On March 12, Warner Bros. announced in a press release that Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy would make it’s way back into IMAX screens.
What? Really? Why?
Yes. Because it’s Batman’s 80th birthday this year.
Happy birthday Batman! But wasn’t that also last year?
No. Last year was the 10th anniversary of The Dark Knight. For that, there were IMAX screenings of that film in 4 theaters.
Oh yeah. I remember. So this year it’s like in all IMAX theaters?
No. It’s in the same 4 plus one in Indianapolis. The theaters are in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Indianapolis and Toronto.
Huh. So they’ll screen all three movies on one day?
Each location will screen the trilogy back-to-back on one day, but the day is separate for each location. Below is the schedule:
- Saturday, March 30:
Universal Cinema AMC at CityWalk Hollywood, California - Saturday, April 13
AMC Lincoln Square, New York
AMC Metreon in San Francisco - Saturday, April 20
Cinesphere Ontario Place, Toronto
IMAX Theatre at the Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis
Nolan will join the audience on the 30th in California in between The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises for a Q&A. That Q&A will be streamed for the other four locations.
Got it! So if I’m in – let’s say – New York, I can only see the films on April 13?
That’s correct. As part of the IMAX rerelease at least. You can always watch them on your phone, I guess. Just don’t tell Nolan.
Cool. But why only those theaters? Aren’t there like four hundred IMAX theaters in the United States alone?
Yes, but those five are IMAX theaters which have retained their 70mm projectors along with their digital ones. Most IMAX theaters don’t have a 70mm film projector anymore.
Nolan is big on film and has sequences in The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises which are optimized for that type of projection. That’s why it’s only those few locations.
So all the other IMAX theaters are fake?
No, they still have the IMAX stamp of approval. They’re just different. Those five are giant screens built for projecting IMAX film and really the best and intended way to see The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. The other 400 or so are also IMAX screens, but built for projecting digital.
But aren’t all films today only released digitally?
Exactly. The Dark Knight films came out before the transition to digital cinema was made. That’s part of why there are film prints of them.
Those five theaters own a digital projector as well. They just didn’t throw out their film projector. That allows you to experience the films the same way IMAX audiences experienced them in 2005, 2008 and 2012.
Don’t hype me up too much. So they’ll show all three movies back-to-back? Isn’t that exhausting?
You’re watching some of the best superhero movies of all time. How exactly can that be exhausting?
Plus, you don’t have to watch all three. You can come in for whichever film you’d like.
Alright, cool. I’m sold. When can I get tickets?
Tickets went on sale at 9am PDT on March 13. The Hollywood and New York locations are currently sold out.
Whoa. How much are tickets?
Depends on the theater. Prices vary per location.
Do I get something special if I attend?
You’ll see some of the most celebrated superhero movies of all time on some of the largest screens in the world.
No but seriously.
Yes. If you watch all three films you’ll get a lanyard and special “Dark Knight” Trilogy collectible.
What’s a lanyard?
A key chain thing.
What’s the special collectible?
I don’t know. Attend and you’ll find out.
I think I just might. Thank you!
You don’t have to thank me.
Yes I do!
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Image: Warner Bros.
