Business

The Odyssey 70mm IMAX run extended until September

Published

3 hours ago

30 July 2026

The Odyssey 70mm IMAX run extended until September

L to R: Director Christopher Nolan with Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, ASC on set of his film THE ODYSSEY, written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.

Courtesy: Melinda Sue Gordon | Universal Studios

“The Odyssey” continues.

Universal and IMAX have extended the availability of 70mm screenings of Christopher Nolan’s retelling of Homer’s epic into mid-September, but that might not be enough to meet demand.

Tickets are selling out as quickly as they are being released to the public as moviegoers seek to see Nolan’s film in the aspect ratio that it was shot in and on physical film. While IMAX offers a variety of screen options, including digital versions of the 70mm aspect ratio, these viewings are often cropped to fit the auditorium in which they are being shown.

There are only 25 screens in the U.S. that can play physical film reels of Nolan’s “The Odyssey” and only 41 locations in total globally. Those screens are limited because the majority of movies are filmed and screened digitally. As demand for “The Odyssey” soars, IMAX has introduced late night and early morning screenings to accommodate some of the demand.

As of the weekend, IMAX ticket sales for “The Odyssey” have surpassed $140 million worldwide. That’s a little more than 20% of the $652 million the film has tallied globally. Yet, the IMAX locations represent less than 1% of total screens.

The theatrical industry saw a similar phenomenon in 2023 when Nolan released the Oscar-winning biopic “Oppenheimer.”

Overall, “The Odyssey” has dominated at the box office, with second week ticket sales dropping just 27% from its domestic opening weekend. Typically, Hollywood blockbusters will see ticket sales fall between 50% and 70% each week after its debut. A smaller decline often indicates strong word of mouth and repeat viewings.

“The Odyssey” has also benefitted from audiences booking tickets in advance. Some screenings of the film became available for purchase in July 2025, a year before its release.

For the last three weeks, “The Odyssey” has run in theaters with relatively low competition. However, with Sony and Marvel’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” arriving this Friday as well as the filmed-for-IMAX features “The End of Oak Street” and “Resident Evil” on the horizon, “The Odyssey” will have to share screen time with others.

However, IMAX’s next 70mm commitment isn’t until Dec. 18, when Warner Bros. and Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Three” hits theaters.

Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.

Business

FCC bans certain foreign-made robot vacuums under new security rules

Published

4 minutes ago

30 July 2026

NewsAdmin

FCC bans certain foreign-made robot vacuums under new security rules

FOX Business correspondent Grady Trimble reports live from Chicago’s Automate Show, showcasing advanced humanoid robots designed for entertainment and practical applications on ‘Varney & Co.’

Certain robotic vacuum cleaners, including some Roomba-style devices, will be banned under the new U.S. policy restricting foreign-made advanced robotics, federal regulators told FOX Business Thursday.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said robotic vacuums fall under its updated “Covered List” rules adopted Tuesday, making certain new foreign-produced models ineligible for FCC equipment authorization due to national security and cybersecurity risks to U.S. critical infrastructure.

While the agency did not identify specific brands, an FCC spokesperson confirmed to FOX Business that robotic vacuums are among the devices covered by the restrictions.

Major manufacturers including iRobot, SharkNinja, Dyson, Samsung and LG sell robotic vacuums in the U.S., with most production taking place in China, alongside manufacturing operations in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.

FCC BLOCKS NEW FOREIGN-MADE POWER INVERTERS AND ADVANCED ROBOTS OVER NATIONAL SECURITY RISKS

A black Roomba vacuum on display in a store.

A Roomba robot vacuum is displayed on a shelf at a Bed Bath and Beyond store Aug. 5, 2022, in Larkspur, Calif. Certain newly authorized foreign-made robotic vacuums are now subject to expanded FCC national security restrictions. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

However, the restrictions apply only to newly authorized devices and will not affect the many robotic vacuums already in consumers’ homes.

“This action does not impact a consumer’s continued use of devices they previously acquired,” the FCC spokesperson said.

The agency added that previously authorized models may continue to be sold, imported and marketed in the U.S., and it does not “prevent retailers from continuing to sell, import or market relevant models approved previously through the FCC’s equipment authorization process.”

FCC CHAIRMAN CLIMBS 2,000-FOOT CELL TOWER TO SPOTLIGHT ONE OF AMERICA’S TOUGHEST TRADES

An iRobot Roomba 980 robotic vacuum cleaner sits on a ceramic floor Dec. 10, 2016. It is unclear which models will be affected. (iStock / iStock)

“We are aware of the FCC’s recent action and are working with them to better understand its implementation and potential impact,” iRobot said. “We remain committed to serving our customers and will share updates as more information becomes available.”

Under the FCC’s new rules, many household robotic cleaners qualify as “advanced robotic devices” because they are mechanical mobile devices capable of locomotion, navigation and obstacle avoidance.

Covered devices generally weigh more than 4.4 pounds and operate near human operators. Their autonomous navigation is either powered by firmware, AI models or sensors via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or cellular technology.

That definition could encompass products such as iRobot’s Roomba lineup, SharkNinja’s Shark robotic vacuums, Dyson’s 360 series, Samsung’s Jet Bot line and LG’s CordZero robotic cleaners.

US BANS NEW FOREIGN-MADE CONSUMER INTERNET ROUTERS OVER SECURITY CONCERNS

A robotic arm grabs materials for storage in the workshop of Jiangxi Suqiangge Hydraulic Co., Ltd. July 29, 2026, in Yichun, Jiangxi Province of China. (Zou Zhong/VCG / Getty Images)

Roomba, one of the first robotic vacuum brands to gain widespread popularity in the U.S., was introduced by American company iRobot in 2002 but is now owned by Shenzhen Picea Robotics and Santrum Hong Kong.

Picea Robotics, which operates development and manufacturing facilities in China and Vietnam, sells Roomba models starting at $200.

CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO

By comparison, American robotics startup Matic, one of the few U.S.-based competitors that designs and assembles its products domestically in California, sells its robotic vacuums for about $1,245.

FOX Business reached out to SharkNinja, Dyson, Samsung and LG for comment.