AMC Logs Best First-Day PLF Sales Since 2022 for The Odyssey as 6 Million Seats Remain
Updated
Updated · Deadline · Jun 5
AMC Logs Best First-Day PLF Sales Since 2022 for The Odyssey as 6 Million Seats Remain
3 articles · Updated · Deadline · Jun 5
Summary
AMC said first-day premium large-format presales for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey were its strongest for a major studio release in four years, and its best studio-title launch of 2026.
Demand was concentrated in IMAX, Dolby Cinema and Prime showtimes, the only formats released Thursday; standard screenings are due later this month or summer, adding millions more seats.
Hour-long waits on AMC’s ticketing sites eased to about eight minutes after queue controls, while Regal and Cinemark did not report similar delays.
More than 6 million PLF seats are still available at AMC, even after Universal’s earlier 70mm and 70mm IMAX tickets sold out a year in advance.
The Odyssey opens July 17 and will hold IMAX screens for three weeks, extending the premium-format advantage that fueled Nolan’s Oppenheimer run.
Beyond the hype, can a premium format alone guarantee success for Hollywood's most expensive blockbusters?
With a $250M budget and crashing websites, is Nolan's epic a sign of cinema's revival or its excess?
As ticket platforms repeatedly fail, are moviegoers being punished for their passion for the big screen experience?
Christopher Nolan’s "The Odyssey" Triggers Unprecedented IMAX Ticket Sell-Outs and Industry-Wide Technical Failures
Overview
In early June 2026, the release of Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" sparked an unprecedented ticketing frenzy, especially for opening night 70mm IMAX screenings. Demand soared to extraordinary levels, making it extremely difficult for moviegoers to secure tickets. Major ticketing platforms, including AMC, struggled to handle the massive surge in traffic and had to implement traffic throttling measures. As a result, highly coveted opening weekend tickets sold out rapidly, leaving many fans frustrated. This overwhelming response highlights both the immense anticipation for Nolan's epic film and the challenges faced by the industry in managing such high demand for premium cinematic experiences.