Christopher Nolan’s epic The Odyssey is still over a month away from release, but the IMAX ticket war has already begun in India. Advance bookings opened on June 8 at 10 AM sharp, and cinephiles across the country are already shelling out big bucks – or scoring sweet deals. While Universal Pictures has only opened two IMAX shows per theatre so far (one early morning, one evening), the price disparity from city to city is giving fans major sticker shock.
From a shocking Rs 3,000 in Pune to a jaw-droppingly low Rs 370 in Delhi, we break down where you should book your seat – and where you might want to think twice.
Pune hits the roof, Delhi keeps it real
If you live in Pune, be ready to empty your pockets. The 7 AM show at Cinepolis Aundh and the 9 AM show at Inox Megaplex are already priced between Rs 1,400 and Rs 2,600 for standard IMAX seats. The evening shows? They go all the way up to Rs 3,000 for the best seats. Yes, you read that right – three grand for a movie ticket in Pune. That’s even pricier than Nolan’s own Oppenheimer blockbuster pricing, yaar. Insiders say it’s because of limited IMAX screens in the city and sky-high demand for Nolan’s mythological spectacle.
Meanwhile, Delhi-NCR is laughing all the way to the counter. The cheapest ticket in the entire country is at Inox Paras in Delhi, where the 9:15 AM show starts at just Rs 370. Even the recliner seats there top out at Rs 650 for the evening show. PVR Priya is also reasonable at Rs 450-490, though recliners go up to Rs 1,400. In Noida, PVR Superplex charges Rs 640-760 for afternoon shows and Rs 700-810 for late night. PVR Vegas Dwarka comes in at Rs 830-1,050. So if you’re a Delhiite, abhi booking karo – you’re getting the best deal by far.
Mumbai, Bengaluru, and the South story
Mumbai, as always, has options for every budget. The cheapest IMAX experience is at INOX Malad, where morning show tickets are just Rs 450-520. The evening show is Rs 700-800. EROX IMAX is similarly priced at Rs 500-550 for morning and Rs 700-750 for evening. PVR Lower Parel is slightly higher – morning at Rs 700-1,400 and evening at Rs 900-1,400. Cinepolis Thane is the most expensive in Mumbai: morning shows at Rs 950-1,050 and evening at Rs 1,400-1,600. At Cinepolis Seawoods, no ticket is under Rs 1,300, and evening shows hit Rs 2,000.
Down South, Bengaluru’s Cinepolis Nexus has a flat Rs 900-1,000 for both shows. Kochi is slightly cheaper at Rs 750-950. Coimbatore’s iconic Broadway theatre wins the ‘best value’ title in the South with a flat rate of Rs 508.34 – who even comes up with that exact number? In Kolkata, INOX South City is a steal: morning show at Rs 470-500 and evening at Rs 680-710.
More screens yet to open, dynamic pricing in play
As of June 8 morning, several IMAX properties are still not accepting bookings. That includes Miraj IMAX Wadala in Mumbai, PVR Palazzo and INOX Velachery in Chennai, PVR Palladium in Ahmedabad, and INOX Megaplex in Lucknow. And here’s the kicker: theatres in India often practice dynamic pricing. As demand rises, ticket rates could shoot up even higher. So if you see a decent price right now, grab it quickly – tomorrow it might cost double.
Nolan fans are already buzzing on social media, comparing receipts and debating if the experience is worth the moolah. With The Odyssey promising mind-bending visuals on the largest IMAX screens, the answer for most is a resounding ‘haan, bhai!’ – even if it means spending a small fortune in Pune. Book smart, or book broke, but make sure you book.