Universal Pictures has confirmed that a six-minute prologue for The Odyssey will be released exclusively in IMAX theaters beginning December 12th. This extended preview will only be available for one week and is attached solely to the special IMAX re-releases of Ryan Coogler’s Sinners and Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another. This strategy strictly limits the initial audience to those supporting the premium large format, rewarding fans who prioritize the theatrical experience. Following this exclusive window, the general marketing campaign will kick into high gear on December 19, when the first official trailer for The Odyssey will begin playing before screenings of James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash.

It Makes Sense for The Odyssey to Hype IMAX Screenings

Christopher Nolan has long been the industry’s loudest champion of the IMAX format, but The Odyssey represents a massive leap forward even for him. For starters, the project is the first feature film to be shot entirely on IMAX 70mm cameras, a technical feat that required the development of new camera bodies. This ambitious production leans heavily into the lessons learned from Oppenheimer. That historical biopic proved that audiences are willing to seek out premium formats, with IMAX screens generating over $190 million of its total revenue. That figure accounted for a staggering 20% of the film’s nearly $1 billion global gross, a ratio that is practically unheard of for a three-hour drama. Nolan is doubling down on the belief that the only way to sustain the theatrical business is to offer an experience that cannot be replicated at home, turning the format itself into a primary draw for the general public.