Copyright forbes
There’s no doubt that anticipation for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic, The Odyssey, is what spurred IMAX and Cinemark to make the deal to upgrade its IMAX sites to laser. IMAX Corporation IMAX has announced a deal with U.S. cinema chain Cinemark that upgrades and expands its footprint across several new locations, including three new sites with IMAX 70mm capability. The agreement means all of Cinemark IMAX sites will offer laser projection, with the technology coming to four brand new sites, while twelve of its existing locations will enjoy upgrades from the older Xenon-lamp-based technology. Laser projection offers a significant improvement in image quality over Xenon, offering a brighter, more stable image, with richer colors and improved contrast. It was not confirmed, however, whether the upgraded system will use the newer, but less expensive, IMAX XT laser system or the more premium-quality IMAX CoLa. However, it is the news of the three new IMAX 70mm projectors coming online that is the most exciting for film fans. This expands the number of U.S. venues that will be able to screen Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic, The Odyssey, in its preferred format, with tickets for several early showings going on sale a full year ahead of release. The new Cinemark IMAX 70mm locations are: Cinemark Seven Bridges in the Woodridge suburb of Chicago, IL; Cinemark Carefree Circle in Colorado Springs, CO; Cinemark Tinseltown in Rochester, NY. IMAX confirmed to Forbes that these IMAX 70mm projectors are not new but are existing units that will be “brought up to operational readiness.” “We’re pleased to expand our partnership with IMAX as part of our broader strategy to offer a range of elevated cinematic experiences across our circuit,” said Sean Gamble, Cinemark president and CEO, in a statement. “Upgrading our IMAX locations to IMAX with Laser and activating additional 70mm film systems further expands and enhances the immersive options we offer our guests. These upgrades reflect our commitment to delivering high-quality, differentiated experiences that drive greater value perception, loyalty, and frequency across all types of films.” MORE FOR YOU Christopher Nolan is the first director to use IMAX film cameras for feature films and has used them for every project since The Dark Knight in 2008. The Odyssey is the first feature film to use newly redesigned IMAX film cameras that are lighter and quieter, enabling it to be the movie to be shot entirely using IMAX cameras. This means the entire movie could be presented in native IMAX 1.43:1 aspect ratio for its entire duration, which will only be possible in IMAX theatres equipped with a film or dual-laser projectors and, also, a 1.43:1 aspect ratio screen. Paul Thomas Anderson’s recent film One Battle After Another was the first film to fill an IMAX 1.43:1 screen for its entire runtime, though this was captured on VistaVision film stock and then printed onto IMAX 1570mm film so that it could be shown in suitably equipped IMAX auditoriums. IMAX’s recently announced results for 2025 were very positive for the company, with its third-quarter box-office gross of $368 million, its highest-ever for the third quarter, representing an increase of 50% year-on-year. With major tentpole movies on its slate, such as the such as 21st November release of Wicked: For Good and Narnia, Dune Part Three and The Mandalorian and Grogu in 2026, the Canadian company seems well-placed to cement its position at the top of the premium cinema format tree. Further Reading: Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions
