Christopher Nolan Has Dreamed of Making a Full IMAX Movie Since 1986 and THE ODYSSEY Finally Made It Happen
Christopher Nolan and IMAX have become almost inseparable. Over the years, he's pushed the format further with every new project, turning massive theatrical presentations into big must-see events.
But as it turns out, the filmmaker's obsession with IMAX didn't begin with The Dark Knight or even Oppenheimer. It started way back in 1986, when he was just 16 years old.
Now, with The Odyssey becoming the first feature film ever shot from beginning to end in full-frame IMAX, Nolan is finally bringing to life an idea that's been sitting in his head for four decades.
During an interview with Pay or Wait on YouTube, Nolan reflected on how far IMAX technology has come, especially after making Oppenheimer. While discussing the experience of filming The Odyssey, he shared the moment that first sparked his fascination with the format.
"It's something I've really wanted to do since I was 16 and I first saw an IMAX film at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. I was like, 'Well, why can't you make a dramatic feature, an action film, an adventure film this way, because the format is so incredible.'"
It's a fun reminder that Nolan was imagining blockbuster storytelling on giant IMAX screens long before Hollywood fully embraced the format.
While IMAX might feel like a modern moviegoing experience, the company has actually been around for decades. Founded in 1967, IMAX developed its large-format projection system in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
For much of its history, though, the technology was mainly used for documentaries and educational films shown in museums and science centers.
Hollywood didn't really begin exploring IMAX releases until much later. Fantasia 2000 became the first theatrical feature released in IMAX, and by 2003, movies like The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions helped introduce live-action blockbusters to the format.
Nolan eventually got his chance to experiment with IMAX on The Dark Knight in 2008, becoming the first filmmaker to shoot major action sequences with IMAX cameras for a Hollywood feature.
Since then, he's continued expanding its use with films like Interstellar, Dunkirk, Tenet, and Oppenheimer. Today, his movies have become some of the biggest draws for premium IMAX screenings, especially the rare IMAX 70mm presentations that fans travel long distances to experience.
For Nolan, though, The Odyssey was the movie that finally justified going all the way. "It's like, we're going to make a film of The Odyssey. That's the movie… if ever you were going to film a story completely on IMAX, you know, this is the story to do it with."
Massive battles, dangerous voyages, mythical creatures, and sweeping landscapes all seem perfectly suited for the biggest canvas available.
As the film's release gets closer, Nolan has also been opening up about the characters audiences will meet. In a recent interview, he offered an interesting comparison between Matt Damon's version of Odysseus and one of Star Wars' most beloved characters.
"Odysseus is a very complex character – a trickster, somebody who's smart and wily. In Star Wars terms, it's Han Solo – but Han Solo is not the hero of Star Wars, it's Luke Skywalker."
It's an unexpected comparison, but it paints a pretty clear picture of the kind of hero Nolan sees at the center of this story. Odysseus isn't a flawless champion. He's clever, resourceful, and often survives because he can outthink everyone around him.
With The Odyssey arriving in theaters on July 17, 2026, anticipation is only growing. Between its groundbreaking full-frame IMAX presentation and Nolan tackling one of the greatest adventure stories ever told, this has all the makings of another unforgettable theatrical experience.
After waiting 40 years to make this dream a reality, audiences are about to see exactly what Nolan had in mind all the way back in 1986.