# "The Odyssey": How important is it to see it in 70mm IMAX?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-odyssey-how-important-is-it-to-see-it-in-70mm-imax/1031890>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** movies\
**Created:** [July 24, 2026, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-odyssey-how-important-is-it-to-see-it-in-70mm-imax/1031890 "2026-07-24T01:16:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 34

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**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-odyssey-how-important-is-it-to-see-it-in-70mm-imax/1031890/34 "2026-07-28T17:37:01Z")

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> [@puzzlegal](#):
>
> So if it’s not there, it’s laser?
> 
> Oh well, i already bought tickets. I’ll see it in laser imax

> [@commasense](#):
>
> If your theater doesn’t specifically say “IMAX with Laser,” but only IMAX, it’s 2K, not 4K.

Right, there are at least four versions of projection all being marketed as IMAX. It’s all rather confusing.

**IMAX 70mm Film**

- **The Original Format:** Uses massive 15-perforation, 70mm film running horizontally through the gate.
- **Aspect Ratio & Resolution:** Delivers a towering 1.43:1 aspect ratio with a quality equivalent to roughly 16K–18K digital resolution.
- **Availability:** Extremely rare, found in fewer than 45 specialized mega-theaters worldwide.

**IMAX GT Laser (Dual Laser)**

- **The Premium Digital Standard:** Uses a dual 4K laser projector setup paired with a 12-channel sound system.
- **Aspect Ratio & Screens:** Designed to fill massive, tall 1.43:1 curved screens without cropping the original top and bottom camera frame.

**IMAX with Laser (Single Laser)**

- **The Multiplex Standard:** Uses a single 4K laser projector built for standard, smaller commercial theater retrofits.
- **Aspect Ratio:** Restricted to a 1.90:1 aspect ratio, meaning the image is cropped slightly at the top and bottom compared to full 1.43:1 screens.

**IMAX Digital Xenon (2K)**

- **The Older System:** Uses dual 2K xenon arc lamp projectors.
- **Specs & Limitations:** Limited to 2K resolution, a 1.90:1 aspect ratio, and 5.1 or 6-channel sound (often nicknamed “LieMAX” by purists).

The IMAX website notes the few 70mm IMAX theaters. It also notes whether or not a theater has the “IMAX with Laser” projection format, but does NOT tell you if it’s dual-laser or single laser.

And if a theater just says “IMAX”, it’s almost certainly one of the 2K Digital Xenon theaters with relatively small screens (so-called “LieMAX” theaters).

See here for more details from the other thread (thanks to @commasense):

> [@Plan to see Nolan's The Odyssey this weekend](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plan-to-see-nolans-the-odyssey-this-weekend/1031722/18):
>
> If by smaller you mean standard 70mm, yes, the screen will be shorter because of the aspect ratio, and probably narrower, unless your local 70mm theater is a former palace with a 60-foot or wider screen. But despite that, 70mm film has higher resolution than any digital IMAX system. And IMO, the film experience is better. Nolan shot the film with all formats in mind, especially standard 70mm, so it won’t be framed “wrong” in the 2.20 ratio, just different. The third-best experience the dual-la…

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