Northeast Ohio theater is showing "The Odyssey" as Christopher Nolan intended
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
"The Odyssey." Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Movie fans in Northeast Ohio have one of the country's rare chances to see "The Odyssey" the way director Christopher Nolan intended.
State of play: Michigan-based Phoenix Theatres is showing Nolan's latest epic, which opens Thursday, in classic 70mm film format exclusively at its Great Northern Mall location in North Olmsted.
How it works: 70mm utilizes much larger film frames than the modern 35mm format, allowing it to capture significantly more detail, color and clarity.
- It creates a sharper, more immersive image on a large movie screen, with a greater sense of scale — especially for the kinds of sweeping landscapes and action scenes featured in "The Odyssey."
Zoom in: It's a coveted format for film geeks like Nolan ("The Dark Knight," "Oppenheimer"), who shot his "The Odyssey" entirely on 70mm IMAX cameras.
- "The Odyssey" is an adaptation of Homer's literary epic of the same name that you likely read (or studied the CliffsNotes to) in high school.
What they're saying: "Filmmakers like Christopher Nolan are challenging the industry," Cory Jacobson, owner of Phoenix Theatres, tells Axios.
- "There's a nostalgia and an audience for vintage formats. This harks back to Hollywood's golden age and movies like 'Lawrence of Arabia.'"
The big picture: Phoenix purchased two 70mm cameras last year with "The Odyssey" in mind.
- The chain has eight locations throughout the Midwest and Northeast, but chose to install the cameras at Great Northern.
"This has become our most financially successful location since it opened in 2024," Jacobson says.
- "It's been above and beyond what we could have expected. This theater has been a true turning point for our company."
If you go: Phoenix Great Northern has retrofitted one of its theaters with special 70mm signage and an old-school waterfall curtain that will rise before "The Odyssey" shows.
- Tickets, priced at $25 (plus fees), are close to sold out through the weekend, with a limited number of seats available in the front rows.
