I was standing in a line that snaked past the concession stand when someone behind me whispered that a 70mm print had sold out. The air tightened—this was not just another screening; it felt like an invitation you could miss. I told you then: if you want to see these films the way filmmakers intended, timing matters.
I wrote about films and formats long enough to tell the difference between hype and seismic shifts. You know Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey pushed 70mm IMAX into the mainstream this year; now Lucasfilm is taking a bold swing. Both the original Star Wars and the new Star Wars: Starfighter will play in 70mm IMAX next year, and that changes how you plan your movie nights.
At my local multiplex, scarcity is obvious — why the 70mm pick matters
Lucasfilm announced that the 1977 Star Wars will return to select 70mm IMAX locations on February 18, 2027, and Star Wars: Starfighter will play in 70mm IMAX on May 28, 2027. Starfighter was “filmed for IMAX release, shot with IMAX-certified film cameras and converted to IMAX 70mm film prints for release in a select number of IMAX film locations.” George Lucas didn’t have this option half a century ago, so the archival conversion for the 1977 film will be a technical and curatorial feat.
Will the new Star Wars: Starfighter be released in 70mm IMAX?
Yes. Lucasfilm says Starfighter was filmed with IMAX-certified film cameras and will be converted to IMAX 70mm film prints for select IMAX film locations. That means the filmmakers built shots with large-frame presentation in mind, and you’ll see more vertical frame and resolution than in standard theatrical releases.
At the box office, demand is easy to spot — why theaters sell out fast
Only a few dozen theaters worldwide still run IMAX 70mm film prints. That scarcity turned viewings of The Odyssey and early screenings of Dune: Part Two into events with premium pricing and aftermarket pressure on platforms such as StubHub and eBay. Tickets for some showings spiked—secondary-market sales climbed to the low hundreds of dollars, for example $300 (€275)—and you should expect similar competition for these Star Wars runs.
Will the original 1977 Star Wars be converted to 70mm IMAX?
Lucasfilm will show the original film in select IMAX 70mm locations and in select theaters for a limited time. The exact conversion method for the 1977 print hasn’t been fully detailed, but this is a restoration and projection challenge that involves scanning, remastering, and then creating film prints suitable for 70mm IMAX projectors.
At a projection booth, technical choices matter — what the format actually changes
70mm IMAX uses a 1.43:1 aspect ratio, which is closer to a square than the wide rectangles you’re used to. That change in shape, plus the larger negative area, produces image density and presence you don’t get from digital 1.90:1 IMAX or standard 2.35:1 screenings. The screen becomes a cathedral of light, and directors who plan for that frame can compose scenes with a different spatial energy.
How many theaters can actually run IMAX 70mm film prints?
Only a few dozen theaters worldwide are equipped to project IMAX 70mm film prints. That limited footprint is why studios choose selective releases: fewer venues, higher demand, and a concentrated communal experience. Expect major city IMAX locations and specialty venues to be priority sites.
For you that means decisions: book early on primary sellers such as Fandango or the local theater site, watch official Lucasfilm and IMAX channels for exact venue lists, and prepare for resale prices if you wait. I’ll say this plainly: seeing Starfighter in a 70mm IMAX print is rare; seeing the original in that same format will be historic.
Christopher Nolan’s recent success with 70mm and Denis Villeneuve’s work on Dune changed expectations, but this Star Wars move is a new litmus test for how legacy franchises behave in high-format exhibition. The real question is whether studios will treat premium film runs as occasional celebrations or the future standard—are you ready to choose one screening over hundreds of streaming options?