IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond described the success of Christopher Nolan’s action epic “The Odyssey” as a “frenzy” while discussing his record-breaking blockbuster weekend debut on “The Claman Countdown.”
“The Odyssey,” directed by the renowned Christopher Nolan, stunned box offices over the weekend after its Friday debut, raking in more than $124 million in ticket sales.
“They always say, ‘Does the movie have legs? We’ll find out.’ We’ve already found out the movie has legs,” Gelfond said Tuesday.
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The nearly three-hour action epic is adapted from Homer’s 3,000-year-old poem “The Odyssey” and was filmed exclusively on IMAX 70mm film cameras.
“Chris Nolan made a brilliant movie, and without the brilliant movie there wouldn’t be anything,” Gelfond said. “But I think IMAX has been like a booster to that movie.”
Gelfond said the doorbuster movie sold out both late night and early morning show times with moviegoers racing to watch the film’s A-list cast, including Matt Damon, and Zendaya, on the big screen.
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“What showing times were sold out?” FOX Business host Liz Claman asked.
“Midnights, 3 a.m., 6 a.ms. People I haven’t heard from in years are saying, ‘Remember me? I’m in town. Call to say hello. By the way, do you happen to have an extra pair of tickets?’” Gelfond said. “It’s really, it’s a frenzy. There’s no other word to put it.”
The movie giant CEO said the film’s quick success is “crazy and gratifying,” telling FOX Business about the call from Nolan that started it all.
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“Chris called me over a year ago in February 2024, and he said, ‘I want to make a whole film in IMAX, but the camera is not quiet enough. It’s not wide enough. I need more projectionists,’” Gelfond explained. “He gave us a list of 10 to 15 things. And he said, ‘I need these done, then I’ll make a movie all in IMAX.’”
“We met the challenge. And it wasn’t easy to do and it took a lot of resources, but it worked. And obviously, the financial results and esthetic results speak for themselves.”
Gelfond expects “The Odyssey” to increase demand for IMAX films.
More than 2 million feet of IMAX film was used to make “The Odyssey” and Gelfond predicts the movie will bring more traction for his movie screen giant.
With only 41 70mm screens in the world, Claman questioned Gelfond about whether the company is looking to expand IMAX theaters.
The CEO said the screens, which take as much production care as a luxury vehicle, are hard to expand in large numbers.
“A lot of the parts are out of use,” Gelfond told FOX Business.
“It’s almost like a Rolls-Royce. The parts, the economic model… So there are limited locations where the economics could work, but we’re always looking for new ideas and building it out.”
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