Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Is Ruining 'Spider-Man 4's IMAX Release Actorsvaultpro

Though it’s still 2025, it’s hard not to look at next summer’s movie releases and think about all the exciting blockbusters. A new Toy Story, a new Star Wars, and a new Steven Spielberg film will pave the way for July, which has two of the biggest releases of the decade. The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan‘s follow-up to his Oscar-winning Oppenheimer, will release in theaters on July 17, 2026. Tom Holland’s fourth Spider-Man film, titled Spider-Man: Brand New Day, will then release on July 31, 2026. Their release dates are already close together, but to make matters worse for Brand New Day, The Odyssey is getting an extended IMAX run. That run will block Marvel’s big summer blockbuster from getting the biggest screens possible.

This news was revealed during an IMAX investor presentation, which showed The Odyssey as the only film on IMAX screens until Flowervale Street on August 14, 2026. While it’s surprising that an MCU film like Spider-Man: Brand New Day won’t get an IMAX release between the two, Nolan’s strong support of IMAX technologies makes this less unexpected. Fans who want to see Tom Holland on the biggest screens can still do so, as he also stars in The Odyssey.

Christopher Nolan Deserves the IMAX Release

Universal Pictures

It might seem frustrating that Spider-Man: Brand New Day won’t get put on the biggest screen, but The Odyssey deserves an IMAX release. Christopher Nolan began using IMAX in 2008 with The Dark Knight, which was the first major feature film to partially use IMAX cameras. Nolan used the cameras on nearly all of his following films, excluding Inception. The director’s passion for the format is so strong that the investor presentation uses him as the first photo on a slide about “The IMAX Experience.” Audiences have noticed that IMAX tickets for select locations showing The Odyssey went on sale a year before the film’s release date and sold out the same day.

The Odyssey takes Nolan’s IMAX love a step further. The Odyssey will be the first blockbuster ever filmed entirely with IMAX cameras. They are big and expensive, so it makes sense that most films don’t use them for the whole movie. However, The Odyssey will break new ground. Considering this is such a big step for IMAX filmmaking, it’s honestly surprising that The Odyssey is only getting four weeks on IMAX screens.

There’s a good chance Disney also didn’t give IMAX enough attention to convince the company to put Brand New Day on their screens. The investor presentation highlights which films were actually filmed for IMAX, as opposed to movies that are simply released on IMAX screens. Some of Disney’s big releases, such as Predator: Badlands and Avengers: Doomsday, do not have this aspect listed. That’s not great for IMAX if Disney’s taking up screens without also spending the money to use IMAX-specific cameras.

IMAX could also have more faith in The Odyssey to look better on screen, since filming for that project is already wrapped, while Brand New Day continues filming. If Disney wants to play Spider-Man in IMAX, the studio could attempt to move the release date, though it may be too late. Disney’s out of other options because IMAX screens are so limited. Brand New Day can still get a Dolby release, but that doesn’t pack the same punch as an IMAX release.

Either Way, Tom Holland Wins

The best part about The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day competing for IMAX screens is that Tom Holland wins either way. Tom Holland actually stars in both films, playing the titular character in Brand New Day and playing Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, in The Odyssey. Tom Holland proved he’s a rising star as early as Spider-Man: Homecoming, so it’s no surprise he’s leading one of the biggest blockbusters of 2026. However, the fact that he stars in two of the summer’s biggest movies is mighty impressive.

Holland isn’t the only actor appearing in both films. Jon Bernthal, who will appear in Brand New Day as the Punisher, also gets to act alongside Holland in The Odyssey. It’s a bit of a full-circle moment for the actors, as they worked together to record audition tapes for their Marvel roles while on set for the drama Pilgrimage. Zendaya will also appear in both films, reprising her role as MJ from past Spider-Man films in Brand New Day and playing an undisclosed character in The Odyssey. Zendaya and Tom Holland also got engaged this year.

These three actors won’t be the only people benefiting from the similar release dates between The Odyssey and Brand New Day. Audiences can expect to be pleased by having such highly anticipated blockbusters so close together on the schedule. Both films will be filled with spectacle and well-choreographed fighting. The large casts in both films should surely lead to at least a few memorable performances. Spider-Man: Brand New Day releases in theaters on July 31, 2026. The Odyssey releases in theaters on July 17, 2026.