Christopher Nolan’s latest film, “The Odyssey,” has stormed the global box office, earning an estimated $124.5 million domestically and $139.6 million internationally for a robust $264.1 million debut weekend. This opening surpasses that of Nolan’s previous blockbuster, “Oppenheimer,” and stands as the director’s highest-grossing opening since “The Dark Knight Rises” in 2012.
The Universal Pictures production, which boasts a $250 million production budget and an additional $125 million allocated for marketing, is positioned as an unlikely summer blockbuster by adapting one of the world's oldest literary works. The film's success highlights Nolan's singular ability to draw audiences to theaters, a feat few other filmmakers can achieve in the current Hollywood landscape dominated by intellectual property franchises.
Demand for “The Odyssey” was exceptionally high, particularly for Nolan's preferred IMAX 70 mm format. Tickets for some screenings went on sale a full year in advance, and theaters added and sold out midnight and 3 a.m. showings to accommodate the extraordinary interest. The film was shot entirely with IMAX cameras, contributing to $29.6 million in domestic IMAX ticket sales and $51.8 million globally, making it IMAX’s best weekend ever. IMAX is dedicating its screens to the film for three weeks, with 41 specific 70 mm screens accounting for $6.3 million in ticket sales.
Nolan has been a key figure in the cinema revival post-pandemic, with “Tenet” being one of the first major releases in 2020. His “Oppenheimer” and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” created a significant cultural moment in 2023, with “Oppenheimer” ultimately grossing $975 million worldwide.
“The Odyssey” arrives during what is shaping up to be Hollywood’s strongest summer since 2019, with ticket sales running approximately 10% ahead of last year and industry projections anticipating the first $10 billion domestic box office year since the pandemic. The film faced no new major competition over its opening weekend and is expected to maintain strong performance into its second week, with IMAX reporting that second-weekend presales are among their top 10 of all time.
The next significant film release that could challenge “The Odyssey” is Sony’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” scheduled for July 31, which also stars Tom Holland.
The ensemble cast of “The Odyssey” includes Matt Damon as Odysseus, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Zendaya as Athena, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, and Charlize Theron as Calypso. The casting, particularly Lupita Nyong’o as Helen and Elliot Page as a soldier, drew criticism from some conservative commentators, including Elon Musk, who called Nolan a “coward” over Nyong’o's role. However, this controversy appears to have had minimal impact on the film's box office performance. Critical reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with the film holding a 95% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” CinemaScore from audiences.