'Oppenheimer' tech issues at IMAX screenings in Ontario only available at 30 theatres in the world
CTV
Moviegoers who scored elusive tickets to Oppenheimer’s premier screening in Toronto were met with disappointment as technical issues plagued the 'gold standard' IMAX 70-millimetre format.
Moviegoers who scored elusive tickets to "Oppenheimer’s" premier screenings were met with disappointment as technical issues plagued the “gold standard” IMAX 70-millimetre format in Ontario.
Patrick Tomasso bought tickets to see a 70-millimetre screening of the highly anticipated movie two months in advance at a Vaughan, Ont., Cineplex theatre 45 minutes north of his home in downtown Toronto.
Writer and director Christopher Nolan called the format the “gold standard” for viewing his biopic about the creator of the atomic bomb, with 10 times the standard resolution filling giant IMAX screens from top to bottom.
However, only 30 theatres in the world held these viewings – two in Ontario, and in total, five across Canada – with tickets costing just over $21.
The dense and intense film rolled into its third act when it abruptly shut off at the Vaughan viewing and the theatre went dark.
“Some people were joking, ‘is that the end of the movie?’” Tomasso recalled. But he checked, and there were still 40 minutes left.
“After a couple minutes, I guess a manager or someone who works for the theatre came out and said, ‘We don't know what’s happening, we’re having technical difficulties,’” he said.