AMC CEO Adam Aron says Christopher Nolan’s untitled-then-renamed movie event “The Odyssey” has already set the highest first-day ticket sales for any studio-released film since 2022, with advance demand boosted by IMAX selling select showtimes a year early and
A long line at the ticket counter became the story before the movie even arrived.
On Friday. AMC CEO Adam Aron wrote on X that “The Odyssey” recorded AMC’s “highest first-day ticket sales for any studio-released movie title since 2022.” He also apologized if fans ran into a long ticketing line on the AMC website and app the day before. The reason wasn’t subtle: Universal Pictures’ adaptation of Homer’s Greek epic had already turned heads worldwide long before theaters opened its doors.
The momentum started after Universal announced the film adaptation in late 2024. Then came the trailer. In its first 24 hours, it raked in over 120 million views. With interest building, “The Odyssey” was set for a July 17 debut—while the sales rush began well ahead of that date.
Aron compared the performance against the last few years of AMC’s own releases. On X. he said the only AMC first-day ticket sales results since 2022 that topped “The Odyssey” were tied to two music-led giants: Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. He pointed to the Renaissance concert film from Beyoncé in 2023. as well as AMC’s two Taylor Swift efforts in 2023 and again in 2025.
“The Odyssey” itself is led by Matt Damon as Odysseus. and the cast includes Anne Hathaway. Robert Pattison. Zendaya. Tom Holland. Charlize Theron. Mia Goth. and Lupita Nyong’o. among others. For many theater-goers. that combination of a major studio event and a recognizable ensemble has translated into early action—pushing demand onto AMC’s digital ticketing systems.
There’s also a clear infrastructure play behind the rush. IMAX announced that it would sell tickets for select screens and showtimes a year in advance. Fans who missed the first ticket drop got another chance on Thursday, when advanced tickets went on sale for premium large-format showtimes.
This is happening three years after Nolan’s “Oppenheimer. ” which won seven Academy Awards and became a pop culture phenomenon alongside Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.” Now. “The Odyssey” is being staged for a similar kind of wide attention. with an additional selling point under the spotlight: a June 3. 2026 post from “The Odyssey Movie” on X says the film was “shot entirely with IMAX film cameras” and that theaters open with it on 07.17.26. The post also references “Largest Screens On Sale Tomorrow at 9am PT / 12pm ET.”.
Even with the cinematic buzz, the theater industry’s recent history still hangs over every record. The COVID-19 pandemic and the streaming revolution hit attendance hard. But the rebound is now visible in the audience behavior AMC is seeing.
A Fandango report published in April said Gen Zers and millennials were driving momentum at movie theaters. spending more money and time than other generations. The report cited “a good slate of films in 2025. ” a desire for out-of-the-home experiences. and social opportunities pulling Gen Zers toward theaters. It said Gen Z and millennials saw an average of seven films in 2025. For Gen Z. the report described moviegoing as a form of social gathering; for Millennials. it described it as an escape from daily routine.
AMC’s own numbers in May echo that shift. On Monday, the company said more than 25 million people attended its theaters in May, marking the highest May attendance since 2019. In the company’s press release. Aron said: “These immensely satisfying results reflect the strength of a diverse film slate. one that was driven both by established blockbusters with their well-known characters along with entirely new IP.” He added that “This current measure of success. combined with the many compelling movies coming to our screens in the weeks and months ahead. gives us great confidence as we look to the rest of 2026.”.
The sequence of events—record first-day sales since 2022. a 120-million-plus trailer debut. IMAX selling select showtimes a full year early. and May attendance returning to levels not seen since 2019—lands like more than a movie moment. It points to a theater business that is once again competing for attention in real time. not just waiting for the release date to do the work.
AMC Adam Aron The Odyssey Christopher Nolan Universal Pictures IMAX ticket sales movie theaters Gen Z millennials Fandango box office attendance May 2019 HBO? no streaming
IMAX selling showtimes a year early is kinda wild, wonder who even plans that far.
So they already “crushed ticket records” but the movie isn’t even out yet?? Sounds like bots vs real people honestly. Also AMC always has some website line drama.
I think the delay is the ticketing line problem. Like people didn’t get in on the website so they just queued up in person, then AMC counts that as “since 2022” records. Adam Aron talking like it’s the fans’ fault? lol
Matt Damon as Odysseus?? And Anne Hathaway and all them?? That cast is basically a superhero team so I’m not shocked. But the Odyssey title sounds like something Disney would do, so I got confused for a sec. Also the trailer views numbers are probably exaggerated or whatever, they always are.