Can anyone other than Nolan shoot entirely on Imax?
Yes — can anyone other than Christopher Nolan shoot a film entirely on Imax? An Imax source tells Variety the answer is yes, if camera schedules and film-print timelines allow. The company says it has enough cameras and blimps to enable full Imax shoots for ambitious filmmakers such as Denis Villeneuve or Ryan Coogler.
Key Takeaways
- Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is the first feature shot entirely with Imax 70mm cameras, per a May 2025 reveal.
- The film has neared $300 million domestically, with Imax 70mm screenings sold out for weeks.
- Villeneuve shot much of “Dune: Part Three” on Imax 70mm; Coogler’s “Black Panther 3” will use large-format 70mm in part.
- Full Imax shoots are costly: “The Odyssey” cost $250 million, with roughly $3 million in raw film stock alone.
- Imax says it will support full shoots when cameras and Kodak/Fotokem print partnerships can be scheduled.
Interest in all-Imax features is rising after Variety reported on the format’s box-office pull and which directors might follow Nolan. For more entertainment alerts, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Why does The Odyssey matter for full Imax shoots?
In May 2025, it was revealed that Nolan’s “The Odyssey” would be the first feature filmed entirely with Imax 70mm cameras. That news sparked interest from other filmmakers.
As the film’s domestic box office sails toward nearly $300 million, with Imax 70mm screenings sold out for weeks, an Imax source told Variety that success could push all-Imax shooting into another stratosphere. Visually, the source said, “The Odyssey” is sharper, and the projection is much brighter, making the experience more immersive.
Nolan has been building toward this since he first used Imax on “The Dark Knight.”
Who else could shoot a film entirely on Imax?
Denis Villeneuve has said he shot much of “Dune: Part Three” on Imax 70mm film — a first for him — while keeping desert scenes digital because he likes that look. He called the result “quite unmatchable” and hopes to do it again. His upcoming James Bond film could offer another large-scale canvas.
Ryan Coogler, whose next film is “Black Panther 3,” previously shot “Sinners” sequences on 15-perf Imax film and Ultra Panavision 70. Marvel’s Comic-Con panel revealed “Black Panther 3” will partially shoot in large format on 70mm film — a first for Marvel. An Imax source called Coogler “an amazing partner” and said the company hopes he will shoot on film again, while noting it cannot confirm interest in a fully Imax shoot.
Other titles filmed for Imax include Michael B. Jordan’s “The Thomas Crown Affair” remake, “The End of Oak Street,” “Resident Evil,” and “Digger.” “Project Hail Mary” used an Imax-certified digital camera, with film prints created by the company.
What does it cost to shoot entirely on Imax?
Shooting with Imax cameras is expensive. “The Odyssey” cost $250 million to produce — Nolan’s most expensive film to date. Raw film stock runs about $1.50 per foot; with roughly two million feet used, that alone is about $3 million.
Developing and processing add more. One print of “The Odyssey” costs $50,000, a source confirmed, and the studio decides how many prints to make.
Still, Imax says full shoots are possible. “If people want to create for our format, we do everything within our power to enable them to do that,” the source said, citing camera scheduling and enough time to create film prints with Kodak and Fotokem.