Odeon to have Europe’s widest HFR Hobbit release

Odeon & UCI Cinemas will have Europe’s widest High Frame Rate (HFR) release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Peter Jackson’s adaptation of Tolkien’s classic will be rolled out in HFR in 100 cinemas, including its flagship Odeon Leicester Square site.

In the HFR 3D format, the image is presented at 48 frames per second (FPS), twice the rate of the 24 FPS, which has been the cinematic standard for almost a century. The 48 FPS frame rate aims to replicate what the human eye actually sees and the higher frame rate can also reduce audience eyestrain and fatigue when viewing 3D.

Rupert Gavin, chief executive for Odeon commented: “As Europe’s largest cinema chain, we are committed to supporting the latest digital advancements in film technology.  HFR 3D represents a significant shift in the way films are produced, creating a more realistic and heightened viewing experience, just as Peter Jackson intended it.

“By embracing the HFR 3D format, we are offering The Hobbit fans the most choice of any cinema chain in Europe and ultimately the opportunity to enjoy it in whichever format they choose.”