IMAX China is launching an expansive theatrical push for Christopher Nolan’s mythic action epic The Odyssey, committing the overwhelming majority of its nearly 800-screen network across mainland China to the film. The feature is scheduled for a wide theatrical release in mainland China on August 14, 2026.
In an interview with Variety, IMAX China Chief Executive Officer Daniel Manwaring expressed high expectations for the opening week, citing what he characterized as the “Christopher Nolan effect,” a steady, long-term growth of the filmmaker’s brand and dedicated audience base in the region. Nolan’s previous feature, Oppenheimer, grossed 452 million RMB ($66.8 million) in mainland China, with IMAX formats alone generating over 30% of that total revenue.
Ahead of the wide debut, Nolan and lead actor Matt Damon are scheduled to arrive in Beijing on July 30 to attend a red-carpet event at the China National Film Museum. The gathering marks the first commercial film red-carpet function hosted at the government institution. Promotional activities will also include a separate screening event at the IMAX theater within the Universal Beijing Resort, alongside single daily preview screenings held in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen on August 1 and 2.
Data from Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan Pro indicates that cumulative “want to see” registrations for The Odyssey exceeded 252,000 users, with early interest concentrated primarily among moviegoers in tier-one and tier-two cities.
The extensive rollout follows a softer first-half financial performance for IMAX China, attributed by executive leadership to a lighter local-language release calendar. The exhibitor anticipates a stronger second half driven by major global imports, including Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and upcoming local releases.
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