What is the best way to watch The Odyssey? A movie theater

Image: Universal Pictures

While I am eager to see The Odyssey in that glorious 70mm IMAX format, that day feels a long way off. Here in London, despite having access to two theaters equipped with the necessary projectors, every single showtime is booked solid through September. The film has become a cultural phenomenon, and while I hold out hope for additional screenings, the race to secure tickets feels increasingly daunting.

Consequently, I opted for a standard digital screening at my neighborhood cinema. My local theater is a gem—as a member, I enjoy perks like a complimentary guest pass on Mondays, which I put to good use. While the screens aren’t gargantuan, they are perfectly proportioned, offering pristine projection and top-tier sound. Plus, the seats are luxuriously spacious with ample legroom—a vital detail when settling in for a three-hour odyssey—and it’s only a ten-minute commute from my front door.

Image: Universal Pictures

I suppose I could have chased one of the many other premium formats currently available. Letterboxd has even introduced a digital “punch card” to track which versions of the film you’ve managed to catch—ranging from digital IMAX and Dolby Vision to 35mm and generic Premium Large Formats. After browsing the official website, where cast members champion various technical specs, I found myself more bewildered than excited. I am certainly not immune to the charms of technical minutiae, but the sheer proliferation of “definitive” ways to view the film felt unnecessarily convoluted.

None of those alternatives offered the convenience of my local theater, let alone the bonus of a free friend’s ticket and a comfy chair.

So, I watched the standard version. While some online film purists lament the “inferior” nature of a standard 2.39:1 digital projection, I found the experience breathtaking. Yes, it lacks the overwhelming vertical grandeur of IMAX, and keen observers might notice minor cropping, but the raw sharpness and Hoyte van Hoytema’s exquisite color grading shine through beautifully. Nolan has meticulously composed these shots to maintain their integrity across various formats, a masterclass in visual storytelling reminiscent of the classic days of wide-screen masking.

Premium formats are a clever tool for event-based cinema—a strategy that has clearly paid dividends for recent hits. It bolsters film culture and pad the pockets of exhibitors and studios alike. However, we shouldn’t overlook the fact that modern projection and sound standards, even at your local multiplex, are light-years ahead of where we stood three decades ago.

My viewing of The Odyssey was, in every practical sense, a stellar experience. Yet, the inability to “check off” a premium badge on a social media app feels like a cynical push toward price-gouging and repeat consumption. Cinema should be an accessible, democratic art form. When marketing begins to lean into gatekeeping and manufactured anxiety, it loses some of its fundamental charm.

Source: Polygon