Reporting by Miguel Legoas, Savannah Morning News
Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is sure to be another hit movie, and it’s already in theaters everywhere. But there are a limited number of theaters showing the best way to watch “The Odyssey,” in IMAX. Georgia is home to one of those select few.
What is 70mm IMAX?
In the simplest terms, 70mm IMAX is the way to see “The Odyssey” both in the highest resolution and on the largest screen possible.
A standard film strip is 35mm, so 70mm film is physically bigger, making for a higher resolution picture. Showing the movie in IMAX allows for an expanded image. So by seeing “The Odyssey” in 70mm, you’re seeing more of the frame than you would in a normal theater, and the image itself also looks better.
What’s special about seeing ‘The Odyssey’ in 70mm IMAX?
Despite the quality they produce, IMAX cameras are famously loud, bulky, and expensive. It’s why they are typically only used to shoot small sequences of major action scenes. “The Odyssey” is the first narrative film to be shot entirely using IMAX cameras.
Nolan achieved this with two tools: A new IMAX camera called the Keighley that’s smaller and quieter than previous models, and a casing called a “blimp” that further reduces the noise. This allowed for filming action and dialogue scenes like never before.
Where can you see ‘The Odyssey’ in 70mm IMAX in Georgia?
The only theater in Georgia where you can see “The Odyssey” in 70mm IMAX is the Regal Mall of Georgia in Buford. While each screening boasts a ton of seats, they are quickly selling out.
These tickets cost just under $37 (including the convenience fee) no matter what time you choose. Regal Unlimited, which provides free and discounted tickets, does not apply to the 70mm screenings.
Where to see ‘The Odyssey’ in IMAX in Georgia?
If you can’t get into a 70mm IMAX showing, there are a few other premium-format options that are the next best thing. One is standard IMAX, which doesn’t have the same scale and fidelity as 70mm, but will still fill your field of vision on a floor-to-ceiling screen.
According to the company’s online directory, there are 13 IMAX theaters in the following Georgia cities:
| Alpharetta | Athens | Atlanta |
| Augusta | Buford | Columbus |
| Cumming | Douglasville | Kennesaw |
| Macon | Morrow | Pooler |
| Sharpsburg |
What other premium formats is ‘The Odyssey’ available in?
At select locations, “The Odyssey” will also be available to watch on non-IMAX 70mm film. With this format, you’ll be getting a high-resolution picture, but without the full, tall image available with IMAX. Plaza Theatre in Atlanta offers this viewing.
Dolby Cinema is another option that offers vivid imagery and is more widely available than 70mm. There are nine of these theaters in Georgia, largely around the Atlanta area.
One experience that’s exclusively available to Georgians is Georgia Theatre Company’s “Georgia Theatre Extreme” also known as GTX screens. These are large-format screenings with higher-quality digital pictures and Dolby Atmos surround sound. They can be found at:
- Riverwatch Cinemas in Augusta
- University Cinemas in Athens
- Glynn Place Cinemas in Brunswick
- Pooler Cinemas in Pooler
- Valdosta Cinemas in Valdosta
- Houston Lakes Cinemas in Warner Robins
When did ‘The Odyssey’ come out?
The official release date for “The Odyssey” was Friday, July 17.
‘The Odyssey’ opening weekend
Simply put: Opening weekend for “The Odyssey” was a smashing success. It debuted with over $264 million globally, the biggest opening weekend of Nolan’s career and is already approaching the top 10 highest grossing films of the year.
It’s also getting a pretty good report card. Rotten Tomatoes critics gave it a “Certified Fresh” score of 95% while audiences gave it a “Verified Hot” score of 97%. It’s got an 8.4 out of 10 on IMDb. Metacritic gave it a “Metascore” of 89, calling it a “Must-See” while users gave mixed responses with 5.1 out of 10.
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News.
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