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Fans of Christopher Nolan will not have to wait long to be able to watch "The Odyssey" at home. Universal has confirmed that the film will be released on UHD Blu-ray and in digital stores on exactly the same day. It is a rather unusual decision, because most major productions go to digital distribution first and only receive a physical release later. Nolan once again shows that cinema and physical media still matter greatly to him.
"The Odyssey" to get a simultaneous release on UHD Blu-ray and digitally
"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, a relatively rare approach for high‑budget productions. The film will therefore remain in cinemas for around 120 days before heading to home release. Such a long theatrical exclusivity period is reminiscent of strategies used before the pandemic. After 2020 most Hollywood productions significantly shortened the wait for home release. From the outset, "The Odyssey" has been a film that emphasises the cinematic 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 lead role, portraying the title character. The production has been a huge financial success, grossing around $1.45 billion in worldwide box office receipts. 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 it will be a particularly interesting release, as the film is set to be presented in 4K HDR. Preliminary information also points to the use of a DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack, although Universal has not yet officially confirmed all technical specifications.
The home release will preserve the cinematic character of the IMAX image
One of the most interesting issues regarding the release of "The Odyssey" will be how the image is presented. The film was shot from start to finish in the IMAX 1.43:1 format, which is significantly taller than the standard widescreen television image. The home edition is set to use the 1.78:1 format, effectively the classic 16:9 aspect ratio. This will make the image much better suited to modern televisions. However, it will not be the full 1.43:1 seen on the largest IMAX screens. The 1.78:1 format is, however, very close to the 1.90:1 proportions used in many contemporary IMAX cinemas. It can therefore be regarded as a solution similar to IMAX Enhanced, although the final release specifications have not yet been officially confirmed. The problem is that virtually no modern television has the aspect ratio required to display the full IMAX 1.43:1 image without compromises. As a result, viewers watching the film at home will not get exactly the same framing as during a screening in the largest IMAX auditorium. Theoretically, the full 1.43:1 image could be reproduced on a virtual screen using VR goggles. IMAX has already worked with Apple on use with the Apple Vision Pro, but to date that solution has been mainly limited to 3D documentaries. Nolan is currently not interested in transferring his films to VR, which is why UHD Blu-ray will remain the primary option for those wanting to enjoy the high quality of "The Odyssey" at home.
"The Odyssey" will receive a home release on 17 November 2026 and will be available the same day on UHD Blu-ray and in digital stores. The film has already earned around $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 mirror the format used in most IMAX theatres. However, the full 1.43:1 image from the largest IMAX screens cannot be reproduced on a typical television.
source: flatpanelshd
