Movies

They traveled hundreds of miles to watch ‘Sinners’ make Hollywood history in Imax 70mm: ‘It was a no-brainer’

BBG News

For a movie buff, there’s no greater joy than experiencing Imax 70mm film. Thus, the recent release of Ryan Coogler’s film “Sinners,” which was partially filmed using Imax cameras and is being presented in Imax 70mm format, has been generating a lot of excitement since its premiere over Easter weekend. The movie managed to earn $63.5 million worldwide, surpassing initial predictions.

The movie titled “Sinners” presents a unique blend of storylines: one part portrays the Jim Crow era through the tale of two siblings starting a juke joint, and the other part unfolds as a gripping vampire saga. Michael B. Jordan, often working with Ryan Coogler, and newcomer Miles Caton are the stars. It garnered an unprecedented A rating on CinemaScore – a first for horror films – and boasts an impressive 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Many film enthusiasts are equally thrilled about the unique storyline of the genre-blending movie and the technical prowess demonstrated by director Ryan Coogler, which mirrors Christopher Nolan’s Academy Award-winning film “Oppenheimer.” Interestingly, Todd Phillips’ “Joker: Folie à Deux” and Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two” were exhibited in Imax 70mm recently, but they were filmed digitally for Imax. Before the premiere of “Sinners’,” Coogler urged viewers to watch it in its original format on Imax 70mm screens with a 1.43:1 aspect ratio for an optimal viewing experience.

Meeting the mandate proves to be more challenging than it initially appears since “Sinners” is only being screened in Imax 70mm format at eight cinemas across the US and ten theaters worldwide. These locations include:

1. Harkins Arizona Mills 18 & IMAX, Tempe
2. Regal Irvine Spectrum & IMAX, Irvine
3. Universal Cinema AMC at CityWalk Hollywood & IMAX, Los Angeles
4. AMC Metreon 16 & IMAX, San Francisco
5. AutoNation IMAX Theater, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
6. IMAX Theatre in the Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis
7. AMC Lincoln Square 13 & IMAX, New York City
8. Cinemark Dallas & IMAX, Dallas
9. Cineplex Cinemas Vaughan & IMAX, Ontario, Canada
10. British Film Institute IMAX, London.

Movies

Over the Easter weekend, a horror film directed by Ryan Coogler featuring Michael B. Jordan was number one at the box office. ‘The Minecraft Film’ took the second spot.

As a movie enthusiast reporting on box office figures, I’m excited to share that the average earnings per screen for non-London Imax 70mm locations surpassed an impressive $91,000 over the weekend. This intriguing data was disclosed by Jason Allen, the head of publicity at Imax.

When it comes to what sets Imax 70mm apart, its film camera is often regarded as offering the highest resolution ever achieved in motion picture cameras. The Imax negative, as stated by David Keighley, Imax’s chief quality officer, boasts a resolution of 12x18K. In contrast, the maximum resolution of most standard televisions and movie screens is only 4K.

According to Bill Counter, a former theater historian and projectionist, the image is “extremely clear from one side to the other on a 90-foot screen.” Essentially, he’s saying that “it’s larger, it’s clearer, it’s improved.

Building on the excitement, “Sinners” stands out as it’s the inaugural film to be captured on both IMAX (1.43:1) and Ultra Panavision 70 (2.76:1) film. Autumn Durald Arkapaw becomes the first female cinematographer to work with IMAX film in this production. Interestingly, Ultra Panavision 70 experienced a comeback with Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight” in 2015, after being absent for nearly five decades.

According to Keighley, by directing “Sinners,” Coogler is now associated with esteemed filmmakers such as Nolan, Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, Scorsese, and Spielberg – a group that possesses both the influence and skill to film in traditional formats.

Keighley expressed his enthusiasm, noting that the filmmaker is relatively new yet exceptionally skilled. He’s not just a director who’s captivated by the storyline, but someone who also has a deep affection for the technology. According to him, these two elements combined are what draw audiences to cinemas.

Movies

As a passionate movie connoisseur penning down my thoughts, I felt compelled to express that the creators of the blockbuster ‘Sinners’ carried an immense sense of obligation to captivate and move their audience members, as eloquently conveyed in a heartfelt missive penned by director Ryan Coogler on Tuesday.

Keighley mentioned that “Sinners” is one of the most well-received films he’s been involved with. Moreover, due to high audience interest, Cinemark in Dallas added extra morning showings to the film’s two-week Imax screening, as reported by retired Imax expert Patrick Caldwell.

The restricted global release of “Oppenheimer,” which was shown in IMAX 70mm format, was primarily due to a commercial choice, according to Keighley.

Caldwell made it clear by saying, “Oppenheimer initially sparked things, but let’s be honest, Ryan Coogler isn’t on par with Christopher Nolan in terms of fame. Mr. Coogler doesn’t have the clout to book 30 theaters for each print that costs around $50,000, not even considering the cost of the necessary equipment. Just the bulb in a projector alone costs $4,000.

From another perspective, the scarcity of chances to watch the movie in its original format adds an element of excitement, as audiences understand they are in for a premium and complete visual experience, according to Counter.

Caldwell wondered aloud, “Isn’t it unusual for someone who loves movies? It seems people go great distances just to catch that.

The Times spoke with moviegoers who did just that:

Review

Ryan Coogler’s gory and glorious ‘Sinners,’ a Southern vampire horror-musical, is a hell of a high

In a departure from franchise films, the director known for “The Creed” and “Black Panther” is embarking on an entirely fresh endeavor featuring actors Michael B. Jordan and Miles Caton, a renowned gospel singer.

Sean Smrtka, 46

Where do you live? Outside of Cleveland

What theater did you watch the film in? IMAX Theatre in the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis

What prompted you to take that journey? It’s only our three IMAX locations – Indianapolis, Grand Rapids, and Toronto – that are within reach. It wasn’t until a few years ago when “Oppenheimer” was released that I truly grasped it. I bought a ticket in Indianapolis, stepped inside, and was amazed by the sheer size of the screen, which was significantly larger than my local IMAX. The experience left me utterly captivated. For the 10-year anniversary in December, I returned to see “Interstellar” at the same location.

People often assume that larger or louder means better, but the aspect ratio of scenes significantly influences your viewing experience. I took my father to watch “Sinners” in Indianapolis last Thursday. We had front-row, center seats. Upon entering, he was puzzled, glancing around wondering where the screen was. I pointed out that the entire wall served as the screen. The movie started with a 1.43:1 ratio and his expression suggested that this expansive visual field left him utterly astounded. Discussing it later made the five-hour drive to and from worthwhile.

David Janove, 36

Where do you live? Chicago

What theater did you watch the film in? IMAX Theatre in the Indiana State Museum

What led you to take the journey? For 17 years, I resided in Los Angeles and Orange County, where we were truly pampered. There are numerous IMAX theaters there, the kind that can play traditional films rather than laser projections. Unfortunately, the one at Navy Pier in Chicago closed during COVID-19, and it seems Chicago doesn’t even have laser projection.

To experience the movie “Sinners” as intended, just like Christopher Nolan does his films, I wanted to watch it in 70mm Imax format. The nearest location for this was Indianapolis. On Tuesday, I booked a $166 one-day flight from Chicago, leaving at 7 a.m., and my Uber driver even asked if I was going on a day trip since I didn’t have any luggage. After a short, affordable 35-minute flight, I took an Uber to downtown Indianapolis, had lunch, watched the movie, then took a Lyft back to the airport, returning to Chicago at 4 p.m. It was quite a whirlwind trip; I’m still in disbelief that I managed it!

During a conversation with my partner and some friends about an upcoming trip, they questioned if it was worthwhile. I responded affirmatively, explaining that the annual 70mm Imax movie release made it worth the investment. Upon watching Ryan Coogler discuss various aspect ratios on YouTube, I felt he was addressing me directly. I’m delighted that Coogler and Christopher Nolan are advocating for 70mm Imax, as I value preserving these remarkable formats, though I’m not a purist.

Movies

In film school at the University of Southern California (USC), film director Ryan Coogler crossed paths with composer Ludwig Göransson for the first time. Their most recent joint project, a thrilling fusion of blues and horror elements, represents a groundbreaking achievement in their creative journey.

Anudeep Metuku, 23

Where do you live? Sacramento

What theater did you watch the film in? AMC Metreon 16 & IMAX in San Francisco

What prompted you to take the journey? As soon as the tickets became available, I secured two for April 19th. However, as the date drew closer, I stumbled upon some Reddit posts suggesting that Ryan Coogler was at the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland on Thursday and might be at the Metreon on Friday. This had me contemplating whether to make the trip on Friday afternoon. It was a bit of a risk, but my younger brother, who shares an interest in Imax, encouraged me. I kept refreshing the page until I got a good seat, then drove straight for two hours after work to San Francisco.

Attending the movie in this format was simply amazing, given that Metreon IMAX served as Coogler’s personal IMAX. I’ve only seen videos before, but experiencing it in a theater with a director like that was extraordinary. The atmosphere in the room was electric; everyone was thrilled when he arrived. He shared during his presentation that he sat almost exactly where I did for “Sinners” at Metreon back in 2008, watching “The Dark Knight,” which marked the first time IMAX 70mm was used in a feature film instead of a documentary. This movie sparked Coogler’s ambition to shoot on IMAX film. Interestingly, I too watched “The Dark Knight” in 2008 at an IMAX theater called Prasads in Hyderabad, India. That was my first encounter with 70mm IMAX, and ever since then, my brother and I have tried to catch IMAX movies at Grand Theater venues.

Hollywood Inc.

The successive victories of “Minecraft” and “Sinners” have granted Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, Warner Bros.’ film executives, a moment to catch their breath while navigating the challenging phase of rebuilding the esteemed Burbank studio.

Brendan Cauvel, 27

Where are you from? Washington, D.C.

What theater did you watch the film in? AMC Lincoln Square 13 & IMAX in New York City

What prompted you to take this journey? As a student, I knew there was a more immersive way to watch films, but being from the Midwest, I didn’t have the resources. Therefore, “Oppenheimer” was my first such experience, and I did it for “Dune 2” last year. For “Sinners,” it seemed like an obvious choice.

On a recent outing, I invited a couple of companions for a journey via car, and we didn’t linger in our destination overnight. We set off from Washington D.C. at 5 a.m., arrived there by 9 a.m., watched the movie at 1 p.m., departed at 4 p.m., and returned home by 9 p.m. This excursion equated to a full 10-hour workday, but we all found it thoroughly enjoyable. I’m planning to catch the film again, making this my third viewing within a week.

The unique appeal of “Sinners” lies in its blend of elements, ranging from the thrilling aspects typically found in blockbuster horrors, to its marketing strategy positioning it as a genre film. For movie enthusiasts, these factors serve as an added bonus.

Ryan Coogler possesses an exceptional talent, particularly his knack for integrating Black narratives into films such as “Creed” and “Black Panther,” even within the Marvel universe. This ability to present these socially-conscious themes in a way that appeals to a wide audience is truly remarkable. The fact that he’s now able to apply this skill to the horror genre is quite impressive, and while it’s not necessary to understand the technical aspects to enjoy his work, those elements certainly enhance the experience for those who do appreciate them.

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2025-04-25 13:33

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