70mm IMAX Screens Added by Cinemark for Nolan’s The Odyssey

Key Highlights

• Trend: The movie industry is experiencing a shift as more viewers prefer home viewing over theaters.
• IMAX Expansion: Cinemark is enhancing its offerings by installing additional IMAX screens, including 70mm film projection.
• Release Date: The new IMAX 70mm screens are expected to be ready by July 17, 2026, coinciding with the release of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
• Limited Formats: Unique formats like IMAX 70mm and VistaVision are attracting audiences to theaters due to their rarity.

The movie industry has been in a tailspin for years, with many people foregoing the theatrical experience in favor of watching films at home. I get it. Going to the movies can be expensive and, let’s face it, dealing with other people can be annoying (it’s been 10 years and I’m still mad about those teenagers who would not stop giggling all the way through my first viewing of The Witch). But there’s nothing quite like going to a theater and getting lost in a great film for a couple of hours. In addition, large-scale formats are growing in popularity and theater chains are trying to accommodate moviegoers.

What is Cinemark doing to enhance the movie-going experience?

Cinemark is installing more IMAX screens, including ones that support 70mm film projection. This initiative aims to improve the cinematic experience and attract more moviegoers.

Currently, Cinemark is adding such screens to its locations in Woodridge, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago); Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Rochester, New York. It’s also adding four IMAX with Laser systems — a 4K laser offering — to other locations in the US in the coming months. It’s upgrading its other 12 IMAX screens across the Americas with that tech too.

The addition of IMAX screens is part of the broader trend towards enhancing the theatrical experience.

When will the new IMAX 70mm screens be ready?

According to Variety, Cinemark plans to have the new IMAX 70mm film screens set up by July 17, 2026. That’s the release date for Christopher Nolan’s next film, The Odyssey, which is the first theatrical release to be shot entirely in IMAX.

As it stands, only 30 movie theaters on the planet can screen films in IMAX 70mm, which is Nolan’s preferred format.

Why are IMAX 70mm screenings gaining popularity?

IMAX is proving popular with cinemagoers who are looking for a large-format experience that would be impossible at home (at least not without an obscene private screen). Indeed, many IMAX 70mm screenings of The Odyssey sold out a year in advance.

This indicates a strong demand for unique cinematic experiences that provide greater immersion.

Are there other limited formats attracting audiences?

IMAX 70mm isn’t the only format with limited availability that’s drawing audiences to theaters. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another is the first movie in 60 years to be projected in the VistaVision format, but only at a few locations.

The film is currently being screened in IMAX 70mm in some cinemas too, highlighting the continuing interest in exclusive formats.