L.A.'s Historic Alex Theatre Becomes No. 1 Grossing Venue for Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' in

In an era dominated by digital projection and multiplex dominance, a century-old historic theater in Southern California has achieved an extraordinary box office milestone by turning back the clock to analog film craft. Glendale's Alex Theatre, which had not screened a first-run feature film in thirty-five years, has officially claimed the top spot as the highest-grossing venue in the United States for 70mm showings of Christopher Nolan's mythological epic, The Odyssey.

Quick summary

• Glendale's historic Alex Theatre earned the highest domestic box office returns for 70mm presentations of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey.
• The milestone follows a $500,000 renovation that installed specialized 70mm projection hardware overseen by IMAX consultant Taylor Umphenour.
• The 900-seat venue, which last ran a first-run film in 1991, will extend its current run and build a recurring slate featuring major upcoming large-format releases.

Why it matters

The triumph of the Alex Theatre underscores a growing trend in modern exhibition: moviegoers are increasingly seeking out premium, tactile, and distinct theatrical formats that cannot be replicated in a home streaming environment. By transforming a historic multi-use theater into a premier destination for celluloid projection, the venue demonstrates a viable operational pathway for independent and heritage performance spaces. The overwhelming demand for 70mm screenings proves that specialty film presentation remains a powerful driver of box office performance, encouraging studios and exhibitors to invest in large-format film infrastructure.

Background

Designed with a blend of Classical Revival and Moderne architectural details, the 900-seat Alex Theatre has long served as a landmark cultural institution in Glendale. However, its history as a first-run movie house fell silent after 1991, when it hosted James Cameron’s sci-fi blockbuster Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Over the subsequent three decades, the location operated primarily as a venue for live artistic performances, including classical ballet, orchestral pieces, and rock concerts.

Recognizing the rising audience demand for event-style cinema, theater management initiated a major transition six weeks prior to the July 17 premiere of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. The venue executed a $500,000 engineering investment to construct a dedicated ground-floor projection booth capable of handling physical 70mm film stock, bringing first-run cinema back to its auditorium after thirty-five years.

Inside the $500,000 Technical Upgrade

Bringing high-grade 70mm projection to a venue designed in the early 20th century required specialized engineering expertise. The theater enlisted veteran Los Angeles projectionist Taylor Umphenour, an IMAX consultant who previously collaborated directly with Christopher Nolan on his film dailies, to lead the design and structural execution of the project.

The overhaul centered on installing a custom ground-floor projection booth equipped to handle heavy celluloid reels and meet strict acoustic and visual display standards. According to Umphenour, the resurgence of interest in analog film stems from a genuine audience desire for authentic, shared theatrical narrative experiences, which large-format celluloid delivers through superior picture depth and rich color performance.

Box Office Performance and Summer Market Dynamics

Since opening Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey on July 17, the Alex Theatre has maintained a rigorous schedule of three daily screenings. The enthusiastic public response led artistic director Miles Williams to announce an extension of the film’s run by at least two additional weeks to meet sustained demand.

Nationally, The Odyssey has generated $395.5 million in domestic box office returns. The film recently yielded the top spot on weekly charts to Sony’s superhero release, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has taken over a portion of commercial IMAX screens nationwide. However, the Alex Theatre’s dedicated 70mm configuration allowed it to capture dedicated film purists and outgross all competing venues showing the 70mm print format across North America.

Long-Term Cinema Roadmap for the Alex Theatre

Rather than treating The Odyssey as a single event, leadership at the Alex Theatre plans to establish film projection as a permanent pillar of its monthly operations. Artistic director Miles Williams confirmed that the theater is allocating eight to ten nights per month specifically for movie programming, while preserving its main schedule of live concerts and performing arts events.

The venue has already secured commitments for upcoming event titles in large-format cinematic presentation. Future programming includes Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three scheduled for December, followed by Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew in February 2027. This hybrid programming strategy positions the Alex Theatre as a key player in West Coast specialty exhibition.

Qnews24h insight

The Alex Theatre's remarkable box office milestone offers a clear lesson in exhibition strategy: specialized experience can dramatically elevate venue performance even in a challenging theatrical market. By securing the top grossing position for 70mm showings of The Odyssey, the venue proved that investing in premium analog infrastructure yields immediate returns when paired with a marquee director's work. However, managing this momentum will require careful operational balance. Integrating eight to ten movie nights per month alongside established ballet and live music schedules creates complex calendar coordination. Additionally, sourcing physical film prints and maintaining specialized technical systems represent ongoing operational costs. The Alex Theatre's trajectory will serve as an important case study for whether single-screen historic venues can establish long-term financial stability by bridging the gap between legacy performing arts and event cinema.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the Alex Theatre become the top-grossing venue for 70mm screenings?

The 900-seat venue invested $500,000 in specialized ground-floor projection booth upgrades and offered three daily 70mm screenings, drawing high audience demand from film enthusiasts seeking large-format analog presentations.

When was the last time the Alex Theatre ran a first-run movie before 'The Odyssey'?

Prior to 'The Odyssey', the last first-run film screened at the Alex Theatre was James Cameron's 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' in 1991.

What future major releases are planned for presentation at the Alex Theatre?

The venue plans to screen Denis Villeneuve's 'Dune: Part Three' in December and Greta Gerwig's 'Narnia: The Magician's Nephew' in February 2027 as part of its ongoing specialty movie programming.

Sources

Source details provided by The Hollywood Reporter.