Singapore — Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated epic The Odyssey has finally arrived in Singapore, but movie purists have a compelling reason to skip the standard digital screening. Shaw Lido, the historic cinema along Orchard Road, is the only theater in Southeast Asia projecting the film on 35mm celluloid — a format it hasn’t used in over 13 years.
The film, based on Homer’s ancient Greek poem, follows King Odysseus (Matt Damon) on his harrowing journey home after the Trojan War. Along the way, he confronts mythical beasts, vengeful gods, and impossible trials, while his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland) defend their kingdom from would-be usurpers. Notably, The Odyssey is the first feature film ever shot entirely using IMAX’s 70mm film cameras, making Nolan’s visual ambition a technical landmark.
So why the fuss over 35mm? Digital projection offers crisp, clean images, but film stock delivers a warmer, grainier texture — a look many filmmakers and cinephiles argue feels more organic and alive. Shaw Lido has made this nostalgia-fest possible by restoring two original 1993 35mm projectors at its newly revamped Lumiere Grand hall. Even better, some of the veteran projectionists who once operated those machines are back behind the lens, mentoring a new generation of staff.
“The throwback is made possible thanks to the restoration of two original 1993 35mm projectors,” a Shaw spokesperson said. “Some of the veteran projectionists who used to run them are still around, alongside a new generation of staff learning the ropes.”
Tickets for the 35mm screening come with a bonus: an exclusive A3 artwork poster, limited to only 650 copies. For IMAX devotees, buying two IMAX tickets in a single transaction earns a collectible movie pin. Seating in the Lumiere Grand includes recliner and sofa-style options, making the experience as comfortable as it is cinematic.
But is a 35mm print worth the effort compared to digital? Industry experts point out that Nolan shot The Odyssey on 70mm IMAX — a larger, higher-resolution film format capable of stunning detail and depth. While a 35mm print won’t replicate that massive IMAX frame, it is closer to Nolan’s intended grain, color, and texture than any digital projection. For fans seeking the director’s raw creative vision, this is the next best thing.
Shaw Lido’s decision to revive film projection also underscores a broader cultural trend: a resurgence of analog cinema. Across North America and Europe, specialty theaters have seen rising demand for film screenings, driven by a generation hungry for tactile, un-digitized experiences. In Southeast Asia, however, such offerings remain rare, making Shaw Lido’s move a significant milestone for regional film culture.
Tickets for the 35mm screening are available now via Shaw’s website. For those who want to dive deeper into Singapore’s arts scene, check out the Singapore Night Festival 2026, the new Pop Mart bakery in Sentosa, or the largest Pop Art exhibition in Southeast Asia at National Gallery Singapore.
Should you go? If you’ve never seen a film on 35mm — or if you want to experience Nolan’s epic the way he intended — this is a rare opportunity worth seizing. The grain is warmer. The image breathes. And in an age of pixels and streaming, that analogue heartbeat is something you simply can’t stream.
Book your tickets to the 35mm screening at Shaw Lido here.