Japan’s IMAX Laser GT Screens Showcase Nolan’s The Odyssey
Japan’s Grand Cinema Sunshine Ikebukuro recently hosted a preview screening of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, projected on one of the country’s only two IMAX Laser GT screens. The technology, officially called IMAX Laser / GT Technology, boasts a screen nearly as tall as a six-story building, and reportedly comparable in height to Sapporo’s famous Clock Tower. The full film is projected in a 1.43:1 aspect ratio, a format previously reserved for select scenes. A Famitsu report notes the subject is not directly game-related, though the format stands out as a notable achievement in immersive entertainment. The Odyssey releases on September 11.
According to the report, IMAX Laser GT delivers a viewing experience where the screen fills the entire field of vision. Upon taking a seat, viewers reportedly cannot see surrounding walls or the heads of other attendees, as the image stretches from edge to edge. The 1.43:1 projection covers the whole runtime rather than limited scenes. Only two venues in Japan offer the format: Grand Cinema Sunshine Ikebukuro in Tokyo and 109 Cinemas Osaka Expo City in Suita, Osaka. At the Ikebukuro location, tickets cost an additional 900 yen (roughly $6) as of September 2026. The report also notes that even larger IMAX screens exist elsewhere in the world.
The audio experience drew particular praise. Beyond its chest-rattling volume, the report describes a delicate clarity that captures fine details in every scene, from the sway of trees and the sound of wind to water splashing against a ship and the battle cries of war, all delivered with a sense of realism. A memorable detail was the sound of a drawn bowstring: throughout The Odyssey, protagonist Odysseus repeatedly draws his bow, and different bows produce distinct tones that can be clearly told apart. Paired with the all-encompassing visuals, the experience was described as feeling like wandering into a mythological world.
The Odyssey adapts Homer’s epic and follows Odysseus, the wise king of Ithaca, after the Trojan Horse brings down Troy. His homeward journey is far from easy: ten years of war followed by ten years of travel, twenty years in total. His ship faces storms and divine wrath, and an island he lands on hides a man-eating monster. The report singles out Telemachus’s perspective for adding emotional depth beyond a simple adventure, while Ithaca itself falls into decline in the king’s absence. The film runs about 172 minutes but never feels long, and features Matt Damon, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, and Charlize Theron, among others. For fans of premium big-screen presentation, this is a compelling showcase.
