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Fans of Christopher Nolan won't have long to wait before they can watch "The Odyssey" at home. Universal has confirmed the film will be released on UHD Blu-ray and in digital stores on exactly the same day. It's a rather unusual decision, as most major productions first go to digital distribution and only later get a physical release. Nolan is once again showing that cinema and physical media still matter a great deal to him.
"The Odyssey" to get simultaneous UHD Blu-ray and digital release
"The Odyssey" will be available to buy digitally and on UHD Blu-ray from 17 November 2026. Universal has opted for a simultaneous launch of both formats, which is relatively rare for high‑budget productions. The film will therefore stay in cinemas for about 120 days before heading to the home release. Such a long theatrical exclusivity window is reminiscent of strategies used before the pandemic. After 2020 most Hollywood productions significantly shortened the wait for home release. From the start, "The Odyssey" has been a production strongly focused on the cinema experience. Christopher Nolan's film runs for about three hours and tells the story of Odysseus returning to Ithaca after the end of the Trojan War. Matt Damon stars in the title role. The production has been a huge financial success, grossing roughly $1.45 billion worldwide. Nolan has repeatedly emphasised his commitment to cinemas and physical releases, so the decision to debut the UHD Blu-ray and the digital version simultaneously fits his approach. For collectors this will be a particularly interesting release, as the film is set to receive a 4K HDR picture. Early information also indicates the use of a DTS‑HD MA 5.1 soundtrack, although Universal has not yet officially confirmed all technical specifications.
Home version will retain the cinematic IMAX look
One of the most interesting aspects of the release of "The Odyssey" will be how the picture is presented. The film was shot entirely in the IMAX 1.43:1 format, which is much taller than the standard widescreen TV image. For the home release the 1.78:1 format is expected to be used, effectively the classic 16:9 aspect ratio. That will make the image fit modern TVs much better. However, it will not be the full 1.43:1 seen on the largest IMAX screens. The 1.78:1 format is very close to the 1.90:1 ratio used in many contemporary IMAX theatres. It can therefore be regarded as a solution similar to IMAX Enhanced, although the final release specs have not yet been officially confirmed. The problem is that virtually no modern TV has an aspect ratio that allows displaying the full IMAX 1.43:1 image without compromise. As a result, viewers watching at home will not get exactly the same framing as during a screening on the biggest IMAX screen. In theory, the full 1.43:1 image could be reproduced on a virtual screen using VR headsets. IMAX has already worked with Apple using the Apple Vision Pro, but so far that solution has been limited mainly to 3D documentaries. Nolan is not currently interested in porting his films to VR, so UHD Blu-ray will remain the main option for people wanting to enjoy "The Odyssey" in high quality at home.
"The Odyssey" will get a home release on 17 November 2026, and the same day it will be available on both UHD Blu-ray and in digital stores. The film has already grossed about US$1.45 billion, and its 120-day theatrical exclusivity is unusually long by current standards. The release will offer 4K HDR and an image in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio intended to resemble the format used in most IMAX theatres. However, the full 1.43:1 picture from IMAX's largest screens cannot be reproduced on a typical TV.
source: flatpanelshd
