Prague's rare 70 mm IMAX draws thousands of Europeans for Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’

Prague has become an unexpected European pilgrimage site for film enthusiasts, thanks to Christopher Nolan's latest movie, "The Odyssey." The city's unique 70 mm IMAX theater, one of only a handful worldwide capable of presenting the film in Nolan's preferred format, is drawing thousands of visitors from across the continent.

Nicolas Walak, who traveled from Poland, described the experience as transformative. "It completely changed my experience about the movie," he said, having previously seen it on a standard screen. "Everything was great. It was a great movie."

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It completely changed my experience about the movie. Everything was great. It was a great movie.

Globally, only 41 70 mm IMAX screens exist, with most located in North America. Within the European Union, Prague's venue, along with one in Montpellier, France, and another in Brussels, Belgium, are the only ones offering this premium viewing experience. The United Kingdom has three additional screens.

The immense demand has prompted the Czech branch of Cinema City to significantly increase daily screenings of "The Odyssey." With four to five showings per day, including late-night slots, most performances are already sold out. By Monday, the theater had welcomed 22,000 film fans from approximately 15 European countries, ranging from Scandinavia to Spain. Nolan himself champions the 70 mm IMAX format, calling it "the best possible experience."

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the best possible experience.