The temporal twists of Christopher Nolan’s cinematic masterpiece “Tenet” are set to bend minds once again as the film makes a triumphant return to IMAX 70mm screens, alongside other large-format theaters. Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that starting February 23, moviegoers will have the unique opportunity to revisit Nolan’s “Tenet” for one week. This re-release is not merely a celebration of the film’s innovative storytelling but also serves as a teaser for the highly anticipated release of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two,” scheduled for March 1. To enhance this cinematic experience, the “Tenet” screenings will include never-before-seen footage from Villeneuve’s sequel. Fans eager to be part of this exclusive viewing can secure their tickets, available starting Thursday.
Photo Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon
Nolan, recognizing the audience’s enthusiastic reception to his latest Oscar-nominated production, “Oppenheimer,” expressed his delight over Warner Bros.’ decision. “Seeing the way audiences responded to our large format presentations of ‘Oppenheimer,’ I’m thrilled that Warner Bros. is giving audiences a chance to see ‘Tenet’ the way it was intended to be seen, on the largest IMAX and large format film screens,” said Nolan. He also shares his enthusiasm for “Dune: Part Two,” considering it an honor for “Tenet” to set the stage for Villeneuve’s next grand venture.
“Oppenheimer” soared near the $1 billion mark at the global box office, with large-format screenings including IMAX 70mm and 70mm being a pivotal factor in its success. “Tenet,” which was unprecedentedly shot entirely on large-format film stock, found itself deprived of its full potential premiere on the big screen due to the global pandemic. As the first major Hollywood film to open during this period, in September 2020, it faced the stark reality of Los Angeles and New York’s cinema closures and other cities’ reduced capacity limitations.
Warner Bros.’ subsequent strategy stirred up controversy in the industry by opting for a simultaneous release model in theaters and on its streaming service for its 2021 film slate, which included “Dune.” Key industry figures, including Villeneuve and Nolan (who moved his “Oppenheimer” project to Universal), criticized this decision.
The orchestration of “Dune: Part Two” equally emphasizes the large format theater experience, a vision shared by both Nolan and Villeneuve. Originally postponed from 2023 due to industry strikes, the film promises a remarkable visual adventure. “On ‘Dune,’ we shot several sequences for IMAX, and I simply loved it, so for ‘Dune: Part Two,’ we pushed it to 100 percent of the movie,” Villeneuve stated. His dedication to the IMAX format aims to capture the essence of Arrakis, Giedi Prime, and the wider Imperium in a way that only these expansive screens can convey.
Audiences in select cities will be treated to this return. Notably, theaters such as AMC Lincoln Square in New York, Universal CityWalk IMAX and TCL Chinese IMAX in Los Angeles, and AMC Metreon in San Francisco will showcase “Tenet” and the preview of “Dune: Part Two” in the magnificence of IMAX 70mm. Villeneuve shares in the anticipation, expressing his eagerness to experience “Tenet” anew, as it was originally filmed, to fully immerse in Nolan’s artistic vision for the film.
The return to theaters of “Tenet” and the exclusive peek at “Dune: Part Two” not only reaffirms the enduring allure of large-format film presentation but also marks a celebration of cinematic art at its most ambitious. As audiences prepare to once again delve into Nolan’s complex world of espionage and temporal loops, they also gaze ahead to the sweeping desert vistas of Villeneuve’s Arrakis, bridging two masterful works that continue to challenge and expand the frontiers of the moviegoing experience.
