BFI IMAX, home to the UK’s largest cinema screen on London’s South Bank, has set a new benchmark for big‑screen cinema with Christopher Nolan’s THE ODYSSEY, breaking every first‑day sales record in the venue’s history. In just 24 hours, the film sold 28,000 tickets and grossed £750,000, underlining both Nolan’s influence as a BFI Fellow and the continuing demand for premium large‑format, film‑based exhibition.
A historic launch for an IMAX 70mm epic
The first‑day performance for THE ODYSSEY doesn’t just set a new house record—it doubles and nearly triples the takings of previous blockbuster releases at BFI IMAX.
- DUNE: PART TWO (Denis Villeneuve, 2024) grossed £366,000 in its first 24 hours on sale.
- OPPENHEIMER (Christopher Nolan, 2023) took £254,000 over the same period.
With £750,000 in a single day, THE ODYSSEY “leapfrogs” both titles, confirming that demand for large‑format cinema—and specifically for Nolan’s work on film—is stronger than ever. This makes BFI IMAX a clear destination venue for visitors seeking the most immersive cinema experience in the UK.
CHRISTOPHER NOLAN ON FILM: priming audiences on celluloid
To build towards THE ODYSSEY’s IMAX 70mm launch, BFI IMAX introduced a new monthly strand in early 2026: CHRISTOPHER NOLAN ON FILM. This programme celebrates Nolan’s long‑standing advocacy for film projection and the in‑person cinematic experience, and has drawn sold‑out audiences keen to revisit his work on celluloid.
Since January, the strand has taken viewers on a journey through time, space, history and memory via Nolan’s back catalogue, screening each of his IMAX 70mm titles chronologically. Highlights include:
- THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY in January.
- Subsequent IMAX titles throughout spring.
- A June climax with OPPENHEIMER.
Positioning THE ODYSSEY as a “Film on Film” event, rather than just another blockbuster, has helped cultivate a dedicated audience ready to travel to BFI IMAX for the full analogue, large‑format experience.
BFI IMAX and OPPENHEIMER: a recent benchmark for big-screen success
The new record for THE ODYSSEY builds on BFI IMAX’s recent track record with Nolan’s films. In 2023, the cinema reported the biggest opening‑weekend box office of any screen in the UK for OPPENHEIMER, with a weekend gross of £207,677. That achievement made BFI IMAX the second‑highest grossing IMAX screen in the world for OPPENHEIMER’s opening weekend, behind only the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, which has nearly double the seating capacity.
OPPENHEIMER ran 24 hours a day across its opening weekend, attracting audiences from across the UK and abroad to London’s South Bank. By the end of its initial theatrical run at BFI IMAX, the film had taken around £2.2 million, cementing the venue’s status as a global hub for large‑format exhibition and a key destination for film tourism.
Cast of THE ODYSSEY: an A‑list epic
Christopher Nolan’s THE ODYSSEY features a star‑studded ensemble of A‑list and critically acclaimed actors, bringing Homer’s mythic journey into a modern cinematic context:
- Matt Damon as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca whose long, perilous voyage home from the Trojan War drives the story.
- Tom Holland as Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, confronting legacy and responsibility in his father’s absence.
- Anne Hathaway as Penelope, the wife who must hold their household and kingdom together against mounting pressure.
The cast also includes:
- Robert Pattinson as Antinous, one of the most dangerous and manipulative suitors.
- Zendaya as Athena, the goddess who guides and challenges Odysseus.
- Lupita Nyong’o and Charlize Theron in key mythic roles that deepen the emotional and thematic scope of the narrative.
This combination of epic spectacle and character‑driven drama positions THE ODYSSEY as both a major event film and a richly performed ensemble piece, ideal for audiences seeking prestige cinema on the biggest possible screen.
When and where to watch THE ODYSSEY
THE ODYSSEY opens on the UK’s largest cinema screen at BFI IMAX in IMAX 70mm from Friday 17 July, forming part of a wider nationwide rollout on the same date.
Given the unprecedented advance sales—28,000 tickets and £750,000 in the first 24 hours—BFI IMAX is expected to offer late‑night and around‑the‑clock screenings, giving as many viewers as possible the chance to experience Nolan’s first feature shot entirely on IMAX film in its intended format.
Key details for visitors are the following:
- Location: BFI IMAX, South Bank, London, UK.
- Format: IMAX 70mm celluloid print (1 of only 3 in the country).
- Claim to fame: UK’s largest cinema screen and global hub for large‑format exhibition.
Filmgoers in London—and those travelling from elsewhere in the UK and overseas—can treat BFI IMAX as a destination cinema, pairing their visit with South Bank’s wider cultural attractions while securing a seat at one of the most anticipated big‑screen events of 2026.on.
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