And they say cinema is dead.

Yesterday is the day Imax cinemas sold out of tickets to see Christopher Nolan’s next film The Odyssey a full year before it is released.

Wonderful news for the industry right? Well sort of. But.

Whilst Nolan has the much deserved hype around his films, and where better than the big screen for the occasion, he is a one of a kind (or maybe a handful-of-a-kind) of filmmaker(s) that can (1) command insane budgets, apparently a cool $250 mil for Odysseus, (2) work with Imax who built him a brand new bespoke camera for the movie - just look how big they are:

Sort of reminds you of those old school Hollywood cameras, you know the ones I mean:

And (3) he has already made a decent film, or two. What about the little guy? Recently this report outlined what cinemas actually want from distributors and its heartening reading for independent sector.

It basically says:

1. Stop recycling the same stories - Cinema owners are fed up with endless sequels, reboots, and remakes. They want original films that surprise audiences and bring something fresh to screens. The lack of creativity is driving viewer fatigue.

2. Make movies for everyone, not just blockbuster fans - There's huge demand for films targeting women, families, older viewers, and underrepresented communities. Cinemas need more comedies, romances, faith-based content, and diverse stories - not just superhero spectacles.

3. Respect the theatrical window - Exhibitors are crying out for at least 45 days (preferably longer) before films hit streaming. When movies go online too quickly, audiences just wait at home. 81% want between six weeks and three months of exclusivity.

4. Actually listen to wider audiences - Stop making creative decisions based on industry instinct alone. Cinema operators want films developed with actual audience feedback and preferences in mind, not just what studios think will work.

5. Treat cinemas as partners - Exhibition wants more control over scheduling, fairer terms for independent venues, better marketing support beyond blockbusters, and affordable ticket pricing that doesn't drive audiences away.

So the message is quite simple: give cinemas diverse, original content with proper windows, and treat them as partners rather than afterthoughts.

So whilst Nolan is a gem of a filmmaker, a rare beast allowed to continue to make originals, at RecDek it’s our job to keep pushing the envelope on original stories everywhere and getting those to our audience!

OUR PICK OF THE WEEK

Now then, this documentary caught my attention because the Universe is a big place and I’d listened to podcast about how scientists are now considering whether consciousness is a fundamental building block of the Universe. Which is wild. So then I was like, well what sort of humans came before us, and then I saw this documentary and it answered all the questions I could possibly have and more. Enjoy.

Catch you soon, yeh? Nice.

Ed

PS - what recommendations are you loving at the moment? Let me know.

And connect with us on your favourite social media.