Yesterday, Premium Large Format (PLF) tickets went on sale for Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” and Nolan fans showed up in full force to secure the best seats.
“The Odyssey” delivered the strongest opening-day ticket presale performance for a major studio release at AMC since 2022. Even more impressive, only PLF screenings were available during the initial rollout, including IMAX showings, yet the film still outpaced the entire first-day presale totals of any major theatrical release at AMC since 2022.
The rush for tickets was so intense that AMC’s website reportedly had fans facing virtual wait times of more than an hour before gaining access. The demand underscores the extraordinary level of anticipation that a new Christopher Nolan film can generate.
That said, it’s worth tempering some of the hype surrounding these record-setting presales. Other exhibitors, including Regal and Cinemark, reportedly avoided similar technical issues during the launch, with many screenings still showing available seats. This suggests AMC may have absorbed the majority of the traffic generated by eager moviegoers.
Meanwhile, EmpireCity Box Office has argued that the early data is largely meaningless until standard-format tickets go on sale. According to that view, the PLF-only presale was designed primarily to generate buzz and capitalize on fan enthusiasm.
Still, Nolan fans are a passionate bunch, and anticipation for “The Odyssey” has been building for months. Last year, Universal took the unusual step of putting 70mm and 70mm IMAX tickets on sale a full year ahead of the film’s release, with many of those screenings selling out quickly.
Based on the legendary Greek epic, “The Odyssey” features a star-studded ensemble that includes Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Charlize Theron, and Robert Pattinson. The film marks Nolan’s first feature since 2023’s “Oppenheimer,” which opened to $82 million domestically. Current box office projections from Global Box Office place “The Odyssey” in the $65-$80M opening weekend range.
“The Odyssey” hits theaters July 17.
Malkovich, a two-time Oscar nominee, fought back tears while the audience cheered him, which has become a first-stop tradition to kick-start an Oscar campaign — tears need to be shed!