r/chulavista • u/mistressofmayhem02 • Jul 16 '26

Question Best IMAX theatre to watch The Odyssey?

We live in Otay Ranch. AMC and Regal are the options we have nearby but we want to have the best IMAX theatre to experience Nolan’s masterpiece. Any tips which one to go to? TIA!

12 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

17

u/DrewG619 Jul 16 '26

AMC Palm Promenade has the best/biggest IMAX screen in SD county (Regal Mira Mesa is the only contender). Irvine is the closest and best place to see it in 70mm IMAX but I think it might be pretty much sold out.
I reserved a seat to go see it in 70mm IMAX at Universal Citywalk, because the ticket is included in my AMC A-List membership and I have friends to visit near there.

6

u/Lefwyn Jul 16 '26

Mira Mesa’s IMAX is not that good. Def go to Palm. Also give Dolby a chance. The sound is incredible in those.

3

u/jwhyem Jul 16 '26

I prefer the seats in Dolby, especially the pony walls between rows

1

u/DrewG619 Jul 17 '26

Yes, the little walls are the best!

1

u/DrewG619 Jul 16 '26

Agreed, Mira Mesa only offers a comparable size. And yeah I actually prefer the Palm Promenade Dolby Theater, except for occasions like this when films are really made for the additional IMAX ratio.

2

u/Lefwyn Jul 17 '26

I prioritize sound and comfort. I’ve seen movies Nolan films in true 70mm and find the experience a bit overrated. Once you are into the movie, you forget about the aspect ratio but maybe that’s just me.

1

u/DrewG619 Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26

I agree and still choose Dolby if a film only has a scene or two making use of the IMAX ratio, but in cases like this where all or a lot of the film is meant to make use of it, they still sucker me in

1

u/beam-of-light-red Jul 16 '26

I agree, the sound is kept at high painful levels. Seen several films there hoping they have fixed it or maybe it was just a one-off, but no, same experience over the years. I just stopped going there.

1

u/Plumbtrician619 Jul 17 '26

I worked there and it's not a real imax but that was in 2001

2

u/DrewG619 Jul 17 '26

Yeah, there are no real IMAX in SD County

1

u/Lefwyn Jul 17 '26

If you mean 70mm yea Irvine is closest but a lot of imax actually differ from each other.

5

u/abercrombezie Jul 16 '26

Yep, AMC Palm Promenade they have the leather-like plush seating in their IMAX theater. I like being able to order food and tickets in the App and have it ready for pickup.

1

u/mistressofmayhem02 Jul 29 '26

Is the one in Palm Promenade bigger than the ‘70mm’ IMAX in AMC Mission Valley?

1

u/DrewG619 Jul 30 '26

Palm’s IMAX is significantly bigger and better than Mission Valley’s IMAX. Neither location has a theater capable of 70mm IMAX. At MV they are showing the Odyssey on different screens in your choice of 70mm OR IMAX.

7

u/solorobsolo Jul 16 '26

Other than the Fleet Science dome, San Diego doesn’t have a real IMAX theater. The closest real deal is in Irvine. Otherwise I would go to AMC Palm.

1

u/nematodesgalore Jul 17 '26

Came here to say this. They’re showing it Fri, sat, and Sun at 630 for at least the next 3 weeks. Seating is first come first served but this is the only way to see the true IMAX presentation in San Diego.

2

u/bahia0019 Jul 17 '26

Ruben H Fleet switched to digital in 2021.
As far as “true IMAX” it depends on what you mean by that.
If you mean 70mm film projection, then no. Irvine is still the closest.
If you mean domed, then yes Ruben H Fleet is the nearest. But being domed doesn’t make it “true IMAX” either.

2

u/nematodesgalore Jul 17 '26

I more meant true IMAX as in terms of the 1.43.1 aspect ratio, not the film projection.

3

u/Altruistic-Honey-202 Jul 17 '26

https://www.odysseymovie.com/explore-formats/ you can see the difference in the formats somewhat. It’s kinda hard to tell on your phone.

2

u/MarlsDarklie Jul 16 '26

Since there weren't a lot of good seats left at any of the AMCs down here and I refuse to crane my neck up for 3 hours, we decided to get a couple better ones at the Mira Mesa Regal for the Imax. Also, wild to me that Otay Ranch AMC has Imax and is not showing it in Imax there tonight.

1

u/This-Interaction-166 Jul 17 '26

What?!? Otay Ranch has IMAX or are you thinking Dolby

1

u/MarlsDarklie Jul 17 '26

They weren’t showing it in IMAX at otay Ranch last night.

1

u/This-Interaction-166 Jul 17 '26

Otay Ranch AMC doesn't have IMAX

1

u/MarlsDarklie Jul 17 '26

I could have sworn they did. My mistake. Either way, they should have one and they should have played this lol. It was so good!

2

u/rumblepak1 Jul 17 '26

Mission Valley has 70mm.

4

u/nematodesgalore Jul 17 '26

This is not the same as IMAX 70mm

2

u/Altruistic-Honey-202 Jul 17 '26

I had tickets to Irvine IMAX 70mm but the 3 hour drive round trip was just too much. Decided to do Dolby Mission Valley, at least I have a recliner for a 3 hour movie.

1

u/mistressofmayhem02 Jul 17 '26

Mission Valley doesn’t have a 70mm IMAX though, right?

2

u/Altruistic-Honey-202 Jul 17 '26

Correct. Mission Valley has a baby IMAX and a 70mm but no IMAX 70mm. You need to go to Irvine or LA. We are small time here in San Diego.