Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis Will Get IMAX Release and The Godfather Director Must Thank Tom Cruise and Christopher Nolan for That

Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis garnered a well-deserved standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival. Now, IMAX has pledged its support to the film for exclusive screening, irrespective of the distributor it aligns with. This announcement stands as monumental news within the industry, signaling a major boost for cinematic ventures.

The film’s success owes much to the dedicated efforts of talented individuals like Christopher Nolan and Tom Cruise, whose influence within Hollywood and advocating for theatrical releases has contributed vastly!

How Christopher Nolan and Tom Cruise Helped Secure Global IMAX Release for Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis

IMAX rocketed to success last year all thanks to Christopher Nolan‘s epic Oppenheimer, a billion-dollar juggernaut in 2023, matching pre-pandemic glory. It was the very thing the cinema needed at the moment! Captured entirely on IMAX film, Oppenheimer seized 20% of IMAX’s global box office, netting over $190 million worldwide and cementing its status as the fifth-highest IMAX earner.

Furthermore, it is all due to Hollywood heavyweights like Nolan and Tom Cruise championing IMAX’s cause, as seen with Mission: Impossible 7 last year and recently Mission: Impossible 8 bookings as well led by Cruise himself. Negotiating a three-week IMAX run, beyond the usual two-week standard as per IndieWire reports. Further motivating other filmmakers to embrace IMAX and theatrical releases.

Thus now, Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis basks in IMAX’s glow, tapping into the platform’s success as per Variety reports.

At the Cannes Film Festival recently, IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond and his team came to an agreement with the filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. As a result, IMAX standing on the confidence it gained last year, committed to granting Coppola’s highly anticipated project, Megalopolis, a limited release on IMAX screens all over the world, regardless of the distributor. Gelfond expressed much enthusiasm for the collaboration, as he revealed, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter,

The film is going to get an Imax release. One of the things that we pride ourselves on is being filmmaker-friendly. So we’ve committed to Francis to do a global Imax release.

This news is monumental for both cinema enthusiasts and the industry, highlighting IMAX’s commitment to providing unmatched immersive viewing experiences worldwide, amidst the fast-paced world of short theatrical windows and instant OTT releases.

What to Expect from Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis?

For decades, Coppola has pursued his dream project, Megalopolis, investing $120 million from his pocket, more specifically, his wine empire to bring it to life. Now, the film eyes this year’s Palme d’Or.

The story follows an architect named Cesar Catalina, played by Adam Driver, who, following a city-destroying accident, attempts to rebuild it as a sustainable utopia. The narrative unfolds with a clash between Cesar and corrupt mayor Franklyn Cicero, portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito, while Franklyn’s daughter, Julia, played by Nathalie Emmanuel, becomes a key figure in their conflict.

This sci-fi drama boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Jason Schwartzman, and many more. Initial reviews label it as the “craziest thing” ever captured in cinema, igniting curiosity and anticipation among audiences.

Megalopolis made its debut at Cannes and is slated for a US IMAX release in September, although specific dates have not yet been announced.