Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ turns into India’s highest-grossing IMAX launch

Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ has develop into India’s highest-grossing IMAX launch, incomes Rs 63 crore throughout 34 IMAX screens in simply 17 days and overtaking the lifetime IMAX collections of the filmmaker’s earlier film ‘Oppenheimer’.

The document got here after ‘Warner Bros. Discovery’, ‘Common Photos Worldwide’, ‘IMAX Company’ and exhibition companions mounted a week-long marketing campaign that includes unique merchandise, fan experiences and exhibitor-led initiatives that stored viewers curiosity alive all through the movie’s theatrical run.

In accordance with ‘Warner Bros. Discovery’, ‘The Odyssey’ surpassed ‘Oppenheimer’, which grossed Rs 50 crore throughout its complete IMAX run in India, making Nolan the one filmmaker whose movies occupy the highest two spots among the many nation’s highest-grossing IMAX releases.

“Christopher Nolan got here to Mumbai in July and instructed us Indian audiences are among the many most enthusiastic and educated on this planet. That is the proof. The highest two highest-grossing IMAX releases in India’s historical past are each his movies. Not one, however two movies by the identical director are made the identical approach for a similar purpose, as a result of he believes cinema is supposed to be seen on the scale solely IMAX can provide it. India agreed with ‘Oppenheimer’. India has now agreed twice and this time it took 17 days, not a whole run. When a filmmaker builds his complete profession round convincing audiences that the most important display screen is the one display screen value selecting and an viewers solutions him this decisively and this shortly, that isn’t a field workplace document. That could be a promise on either side,” Denzil Dias, Vice President and Managing Director, India Theatrical, ‘Warner Bros. Discovery’, stated.

Primarily based on Homer’s epic poem, ‘The Odyssey’ chronicles the decade-long journey of Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, as he struggles to return house after the Trojan Warfare whereas battling legendary creatures, divine interventions and unattainable odds.

The movie, which was launched in theatres worldwide on July 17, stars Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Mia Goth, Elliot Web page, Benny Safdie, Himesh Patel, Samantha Morton, Corey Hawkins, Cosmo Jarvis and John Leguizamo.

The studio stated the marketing campaign started with Nolan and members of the ensemble solid attending the movie’s India premiere in Mumbai, with digital content material from the occasion producing over 50 million views.

A cease for tea by Nolan and the solid forward of the premiere additionally went viral, garnering greater than 20 million views on Common Photos India’s ‘Instagram’ web page alone. The promotional marketing campaign continued nicely after launch by means of fan response movies, creator collaborations and a collection of in-cinema initiatives designed to encourage repeat viewing.

Starting within the opening week, audiences at taking part IMAX areas acquired considered one of 4 limited-edition character pins and unique IMAX T-shirts. Within the second week, chosen theatres distributed framed IMAX 70mm movie strips from the film in restricted portions, celebrating ‘The Odyssey’ as the primary function movie shot solely with IMAX movie cameras.

Because the theatrical run entered its third and fourth weeks, exhibitors launched unique paintings posters, whereas a nationwide IMAX initiative marking Nolan’s birthday featured advance bookings and particular ticket pricing.

“The Odyssey’s record-breaking run in India is a testomony to Christopher Nolan’s daring imaginative and prescient and the unbelievable enthusiasm that audiences throughout the nation have proven for experiencing the movie in IMAX,” stated Preetham Daniel, Vice President, Theatre Growth, India, Korea, South East Asia and Australasia at IMAX.

He added, “We’re grateful to ‘Warner Bros. Discovery’, ‘Common Photos Worldwide’ and our exhibition companions for his or her partnership all through this historic run.”

PVR INOX Chief Technique Officer Kamal Gianchandani stated audiences embraced the movie as extra than simply one other theatrical launch. “PVR INOX is happy to have performed a job in The Odyssey’s historic IMAX journey in India. From internet hosting Christopher Nolan and the movie’s solid at its landmark premiere at PVR ICON Mumbai to partnering with IMAX, ‘Warner Bros.’ and ‘Common Photos Worldwide’ to maintain viewers pleasure all through its theatrical run, the journey has been actually exceptional. What stood out most was the extraordinary viewers response. Throughout generations, moviegoers embraced ‘The Odyssey’ not merely as a movie to observe, however as a cinematic expertise to revisit and share with family and friends,” he added.

Devang Sampat, Managing Director, Cinepolis India, stated the movie’s success was pushed by sustained viewers curiosity past the opening weekend. “What stands out about ‘The Odyssey’ is how the movie stored constructing. Audiences got here again, introduced others with them and stored IMAX homes busy deep into the run. Phrase of mouth has carried the strongest movies of the final two years nicely previous their opening weekends and this one sits on the high of that record. Our job as exhibitors was to make each go to value repeating and this milestone exhibits what studios and exhibitors can obtain once they construct a movie’s run collectively,” Sampat stated.

Miraj Leisure COO Sameer Munshi stated audiences from a number of cities travelled particularly to expertise the movie on the firm’s Wadala IMAX display screen. “The response to Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ at Miraj IMAX Wadala has been actually extraordinary… Followers will not be solely returning for a second and even a 3rd IMAX viewing, however many have additionally travelled from cities similar to Hyderabad, Indore and Nagpur simply to expertise ‘The Odyssey’ at Miraj IMAX Wadala. ‘The Odyssey’ has reaffirmed that audiences are prepared to go the additional mile for an unparalleled cinematic expertise and we’re proud that this historic IMAX display screen continues to be on the coronary heart of these unforgettable film moments,” he stated.