Filmmaker Christopher Nolan has revealed how he encouraged director Ryan Coogler to embrace the IMAX format for his 2025 vampire film 'Sinners' — a decision that ultimately earned cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Nolan, a two-time Oscar winner and one of Hollywood's most vocal champions of the large-format medium, said Coogler reached out to him seeking reassurance before committing to the format.

How Nolan Introduced Coogler to IMAX

According to Nolan, the relationship with IMAX began well before 'Sinners' went into production. 'Dunkirk' was the first film Nolan screened for Coogler to demonstrate the format's potential. 'Ryan called me before he committed to IMAX. I think Dunkirk was the first time I dragged him to a screening of an original-made film print of IMAX. I love to show filmmakers the potential of the format,' Nolan told The New York Times.

Nolan recalled that Coogler was not fully convinced but was leaning toward it. 'So he called me when he was prepping, but really I think he was sort of looking for someone to tell him it wasn't crazy to shoot his vampire film that way. I was like, no, I'd love to see that,' Nolan said.

The IMAX Milestone with 'The Odyssey'

Nolan's own relationship with IMAX has now reached a new landmark. His upcoming film 'The Odyssey' has become the first feature to be shot entirely with IMAX cameras — a distinction no previous production has achieved. Nolan has previously used IMAX in making 'Oppenheimer', 'Tenet', 'Dunkirk', 'Interstellar', 'The Dark Knight Rises', 'Inception', and 'The Dark Knight'.

'One of the great satisfactions of my career has been being part of an evolutionary process of a filmmaking system. My excitement for having finished the film entirely in IMAX is: what other filmmakers might want to do that. I just want to go see somebody else's film when they do it this way,' he said.

About 'The Odyssey'

'The Odyssey' is an adaptation of one of the oldest stories in human history, following Odysseus — played by Matt Damon — through the trials and mythical encounters he faces on his decade-long journey home to his wife Penelope after the Trojan War. The film features an expansive ensemble cast including Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Himesh Patel, Bill Irwin, Samantha Morton, Jesse Garcia, Will Yun Lee, Rafi Gavron, Shiloh Fernandez, and Mia Goth, among others.

Why This Matters for Cinema

Nolan's mentorship of Coogler on the IMAX format, and the subsequent Oscar recognition for 'Sinners', signals a broader shift in how directors are approaching large-format filmmaking. Historically reserved for blockbuster action sequences, IMAX is increasingly being used for intimate, genre-driven storytelling — a trend Nolan says he actively wants to accelerate. His hope, he noted, is that 'The Odyssey' inspires other filmmakers to explore the all-IMAX approach.