When Do IMAX Odyssey Tickets Go on Sale?

The original IMAX 70mm presale opened July 17, 2025, at midnight Eastern, and wider IMAX tickets followed June 4, 2026, at 9 a.m. Pacific/noon Eastern. For the December 11, 2026 re-release, Universal has confirmed the date, but no ticket on-sale date or time. Buy through a theater’s official site, app, or linked ticket seller.

If you are planning to catch Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey on the big screen again, the key date is confirmed: the film returns to more than 1,000 U.S. and Canadian screens on Friday, December 11, 2026, including IMAX and IMAX 70mm. The date to buy tickets is a different matter. As of November 11, neither Universal nor IMAX has announced a specific ticket-drop date or time for this re-release. (nbcuniversal.com)

That gap matters. A date for the movie does not mean every theater has posted showtimes, and “IMAX” does not always mean 70mm film. The best way to avoid missing seats—or paying a scalper—is to track your local theater’s own listings and use only its official ticket link.

When IMAX Presales Opened and How to Check Current Listings

The first limited IMAX 70mm tickets went on sale Thursday, July 17, 2025, at midnight Eastern, exactly one year before the original release. The broader IMAX ticket drop came on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 9 a.m. Pacific/noon Eastern. Those are historical dates, not a confirmed schedule for the December re-release. (gizmodo.com)

For the 2025 sale, only select 70mm theaters and a small number of opening-weekend shows were included. Reports at the time said many seats sold within minutes. That early sale did not cover every IMAX location or every later showtime. The movie’s original nationwide theatrical release was July 17, 2026. (gizmodo.com)

The new re-release is confirmed for December 11, 2026, but a past drop time is not a reliable forecast. The 2025 presale was an unusual one-year-early offer; the June 2026 sale was a separate release of broader showtimes. Neither creates a yearly ticket-sale pattern. Do not treat midnight Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific, or any other time as confirmed for the December run unless a theater or distributor announces it. (gizmodo.com)

For current information, start with IMAX’s film page and use its location search, then check the theater’s own website or app. IMAX lists The Odyssey as returning December 11, while the page directs viewers to location-based listings. A national film page can confirm the release window, but your theater’s page is where its seats and showtimes appear. (imax.com)

Presale Tiers, VIP Drops, and Early Access

No universal fan-club presale, cardholder window, registration deadline, or verified-fan process has been announced for the December 2026 re-release. The prior sales used different timing and scope, so do not assume a loyalty tier or presale code will unlock seats early this time. (nbcuniversal.com)

I would prepare without counting on special access. Make accounts with nearby theaters and the ticketing services they link to, sign up for official theater emails, and turn on app alerts if offered. Check that your account details and payment method work before listings appear. These steps can reduce checkout friction, but they do not reserve seats or guarantee a place in an online queue.

If a card issuer, rewards program, or theater does announce early access, read the terms on that seller’s own page. Confirm the start and end times, whether the benefit covers IMAX or 70mm, and whether a booking fee applies. Until a named source publishes those terms, no qualifying spend, code, or membership threshold is verified.

Historical Release and Pricing Trends

Two past sale points show why one guessed date will not fit every ticket release: the first tiny 70mm allocation opened a year ahead, while a broader IMAX sale came closer to the film’s release. No official re-release ticket date or single nationwide starting price is published as of November 11, 2026. (gizmodo.com)

The first sale was limited: reporting noted 16 participating U.S. theaters, with other countries also taking part. The wider 2026 sale was announced through the film’s social post and reported at 9 a.m. PT/noon ET. Those details explain past drops; they do not set the re-release schedule. (latimes.com)

There is no reliable “rock-bottom” ticket price to track across theaters. IMAX, seat type, local market, and ticketing fees can affect the total. Compare the final checkout amount, not just the first price shown on a listing. Do not assume a retail coupon, price match, or post-purchase adjustment applies to movie tickets.

Step-by-Step Purchasing Playbook

For the December run, use a simple plan: prepare accounts and theater links now, watch for official showtimes, then confirm the format and total before paying. Since no sale time is set, there is no verified countdown to join yet. (nbcuniversal.com)

Before listings appear

Make a short list of nearby IMAX theaters, including any that may screen 70mm. Check each venue’s own page; a standard IMAX listing is not proof of a 70mm film presentation. Make sure your account can sign in, update payment details, and enable alerts from the theater or its authorized ticket seller.

Follow the official IMAX and film accounts, plus the theater accounts for your target locations. When a sale is announced, note the exact date, time zone, participating theaters, and listed show dates. Save the official ticket link instead of relying on search ads or social posts from resellers.

On sale day

Open the linked seller before the announced time and follow its queue instructions. Avoid opening many tabs or repeatedly refreshing if the page tells you not to; you could disrupt your place or create checkout problems. Select your seats, confirm that the listing says IMAX or IMAX 70mm as intended, and check the whole total before submitting payment.

If the first show is sold out, look at other times and nearby theaters through their official listings. The 2025 presale covered only a small first batch, which is a reminder that one sold-out show does not prove every screening is gone. (gizmodo.com)

After purchase

Save the confirmation email and ticket in the theater’s app or account. Read that theater’s exchange, cancellation, and refund terms; there is no single policy that applies to every venue. If the seat or format looks wrong, contact the seller listed on your confirmation before buying a second ticket.

Secondary Markets, Resale Timing, and Ticket Safety

There is no dependable resale-price curve for the December re-release, and no universal transfer rule for all participating theaters. Check the official box office first, then read the exact resale platform’s guarantee and delivery terms before considering a third-party listing.

The first 2025 drop drew inflated resale listings after some shows sold quickly. That was not the same as official inventory, and a resale listing does not prove the theater has released more seats. (gizmodo.com)

If a show is sold out, keep checking the official seller for added showtimes or returned seats. Do not assume a ticket can be transferred, refunded, or scanned if it was bought from an unverified seller. Use the official theater link when possible, and compare the final cost and delivery conditions before any resale purchase.

A Real-World Ticketing Lesson

The first 2025 sale shows how scope and speed can get confused. On July 17, select IMAX 70mm theaters released a small number of opening-weekend showtimes a year before the film opened. Some sold out quickly, but those seats were only a first batch, not the complete run. (gizmodo.com)

The common mistake was treating that limited drop as the only chance to see the film in the format. Another was turning to scalped listings when official seats vanished. A more careful approach was to identify eligible theaters, use their linked sellers, and wait for later official showtimes instead of paying an unverified markup. In June 2026, broader IMAX ticket sales were announced separately, showing that a later sale could open another opportunity. (gizmodo.com)

For the December re-release, apply the same logic without assuming the same calendar. Watch official sources, verify whether a listing is 70mm or another IMAX format, and treat any date or code not confirmed by the theater, IMAX, or distributor as unverified.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do The Odyssey IMAX re-release tickets go on sale?

Universal confirmed the re-release begins Friday, December 11, 2026, in more than 1,000 U.S. and Canadian theaters, including IMAX and IMAX 70mm. As of November 11, 2026, the ticket on-sale date and time had not been announced. Check local theater listings for confirmed showtimes. (nbcuniversal.com)

What time did the original IMAX 70mm presale start?

The first select IMAX 70mm tickets went on sale at midnight Eastern on Thursday, July 17, 2025. That date marked one year before the film’s original theatrical opening. It was a limited presale for select theaters and shows, not a promise that every IMAX location was selling tickets. (gizmodo.com)

When did the wider IMAX tickets go on sale?

The broader IMAX sale was announced for Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 9 a.m. Pacific/noon Eastern. This was a separate ticket release from the limited July 2025 presale. It does not confirm the sale time for the December 2026 re-release. (gizmodo.com)

Is there a presale code or VIP access for the December re-release?

No universal code, cardholder presale, loyalty tier, or registration deadline has been announced for the December 2026 run. If a theater or ticket seller offers early access, its own terms should state the eligibility and start time. Do not pay for a code from an unverified seller. (nbcuniversal.com)

Where should I buy The Odyssey IMAX tickets?

Buy through the theater’s official website or app, or through the ticket seller linked from that theater’s listing. IMAX’s film page provides a location search, but showtimes and seats depend on each venue. Check the format and the total checkout cost before submitting payment. (imax.com)

Are IMAX 70mm tickets the same as regular IMAX tickets?

No. IMAX 70mm is a specific film presentation, while other IMAX showings may use a different format. A theater’s listing should name the format. Do not infer 70mm from “IMAX” alone; confirm the exact screening on the venue’s official showtime page.

What was the starting price for The Odyssey IMAX tickets?

There was no single nationwide starting price announced for the earlier ticket drops. The amount depends on the theater, screening, and ticketing seller, and online fees may affect the final total. Check the checkout page for the actual amount rather than using a resale listing as a price guide.

What should I do if my preferred show is sold out?

Check other showtimes and nearby official theater listings before turning to resale. The July 2025 presale covered a limited number of early shows, and later ticket sales occurred separately. A sold-out listing for one screening does not confirm that all re-release dates or theaters are sold out. (gizmodo.com)

Can I transfer or refund a ticket bought from a resale site?

There is no single transfer or refund rule for every theater and ticketing platform. Review the seller’s policy and the theater’s terms before paying. For the clearest route to help with an incorrect or unusable ticket, purchase from the official theater link and keep the confirmation.

(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Michael T. Hargrove. Visit our Meet the Team page.)