Screenings of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” at the Regal King of Prussia theater have been impacted after the venue’s 70mm IMAX projector suffered technical failures. According to Cbsnews, the theater informed customers on Friday that all screenings would be shifted to the IMAX digital format while repairs are attempted.
Technical Failures and Theater Response
Regal King of Prussia stated on social media that IMAX technicians have been working around the clock since Thursday
to resolve the ongoing projection issues. While the theater expressed apology for the impact on the viewing experience and stated they are working to restore 70mm film operations as swiftly as possible,
officials noted they do not currently have a timeline for when the projector will be repaired.
Customers arriving at the theater reported that news of the failure spread quickly through the lobby, leading many to leave their lines. Those affected were offered refunds or the option to watch the movie in the digital format for free. However, some patrons expressed frustration over the lack of advance notice, noting that the theater possessed their email addresses but did not send notifications.
The Stakes of 70mm IMAX
The failure is particularly disruptive due to the rarity of the equipment and the specific nature of the film. “The Odyssey” is the first feature film shot entirely with IMAX 70mm cameras, and the Regal King of Prussia is the only theater in Pennsylvania capable of showing it in this format. Globally, only 41 theaters can offer the full 70mm IMAX experience, with only 25 located in the United States. According to CNBC, IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond described these auditoriums as being like a “Rolls-Royce” due to the high-cost machinery and finite number of locations that can support the economics of the format.
Impact on Traveling Moviegoers
Because of the limited number of screens, many viewers traveled significant distances to reach the King of Prussia location. One customer, David Dekok, drove 80 miles from Harrisburg, while other patrons reported driving from Virginia and South Carolina—the latter involving trips of eight to 10 hours.
The nearest alternative 70mm IMAX theaters for Pennsylvania residents are located in Providence, Rhode Island, and New York City and Rochester, New York. This regional scarcity highlights the impact of the outage, as many fans treat these screenings as a premium large format
(PLF) event.
Broader Context of 70mm Demand
The disruption at Regal King of Prussia occurs amidst a broader surge in interest for film projection. IMAX 70mm has become a “gold standard” for several recent releases, including Dune: Part Two, Project Hail Mary, Sinners, and One Battle After Another. The demand is so high that other 70mm venues have seen similar pressures; for instance, the IMAX 70mm theater in the Indiana State Museum added an extra week of screenings in August due to “historic” demand, with more than half of those audience members traveling at least 50 miles.
