One of Only 25 in the World: Inside King of Prussia's Massive 70Mm Imax Setup for 'The Odyssey'
By Chloe Bennett
Understanding the draw of the 70mm IMAX film projector requires looking directly at film stock physics. Standard 35mm film feeds vertically through a gate, offering roughly six square centimeters of visual information per frame. Standard 70mm theatrical projection runs five perforations high (5/70). The IMAX 1570 film projection format, however, runs sideways across the gate, capturing fifteen horizontal perforations per single frame.
This horizontal orientation yields an image area approximately ten times larger than conventional 35mm stock, resolving an estimated optical equivalent of 18,000 horizontal pixels. The massive frame projects at a native aspect ratio of 1.43:1, turning the movie screen into an imposing vertical monolith rather than a horizontal ribbon. During major set pieces in The Odyssey, the King of Prussia screen expands upward and downward simultaneously, entirely swallowing the peripheral vision of audience members sitting in the lower tiers.
Standard multiplex screens display films at either 1.90:1 or 2.39:1 letterbox. When projected digitally on standard cinema rigs, the vertical head-and-foot room captured by Nolan's IMAX cameras is permanently lopped off. At King of Prussia, those cutaway margins remain untouched, delivering visual depth and spatial scale that digital algorithms cannot simulate.
Chloe Bennett explores the intersection of pop culture, streaming entertainment, digital trends, and contemporary lifestyle. Her weekly commentary reaches thousands of culture enthusiasts.
