In brief
Christopher Nolan’s movie The Odyssey, shot entirely on 70mm IMAX film, was unexpectedly uploaded as an embedded video on the platform X, where it quickly gathered over two million views in a short span. Variety reported the leak before the account was suspended, while lower‑quality versions surfaced subsequently but were swiftly taken down. Universal Studios responded with a prompt takedown notice and a statement on pursuing legal remedies for copyright infringement. Despite the incident, the film’s box‑office performance remains strong, earning $215 million in its second weekend and $640 million overall. The leak highlights the challenges that traditional film releases face in the age of social media and digital sharing.
Director Christopher Nolan intended The Odyssey to be a cinematic experience on giant screens, but a different distribution surfaced on social media.
The film, shot entirely on 70mm IMAX cameras, was reportedly posted as an embedded high‑quality video on X (formerly Twitter). Variety reports the tweet attracted 2.1 million views in just two and a half hours before the account was suspended.
Fans echoed the situation: one user quipped, "The full odyssey movie in a tweet, as nolan intended," while another noted, "Someone leaked The Odyssey movie in HD. I thought it was fake but it’s true."
The Hollywood Reporter said a lower‑resolution version appeared on X the following Sunday but was removed after about 50,000 views. Universal, the film’s distributor, announced that it had immediately started takedown procedures and would pursue legal remedies for copyright infringement.
Box‑office figures show the film earned $215 million (£160 million) worldwide during its second weekend, pushing total earnings to $640 million (£480 million). Analysts believe the leak is unlikely to impact future revenue significantly.
This incident underlines the challenges traditional film releases face in the digital age and the potent reach of social media platforms for both fans and illicit content.
