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Fans of Christopher Nolan won't have to wait long to be able to watch "The Odyssey" at home. Universal has confirmed that the film will be available on UHD Blu-ray and in digital stores on that exact same day. It's a fairly unusual decision, since most major releases go to digital distribution first and only later receive a physical release. Nolan once again shows that theaters and physical media still matter a great deal to him.
"The Odyssey" will get a simultaneous UHD Blu-ray and digital release
"The Odyssey" will be available to buy digitally and on UHD Blu-ray on November 17, 2026. Universal has opted for a simultaneous release in both formats, which is relatively rare for big-budget productions. The film will therefore remain in theaters for about 120 days before heading to home distribution. Such a long period of theatrical exclusivity echoes 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 geared toward the theatrical experience. Christopher Nolan's film runs 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 as the title character. The production was a massive financial success, earning roughly $1.45 billion worldwide. Nolan has repeatedly emphasized his attachment to cinemas and physical releases of films. So the decision for a simultaneous UHD Blu-ray and digital debut fits his approach. Collectors will find this release particularly interesting, because the film is set to receive a 4K HDR transfer. Preliminary information also indicates the use of a DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack, though 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 November 17, 2026, and that same day it will be available both on UHD Blu-ray and in digital stores. The film has already grossed about $1.45 billion, and its 120-day exclusive theatrical window is exceptionally long by current standards. The release will offer 4K HDR and a 1.78:1 image, intended to resemble the format used in most IMAX theaters. However, the full 1.43:1 image from the largest IMAX screens cannot be reproduced on a typical TV.
source: flatpanelshd
