Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Jul 24
Moviegoers Mistake 3-Hour 'The Odyssey' for Standard Screening, Enduring 4DX Shakes and Water Sprays
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Jul 24

Moviegoers Mistake 3-Hour 'The Odyssey' for Standard Screening, Enduring 4DX Shakes and Water Sprays

3 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Jul 24

Summary

  • A handful of 'The Odyssey' viewers accidentally bought 4DX tickets and only discovered the format when seats started jolting and water effects kicked in during the nearly three-hour film.
  • The mix-up appears tied to app purchases and unclear format awareness: some buyers said they missed the 4DX label, while one man was redirected into a last-minute screening after showing up at the wrong theater.
  • Tim Matishek, who expected a regular non-IMAX showing near New York's Union Square, said he realized what was happening during a 'Spider-Man' trailer and called it a movie experience he would never repeat.
  • The format can divide audiences because 4DX adds motion, mists and other physical effects; Variety said one writer loved the immersion, while another became nauseated and left early.
  • 4DX has expanded in theaters over the past decade, and 'The Odyssey' joins other titles such as 'Moana,' 'Minions & Monsters' and 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' in the premium format.

Insights

As 4DX spreads worldwide, should theaters warn audiences more clearly before a nearly three-hour film starts shaking, spraying, and overwhelming them?
Why are so many viewers accidentally booking 4DX for “The Odyssey,” and are theaters making premium formats too confusing to navigate?