Interstellar is returning to IMAX for the sci-fi film’s 10th anniversary on December 6. Normally, this would be a time for fans of the impressive space epic and its director, Christopher Nolan, to celebrate. Finally, a chance to once again see all 64 minutes of those glorious 70mm shots of blackholes and planetary tsunamis on a massive screen again. Unfortunately, everything about how Interstellar’s IMAX return has been rolled out has fans disappointed and furious.
The mess started when tickets were supposed to go up for pre-order on November 7 but there was hardly any advance warning for fans to prepare. Then, instead of all going up at the same time, some movie goers were able to get them earlier on the AMC app while Fandango didn’t have them available until hours after it originally said it would.
A confusing purchase process was compounded by the fact that only a few IMAX theaters will actually be showing Interstellar next month, and even then it will only be for one week. Show times start on December 6 and only run through the following Friday on December 13. And only the eight theaters below, spread out across just six states, have showings:
- Dallas, TX – Cinemark Dallas & IMAX
- Fort Lauderdale, FL – AutoNation IMAX, Museum of Discovery & Science
- Indianapolis, IN – IMAX, Indiana State Museum
- Irvine, CA – Regal Edwards Irvine Spectrum & IMAX
- New York, NY – AMC Lincoln Square 13 & IMAX
- San Francisco, CA – AMC Metreon 16 & IMAX
- Tempe, AZ – Harkins Arizona Mills 25 & IMAX
- Universal City, CA – Universal Cinema AMC at CityWalk Hollywood & IMAX
Even if you live within driving distance of one of the theaters, almost all of the tickets have already sold out within 24 hours of becoming available. It’s possible that more theaters could still get IMAX showings in the weeks ahead. With demand being as high as it is, it will be competing against other blockbusters like Moana 2 (out November 27), and, as more dates are added, Sonic 3 (out December 20). At least one theater, Autonation in Fort Lauderdale, has announced it will be showing Insterstellar in IMAX for a second week.
“There wasn’t a showing anywhere close,” wrote one disappointed fan on the IMAX subreddit. “Not even Nashville, which surprised me. I waited all year for this too. This has been tied as my favorite film for the past ten years and I always regretting not seeing it in IMAX when it first released.”
Even those who did mange to snag tickets are now traveling hundreds of miles to make it work. One person booked an entire trip from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale 200 miles away, including lodging. Others are driving as much as eight hours to find their closest IMAX showing. Is that practical? In the words of Interstallar’s protagonist, Cooper, “No. It’s necessary.”
Hopefully, theaters decide it’s necessary to bring Interstellar back to IMAX at another time at more places. For now, everyone else will have to make due with regular screenings later in December.
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