Fans of the Odyssey film are inspired to return to the original Homeric poem.

In cinemas, the film’s global take was £12.6m from the UK, making it the second biggest opening weekend this year behind Toy Story 5.

In the process, The Odyssey broke the opening weekend record for a film shown on an Emax screen in the UK. In the industry edition of Screen Daily, External.

The three-hour run, starring Matt Damon, Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway, was the first theatrical release shot entirely with Imax 70mm film cameras.

There are over 50 Imax screens in the UK and only 3 70mm film projectors – the BFI and Science Museum in London and the Printworks in Manchester.

“They seem so close to the characters, so immersed in the action,” film critic and film podcast host Anna Smith told the Today show.

Imax screenings are more expensive than regular cinema tickets.

“If you have the money and are lucky enough to book it, I don’t think you’ll regret seeing it in Imax 70mm,” said Metro film critic Tory Brazier.

“But at the same time, it’s very expensive and we live in a world where a lot of people watch movies on laptop screens and phone screens, so if you’re going to the cinema, you’re going to get a big screen no matter what.”