 30 minutes, according to reports.
Westwood's Village Theatre will screen the film in 70mm for a three-week run starting July 17. These screenings are organized in partnership with Universal Pictures and the Village Directors Circle. American Cinematheque is managing the special screenings as a fundraiser for the theater's renovation. Tickets for the theater showings were made available for purchase at 9 a.m. PT on Thursday.
Filmmaker Jason Reitman leads the Village Directors Circle, which purchased the theater in 2024. "There are many reasons to go to the movies, but few better than a three-week run of ‘The Odyssey’ in 70mm at one of the most beautiful movie palaces in the country. This American Cinematheque series is a preview of what we hope the restored Village Theatre will become," Reitman said.
The theater will close in the fall for one year to undergo renovation, with a scheduled reopening in 2027. The renovated lobby and screen area will be fitted with restored dual 70mm projectors and will seat more than 1,000 patrons. Nolan and producer Emma Thomas provided early financial support when the theater required assistance. Thomas produced The Odyssey alongside Nolan for their company Syncopy. Thomas Hayslip served as an executive producer on the film. Nolan is a two-time Academy Award winner.
Grant Moninger, artistic director for American Cinematheque, said, "Presenting Christopher Nolan’s latest epic in glorious 70mm on the largest traditional theater screen in Los Angeles is an honor for the American Cinematheque." Nolan said, "When I’m writing, I’m visualizing the film as an audience member, as somebody experiencing the story. Then, when I direct the story, I’m trying to take the audience there. So, in the case of ‘The Odyssey,’ I’m trying to put the audience into that horse."
Matt Damon stars as Odysseus in the film, which features a cast including Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Samantha Morton, and Charlize Theron. The film was shot using proprietary IMAX cameras and IMAX film. The production budget for the film is reported to be $250 million, and the film is rated R.