A frenzy for film purists
Christopher Nolan's latest, The Odyssey, has become the hottest ticket for a very specific kind of moviegoer: the ones chasing IMAX 70mm, widely regarded as the gold standard of cinematic presentation. Unlike the digital projection most theatres run today, 70mm film delivers a level of detail, brightness, and texture that purists say simply can't be replicated — and in Canada, only a small number of screens can even show it.
That scarcity is exactly why demand has spiked so hard. Film buffs across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond have been booking tickets weeks out, some driving hours just to catch the format Nolan himself championed while shooting the film.
Then the projector broke
For some ticket holders, the hype came crashing down when a projector at a GTA screening malfunctioned mid-run, according to CBC News. For a format that depends on massive, mechanically complex film reels threading through equipment that's increasingly rare to find — let alone service — a breakdown isn't a minor inconvenience. It can mean the difference between the immersive experience fans paid a premium for and a frustrating refund line.
The hiccup underscores a real logistical challenge facing the format's revival. IMAX 70mm projectors are relics compared to modern digital cinema equipment, and technicians capable of maintaining them are in short supply. When something goes wrong, there's often no quick fix — and no backup screen running the exact same setup nearby.
Why this matters beyond the multiplex
Canada has punched above its weight in the 70mm conversation, with a handful of theatres in Toronto and other major cities among the limited number worldwide equipped to run true IMAX film prints. Nolan has been vocal about preferring the format for its scale and clarity, and The Odyssey's marketing leaned into that pitch hard, drawing crowds who might not otherwise plan a trip around a movie screening.
That makes moments like this projector failure more than just bad luck for the unlucky moviegoers in the room — they're a reminder of how thin the margin is for keeping this niche experience alive. Every screening relies on aging hardware, specialized staff, and film prints that are expensive and difficult to replace.
The bigger picture for movie fans
For everyday audiences, the takeaway isn't necessarily to avoid 70mm screenings — most go off without a hitch, and the ones that don't tend to get quickly resolved with refunds or rescheduled showtimes. But it does add a layer of risk for anyone treating a 70mm outing as a can't-miss event, especially given how far some fans are willing to travel for it.
As interest in premium formats continues to grow across Canada, incidents like this one may push theatre chains and IMAX itself to invest more heavily in maintaining and expanding their remaining film-capable screens — or risk disappointing the very audiences driving the format's resurgence.
Source: CBC News
