‘2001’ comes to Memphis IMAX in 2018

Stanley Kubrick’s science-fiction masterpiece “2001: A Space Odyssey” is set to open Aug. 24 for a week’s engagement in the IMAX auditorium at the Malco Paradiso.

Tickets are on sale for the booking, which is sure to please those local film fans who have hoped that Memphis’ first commercial IMAX theater would screen more than the Hollywood blockbuster of the week.

In Memphis, the IMAX presentation will be a digital version of the restored — or “unrestored” — 70 mm print edition of the movie that was completed under the supervision of director Christopher Nolan (”The Dark Knight”), in recognition of the film’s 50th anniversary. Nolan’s effort was touted as “unrestored” because it was printed from new elements made from the original camera negative, without any digital enhancements or remastered effects.

Conceived by Kubrick and sciencefiction author Arthur C. Clarke, “2001” was epic in scope (it links the prehistoric “Dawn of Man” with a future in which travel to the moon is commonplace), unusual in its commitment to plausible science-based prophecy, groundbreaking in its special effects and confounding in meaning: One of its advertising campaigns dubbed it “the ultimate trip,” in recognition of its popularity among hip young people, who found a tune inand-turn on resonance in the movie’s trippy “Star Gate” climax.

Although challenging, “2001” proved extraordinarily, surprisingly popular. It was the top film at the North American box office in 1968, and it became a ubiquitous pop-culture touchstone, inspiring two Jan. 8 birthday boys in particular: David Bowie, who released his hit “Space Oddity” in 1969, and Elvis Presley, who borrowed the “2001 theme” (actually, the fanfare from Strauss’ “Thus Spake Zarathustra”) as dramatic entrance music for his stage performances. The movie’s reputation has never flagged: In the most recent international poll of critics conducted by Sight & Sound magazine, “2001” was named the sixth greatest film of all time.

Malco also has booked “2001” for that same week into its IMAX theater in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Overall, 350 IMAX theaters will show the movie in August. The Paradiso IMAX opened Dec. 15 with “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”

To purchase advance tickets, visit malco.com.