Christian Campbell, a 22-year-old film graduate from Atlanta, traveled more than 4,000 miles to London to attend the midnight premiere of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey at the BFI Imax. It was his first time leaving the United States. He bought his ticket a year in advance after failing to secure one in New York or Georgia. His aunt Donna accompanied him, turning the trip into a holiday.
Global fans flock to BFI Imax for Nolan's epic
Marco Garbely, 30, traveled from Switzerland with friends Julian Jäger and Gilbert Oggier, arriving hours before the screening. Garbely, who works in healthcare, expressed nervousness before the review embargo broke but was relieved by the film's 99% Rotten Tomatoes rating. He also dismissed far-right criticism of Lupita Nyong'o's casting as Helen, stating, 'It's a myth which was invented 1,000 years ago. We don't have proof of how Helen existed or what she should looked like.'
Julian Jäger, 30, a finance worker, recalled Nolan's impact on his childhood, particularly Inception, which he saw at age 15. The trio planned to watch the film two nights in a row to get a second opinion.
Film shot entirely on Imax 1570 cameras
The BFI Imax is one of the few cinemas worldwide showing The Odyssey in Imax 1570, the highest-resolution film format. The film was shot entirely on 1570 cameras, each weighing 180kg. Nolan worked with Imax to develop a soundproofing 'blimp' for dialogue recording. The $250m budget is expected to yield $80m-$100m in its opening North American weekend.
Rachana Mettem, 26, a student from Ireland, made the screening a pit stop on her way to Edinburgh. She bought tickets a year in advance and noted that Himesh Patel, who plays a pivotal role, was underrepresented in the press tour, saying, 'Hollywood has showcased white actors rather than people of colour.'
Fans' devotion: from The Dark Knight to Oppenheimer
Campbell's first Nolan film was The Dark Knight at age eight. He has watched every Nolan film since. Walee Ahmed, 26, a data analyst, wore a helmet to the screening and has seen Oppenheimer nine times, calling it 'top notch.' Forhad Alom, 29, a civil servant, said, 'When it comes to Nolan, I don't play around.'
Screenings at BFI Imax are sold out until early August, with some tickets listed on eBay for over £500. As midnight approached, the lobby fell silent, marking the beginning of a cinematic odyssey for the gathered fans.
