An IMAX projectionist’s photographs reveal the scale of The Odyssey in 70mm, from its giant screen to its roughly 11-mile film print.
Projectionist View Shows the Scale of IMAX 70mm
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is drawing fresh attention after IMAX projectionist Taylor Umphenour shared photographs from inside a projection booth during sold-out screenings. The images reveal the vast screen, packed auditorium and machinery required to present the film on 15/70mm celluloid.
Umphenour described projecting the film as a privilege and said its print stretches for roughly 11 miles. The official runtime is two hours and 52 minutes, while technical reporting places a single 15/70mm print at more than 17 kilometres. The view has given audiences a rare look at the physical scale of a format available in only a limited number of theatres.
IMAX 70mm Format Delivers a Taller Image
IMAX says The Odyssey is the first feature shot entirely with IMAX film cameras. The production used a new Keighley camera and a specially engineered enclosure that made synchronised dialogue recording more practical.
At participating IMAX 70mm venues, the film is projected in a 1.43:1 expanded aspect ratio. The format uses 15 perforations per frame and moves the film horizontally through the projector, creating a taller image that fills a floor-to-ceiling screen. The official website also lists IMAX Laser, Dolby Cinema, conventional 70mm, 35mm and other premium formats.
India Viewers Cannot Access Commercial IMAX 70mm
Indian audiences can watch The Odyssey on digital IMAX screens, but the country does not currently have a commercial cinema showing mainstream films through a 15/70mm IMAX projector. Most Indian IMAX auditoriums use digital projection and commonly present expanded footage in a 1.90:1 ratio rather than the full 1.43:1 frame available at selected film or dual-laser venues.
Gujarat Science City in Ahmedabad has housed large-format IMAX film equipment, but its theatre has been used for educational and science presentations rather than regular commercial releases. Moviegoers should therefore compare available formats instead of assuming every IMAX screening offers the same image.
The Odyssey Brings Homer’s Epic to the Big Screen
Written and directed by Nolan, The Odyssey follows Odysseus, king of Ithaca, on his dangerous journey home after the Trojan War. Matt Damon leads the film, with Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton and Charlize Theron among the cast.
The film opened worldwide on July 17, 2026, and every frame was captured with IMAX film cameras. The projectionist’s photographs reinforce the film’s central promise: viewers with access to a genuine IMAX 70mm venue can see it in its largest intended theatrical presentation.
