New York film fans scrambling to see Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey in true IMAX 70mm at Lincoln Square are finding themselves in a different kind of thriller: the ticket resale market. Seats at AMC Lincoln Square have vanished from official sale windows, only to pop back up on resale sites for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, turning one theater on the Upper West Side into a mini gold rush for ticket flippers.
Why Lincoln Square Is The Big Prize
AMC Lincoln Square 13 on the Upper West Side is the only theater in New York City, and one of just a few dozen worldwide, that can run the full IMAX 70mm cut of The Odyssey. That makes its shows the closest thing to how the movie was meant to be seen. The auditorium's screen clocks in at roughly 75.6 feet high by 101 feet wide, with more than 400 seats. Combine that with the fact that the film was shot entirely on IMAX 70mm and opened on July 17, and you get a massive crush of demand funneled into a single room. According to Gothamist, that scarcity is a big part of why Lincoln Square showings have become the city's hottest ticket.
Scalpers Turn $33 Tickets Into Big Bucks
On paper, an IMAX 70mm ticket to The Odyssey at Lincoln Square runs about $33. On resale sites, it is a different story. Listings on marketplaces like eBay have asked for, and in some cases received, prices in the hundreds and even into four figures. The Washington Post found tickets posted for as much as $1,000, and resale trackers have flagged completed eBay sales over that level in multiple cities. That gap between the $33 face value and what buyers are actually paying has created a secondary market that many fans say is freezing out regular moviegoers.
Buyers Say They're Getting Burned
For some hopeful attendees, the pain is not just sticker shock. People searching community boards for last-minute seats say they are running into outright scams, with sellers demanding payment in advance and then disappearing. One moviegoer, Gabe Amaya, told Gothamist, "I actually sent them $50, and they ghosted me," a story that echoes through dozens of local forum posts. Threads on sites like Reddit show moderators and regulars urging buyers to insist on proof before sending money and to avoid wiring funds to strangers altogether.
Why There Aren't More Seats
The logjam is not just corporate strategy, it is hardware. True IMAX 70mm projection relies on aging, highly specialized projectors and massive film prints, so only a limited number of auditoriums can show the full 1.43:1 IMAX frame. Industry reporting notes that converting a digital or laser auditorium into a film-capable house is costly and time consuming, which helps explain why the official list of participating theaters is so short. You can read more on the technical and supply-side hurdles in coverage by TechRadar and see compiled theater lists at outlets like JustJared.
How To Avoid Scams
For anyone still hunting a seat, the usual internet survival rules apply. Buy directly from the theater or verified ticketing partners whenever possible. If you are dealing with a private seller, ask for a clear screenshot of the purchase confirmation that shows the date, row and seat numbers, and never send a wire transfer or similar irreversible payment to someone you cannot verify. IMAX's ticket-finder tools and official listings on IMAX can help point you to alternate venues and formats if the 70mm screenings are gone, and community threads advise trading only when there is solid proof and meeting in public for any in-person exchanges.
Will More 70mm Screens Appear?
Theaters are trying to keep up. Some venues have already added late-night and overnight showings to soak up demand, but industry observers say expanding the number of film-capable IMAX 70mm screens will not happen overnight because of the equipment and logistics involved. For now, the Lincoln Square run remains both rare and valuable. Showtimes at AMC Lincoln Square already stretch deep into late July and early August, with some days featuring overnight slots. Moviegoers are being told to keep checking listings at the theater and on third-party schedulers for new showings and any last-minute ticket drops.
