There’s a lot of debate around what the “best” way to watch The Odyssey is, given that the Christopher Nolan epic was shot for 70mm IMAX screens. But you know what’s definitely not the best way to watch it? 4DX. That is, unless you were hoping to make the three-hour movie feel like a prolonged amusement park ride.
For those who have never watched a movie in 4DX, the format aims to create a more immersive movie viewing experience — complete with moving seats, effects like splashing viewers with water during scenes when it would feel appropriate, and even trying to recreate scents to make you feel like you’re right next to the characters.
For The Odyssey, a movie about a long voyage on rocky seas, 4DX showings are really leaning into the seasickness of it all, tossing moviegoers about in their seats and spraying them with water. That kind of thing can feel novel for a few minutes on an immersive rollercoaster, but the thought of sitting through a three-hour movie and being constantly sprayed and shaken is nauseating.
🎬 Quick Overview: Variety sent three writers to a 4DX Odyssey showing. Two made it through. One — Matt Minton — stopped after getting nauseous at the midway point. His verdict: “I can handle pretty much any roller coaster, but three hours of movement… I’m no Odysseus!”
How to Watch The Odyssey — A Comparison
| Format | Pros | Cons | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70mm IMAX | The way Nolan intended; full frame; stunning visuals | Limited theaters; tickets are hard to come by | Best Way |
| Standard Theater | Accessible; comfortable; still looks great | Cropped image; not the full IMAX experience | Good Alternative |
| 4DX | Immersive effects (water, wind, scents, moving seats) | Three hours of shaking and spraying; motion sickness; distracting | Avoid Unless You Hate Yourself |
What It’s Like to Watch The Odyssey in 4DX
Seeing clips from the 4DX showings pretty much solidified that it’s an experience I don’t need to have. I have enough trouble sitting in a car most days without getting motion sick — and that’s when the trip is only around 20 or 30 minutes long.
Variety sent three writers to a 4DX Odyssey showing, and while two of them made it all the way through the movie, Matt Minton admits he stopped after he started getting nauseous at the midway point from all the motion.
“I can handle pretty much any roller coaster, but three hours of movement… I’m no Odysseus!”
— Matt Minton, Variety
I saw The Odyssey in a standard theater and still enjoyed it, but I am giving some thought to trying to see it in IMAX when tickets are easier to come by. Right now my usual theater has some open showings but all that’s left are front row seats — and I can’t imagine that craning my neck for three hours would be any more comfortable than getting thrown around in my seat.
🎞️ Final Word: If you have the chance to see The Odyssey in IMAX, take it. If not, a standard theater is perfectly fine. But 4DX? That’s a hard pass. Three hours of being tossed around like a sailor in a storm isn’t immersive — it’s miserable.
