You may have to cross state or even international borders to experience the most immersive version of “Oppenheimer.”
Only 19 theaters in the United States and 30 worldwide are showing the ambitious biopic about J. Robert Oppenheimer, known as the father of the atomic bomb, in a version of the film at its most epic.
Moviegoers across much of the US and Canada would have to drive more than three hours – the film’s runtime – to get to a theater showing the Imax 70mm version of the film.
“We put a lot of effort into making the film so that we could show it on these large format screens,” director Christopher Nolan told the Associated Press. “It’s really a great way to give people an experience that they can’t do at home.”
Nolan’s team used Imax-specific cameras and custom Kodak film for parts of “Oppenheimer,” meaning giant Imax screens with higher aspect ratios and the necessary projection systems fill additional parts of the scene compared to traditional horizontal screens.
The terminology and listings can be confusing. So be careful when booking your tickets. A film version generally offers higher resolution than a digital version. Most Imax entries will be digital, some may not Have the projection system you need to fill a larger aspect ratio and deliver a highly immersive, uncropped feel. The film’s website provides a detailed overview of the options.
If you can’t go to one of the 30 cinemas offering the film in Imax 70mm, Nolan has assured moviegoers that the more horizontal 70mm film version will also be a good option. (There are quite a few of these in the DC space.) Film versions and Imax with laser are probably your best bets if film resolution is important to you.
If screen size is more important to you, chances are that any screen labeled “Imax” is larger than a standard screen, although not all Imax screens are created equal. (An Imax rep recommended calling the theater if you have questions about screen size; The Post called every Imax theater in DC and got a rep at AMC Georgetown who could only confirm that the Imax screen there is “really big.”)
For the area’s largest canvas, visit the Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Northern Virginia to see Cillian Murphy’s six-story tall face.
“There are different shapes of the screen — what we call aspect ratios,” he told the AP. “You have to plan how to then arrange your pictures so that they can be shown in different theaters with equal success.”
Opportunities to see the film in Imax 70mm include seven locations in California, two in London and one each in many cities including Dallas, Indianapolis, Nashville, Providence, Rhode Island and New York City, among others. No theaters in the DC or Chicago area are showing it in this format.
But don’t go until you’ve secured your tickets. Screenings in the Imax 70mm format are in high demand, with many sold out completely or with a seat or two left in the front rows near the screen. According to a Universal Pictures spokesman, theaters are required to show the 70mm Imax film “Oppenheimer” for just three weeks. However, you could extend the term if he performs well.
Here is a full list of cinemas offering Imax 70mm (in addition to other formats).
The theater locations were provided by Imax. Travel time estimates are based on normal traffic conditions. The data was processed by Jared Kohler at Esri. The screen formatting guide information is provided by Imax. Footage from Universal Pictures via AP.