Alex Theatre's 70mm 'Odyssey' Run Tops US Box Office for Format
In Glendale, California, the Alex Theatre, a historic venue over a century old, recently became the top-grossing cinema in the U.S. with Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' presented in 70mm. Six weeks prior to the film's premiere on July 17, the theatre upgraded to a 70mm system. Miles Williams, the artistic director, commended Universal Pictures for their support of historic theatres. Although the film grossed $395.5 million domestically, it slipped to second place, overtaken by Sony's 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day.' The 900-seat Alex is now showing 'The Odyssey' three times a day and plans to extend its screening for at least two additional weeks. Upgrades costing $500,000 were managed by Imax consultant Taylor Umphenour.
Key facts
- Alex Theatre in Glendale, California, installed 70mm system six weeks before July 17 premiere of 'The Odyssey'.
- Theatre had not shown a first-run film for 35 years; last was 1991's 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day'.
- Alex Theatre is the highest grossing theatre in the U.S. for 'The Odyssey' on 70mm.
- Film's domestic box office reached $395.5 million over the weekend.
- Alex Theatre is 900 seats and shows 'The Odyssey' three times daily.
- Run extended by at least two weeks.
- Theatre invested $500,000 in technical upgrades including new projection booth.
- Taylor Umphenour, Imax consultant, oversaw design and construction.
- Future large-format screenings planned: 'Dune: Part Three' in December and 'Narnia' in February 2027.
Entities
Artists
- Christopher Nolan
- Miles Williams
- Taylor Umphenour
- Denis Villeneuve
- Greta Gerwig
Institutions
- Alex Theatre
- Universal Pictures
- Sony
- Imax
- The Hollywood Reporter
Locations
- Glendale
- California
- United States
- Los Angeles