Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey stormed the global box office with a $264m (£196m, A$378m) opening weekend, according to studio Universal Pictures. The epic adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek poem, starring Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, and Zendaya, follows Odysseus on his perilous 10-year journey home after the Trojan war.
Bigger Than Oppenheimer
Released on Friday, the film scored an even larger debut than Nolan's 2023 blockbuster Oppenheimer, which ultimately earned $975m globally. The Odyssey reportedly cost $250m to produce, a budget Nolan said he was only able to secure after Oppenheimer's financial and critical success.
This is Nolan's best opening outside the Batman franchise. His 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises opened globally with $249m, or $362m adjusted for inflation.
North American and International Performance
In North America, The Odyssey made $124.5m, giving it the third-largest opening of the year after Toy Story 5 ($159m) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($131m). This is impressive given the film's R rating, which limits its audience. Universal Pictures had projected a $100m opening weekend in North America.
Men comprised 56% of the general audience, and over three-quarters of ticket buyers were older than 25. Half of the audience were aged 18 to 34.
The UK and Ireland led international territories with £12.9m ($17.4m) across three days.
IMAX and Premium Formats
The Odyssey is the first feature film shot entirely with IMAX cameras, which capture sharper, brighter, and higher-resolution content. Screenings at London's BFI IMAX cinema sold out for the opening weekend, with fans queuing as early as midnight and 4am.
The film was released across 73 markets, over 12,800 locations, and 26,000 screens worldwide, including 440 IMAX screens. In North America, premium large formats like IMAX accounted for 53% of the box office.
Critical Reception and Future Plans
Hailed as Nolan's "best film to date" in glowing reviews, The Odyssey also stars Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Samantha Morton, and Charlize Theron. Nolan told the Guardian he will take a break, saying, "It will be at least three years until I make another movie." He added, "I'm so desperate to have a period I have nothing to do."
