Nolan's 'The Odyssey' draws strong interest in Shenzhen

Christopher Nolan’s latest epic “The Odyssey” has drawn strong interest from moviegoers in Shenzhen since its release, with screenings available at cinemas across the city from Aug. 14.

A poster of the film. File photo

Special-format screenings, including IMAX and CINITY, have proved particularly popular, reflecting local audiences’ growing enthusiasm for immersive big-screen experiences.

The film opened strongly nationwide, earning 90 million yuan (US$13.2 million) in IMAX box office during its opening weekend, accounting for 45 percent of its total box office in China despite playing on less than 1 percent of the country’s screens. Including previews, its IMAX box office in China reached 132.3 million yuan, or 53 percent of the film’s nationwide total.

Directed by Nolan and starring Matt Damon, “The Odyssey” brings Homer’s ancient Greek epic to the big screen in an ambitious cinematic adaptation. The story follows Odysseus on his long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War, combining mythology, adventure and large-scale action with Nolan’s signature visual style.

The film has also attracted attention for its format and production technology. “The Odyssey” is the first feature film shot entirely with IMAX film cameras. Nolan and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema worked with IMAX to develop a next-generation IMAX film camera, known as The Keighley, as well as a new sound blimp. About 2.1 million feet of IMAX film was used during production.

The strong performance in China has also boosted IMAX’s summer box office. By the middle of August, IMAX China had recorded 263 million yuan in box office for the month, already making August its highest-grossing August on record.

The film also set new IMAX records in China during preview screenings, generating 42.3 million yuan in box office with an average occupancy rate of 94 percent. Participating IMAX GT venues reached full occupancy, while most other IMAX screenings were also close to capacity.

With its combination of epic storytelling, large-scale visuals and specially developed film technology, “The Odyssey” is continuing its theatrical run on premium large-format screens, offering audiences an experience designed for the big screen.