Why Christopher Nolan Should Definitely Re-Release Interstellar in IMAX in 2022

After its recent box office success and a growing appreciation for Christopher Nolan's film, there is no reason why Interstellar should not receive an IMAX re-release in 2024. Despite not being nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, Interstellar, Nolan's 2014 epic sci-fi movie, is still considered one of his greatest cinematic achievements and is often ranked high among his best films. Starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway as astronauts searching for a new planet for humanity, Interstellar continues to receive praise for its groundbreaking visuals, emotional storytelling, acting performances, haunting score, and direction by Nolan.

Ten years later, Interstellar remains one of the most popular and successful original sci-fi movies of the 21st century. In its initial run in 2014, Interstellar grossed over $681 million worldwide at the box office, with additional re-releases outside the US bringing its lifetime total to $739.1 million. Surprisingly, despite a one-night special release in 2015, Interstellar has not yet had a wide theatrical re-release in the United States, especially in IMAX format. However, with its anniversary approaching and new IMAX box office records being set in 2023 and 2024, now is the ideal time for an Interstellar re-release.

Dune 2 & Oppenheimer's IMAX Box Office Success Means Interstellar Needs A 10th Anniversary Re-Release

Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides holding up his knife with money falling in the background - Dune 2 & Oppenheimer's IMAX Box Office Success Means Interstellar Needs A 10th Anniversary Re-Release

Despite being pricier than regular movie tickets, the appeal of watching visually stunning films in IMAX has been growing. Christopher Nolan's IMAX-shot movie Oppenheimer in 2023 set new box office records, earning over $184 million of its $958 million global earnings from IMAX showings. In comparison, Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022, which made over $2.3 billion, raked in more than $253 million in IMAX revenue within just one month. According to Collider, Oppenheimer now ranks as the third-highest-grossing IMAX film in the US, following the Star Wars and Avatar franchises.

After Nolan’s recent success with Oppenheimer, the 2024 box office received a huge boost with Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two. The movie broke box office records upon its debut, with IMAX contributing over $32 million of its $182.5 million global earnings during the opening weekend. This surpassed Avatar: The Way of Water's IMAX total of $31.8 million. Even though IMAX screens are limited and ticket prices are higher, the receipts show that audiences prefer watching movies in this format when the film's sound, visuals, and immersive quality justify it.

Directors like Denis Villeneuve and Christopher Nolan advocate for the power of IMAX filmmaking and screenings. Premium prices are proving to be worthwhile for audiences to experience visually stunning films in their intended format. Even before the releases of Oppenheimer and Dune 2, Interstellar was recognized as a film deserving of an IMAX release due to its acclaimed visuals, sound, and sequences shot on IMAX film. In 2014, the Christopher Nolan movie earned over $100 million globally from IMAX screens. With audiences increasingly willing to pay the premium fee for such films, a 2024 IMAX re-release could potentially more than double that gross.

Interstellar, a film by Christopher Nolan, has seen a surge in popularity over the last decade. This makes it the perfect candidate for a re-release on IMAX screens.

The astronauts walk in the water with their ship behind them in Interstellar. - Interstellar & Christopher Nolan's Growing Popularity Over The Last Decade Makes It Perfect For A Re-Release

Interstellar is set to mark its 10th anniversary in November 2024, still attracting new audiences, especially among younger viewers. The film continues to receive recognition for its impressive filmmaking, gaining more attention following Christopher Nolan's recent successes with movies like Tenet and Oppenheimer. As Nolan's popularity soared in 2023 and 2024, particularly after the release of Oppenheimer, Interstellar has become a prominent topic in discussions about the director's greatest works. Considering Nolan's strong chances of winning major awards for Oppenheimer at the 2024 Oscars, a re-release of Interstellar in the same year would be a fitting tribute to his contributions to the film industry and his journey towards achieving Academy Awards recognition.

Interstellar Getting An IMAX Re-Release Could Give Christopher Nolan A Huge Box Office Achievement

Matthew McConaughey as Cooper in Interstellar with money in the background - Interstellar Getting An IMAX Re-Release Could Give Christopher Nolan A Huge Box Office Achievement

If Interstellar is re-released in IMAX in 2024, Christopher Nolan could achieve another impressive box office milestone. Oppenheimer fell just short of $1 billion, so a re-release of Interstellar could potentially push Nolan to his first $1 billion movie outside of his Batman films. The Dark Knight surpassed $1 billion and The Dark Knight Rises made $1.09 billion globally, making them Nolan's only movies to reach that box office milestone. With a global re-release, Interstellar could realistically bring in over $261 million, reaching $1 billion a decade after its original release.

Editor's P/S:

The article makes a compelling case for an IMAX re-release of Christopher Nolan's 2014 sci-fi masterpiece, Interstellar. With its stunning visuals, emotional storytelling, and critical acclaim, Interstellar has remained a fan favorite despite not receiving the Oscar recognition it deserved. The success of Nolan's recent IMAX films, Oppenheimer and Dune: Part Two, has demonstrated the growing audience demand for immersive cinematic experiences.

A 2024 IMAX re-release of Interstellar would not only be a fitting tribute to Nolan's filmmaking genius but also a potential box office triumph. With its 10th anniversary approaching and Nolan's rising star, Interstellar has the potential to reach new heights and cement its status as one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time.