Ticket Reselling for “The Odyssey” Skyrockets in NYC

Fans of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” are facing steep prices on the resale market for tickets to the only true IMAX 70mm screen in New York City. Some sellers are listing seats for over $1,000 each.

In a clever move, one eBay seller managed to sell a pair of tickets for $999 each at AMC Lincoln Square 13, offloading three pairs in total.

Other eBay listings have also emerged, including six “Prime Seats” priced at $998 and three back row seats going for $899.

One particularly ambitious reseller is asking a staggering $7,000 for five tickets to the August showing. Surprisingly, as of Tuesday afternoon, no buyers had taken the bait.

A dedicated Reddit page for New York moviegoers is buzzing with requests, as fans are eager to catch the film in the exceptional IMAX format that Nolan had envisioned. It’s this unique experience that has sparked such intense demand.

One user expressed frustration, saying, “I just want one 70mm ticket… It hurts that I can only get one ticket for one day. I heard some people didn’t come to see the movie.” They even pleaded, “If you’re planning to skip, send me your tickets. I’m calling Zeus himself.”

With only about 40 theaters worldwide featuring genuine IMAX 70mm large screens, it’s no wonder the demand is so high. AMC Lincoln Square 13 stands alone in New York City, boasting the largest screen in the country—75.6 feet tall and 101 feet wide.

In fact, while it shares the same usable space as a 76-foot screen in Pooler, Georgia, AMC Lincoln Square is still unique in its offerings.

Due to the immense demand, all IMAX 70mm showings—scheduled for 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m., and 2 a.m.—are sold out through August 19. As of Tuesday, no seats were left.

The only available IMAX 70mm tickets were for wheelchair seating, but fans are cautioned that opportunistic buyers are even snatching those up.

In a post titled “Read this if you’re not disabled,” a user urged, “If you’re not disabled, please stop buying wheelchair spaces, especially companion seats, regardless of the movie’s popularity.”

Some frustrated fans have even encountered scams. “I’ve been trying to get tickets. I’ve been scammed all over the place,” reported one Reddit user who chose to remain anonymous.

A moderator from the r/NYCmovies subreddit mentioned that while the community tries to fend off scammers, the challenge lies in the anonymity of accounts, making it hard to trace fraudsters.

For those opting not to experience the film in IMAX 70mm, AMC Lincoln Square 13 has enough seats for Dolby and Laser screenings, which remain available.

However, many moviegoers prefer to watch the nearly three-hour film in its highest quality. AMC Stubs A-List members have expressed their discontent, as scalpers often beat them to newly available tickets.

Maria Markle, a Manhattan researcher and A-list member, shared that although she was part of a group of five friends who held memberships, only one was able to snag the coveted IMAX tickets.

“I couldn’t get IMAX tickets at AMC, so I ended up watching it on a regular non-IMAX screen the first night,” she recounted. “As much as I’d love to see it again on the 70mm IMAX screen at Lincoln Center, that’s not an option right now.”

Despite their enthusiasm, many Reddit users have taken to discussing seat views and even trading tickets. Still, according to r/NYCmovies regulations, tickets should only be sold at their original price of $33.

Multiple posts cautioned users to be careful of scammers requesting money transfers via Venmo or Zelle without providing proof of purchase. One user noted that there were about 10 empty seats in a crowded theater on a recent Monday night, suggesting that scalpers had gotten so aggressive that they couldn’t sell their tickets in time.