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IMAX Epic “The Odyssey” Nets $51 M, 95% Sellout

7/19/2026

26 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Odyssey, a feature filmed with IMAX 70 mm cameras, opened on July 17, 2026 and sold out 95% of its IMAX screenings within five weeks.
It earned $51.2 million on Friday and received an A CinemaScore and a 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating, the highest of Director Christopher Nolan’s career.
Classicists deem it a legitimate new version of Homer’s Odyssey, sparking debate.
Matt Damon says the Trojan Horse scene was improvised on set.

History

Historical Context

In March 1998, James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic became the first movie to surpass $1 billion worldwide, after a $200 million budget and co-financing by 20th Century Fox and Paramount. Its record-breaking earnings showed that massive, literary-source epics could dominate the box-office, a pattern repeated by later high-budget releases and the industry’s shift toward immersive formats.

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Story summary

The Odyssey, a feature filmed with IMAX 70 mm cameras, opened on July 17, 2026 and sold out 95% of its IMAX screenings within five weeks.
It earned $51.2 million on Friday and received an A CinemaScore and a 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating, the highest of Director Christopher Nolan’s career.
Classicists deem it a legitimate new version of Homer’s Odyssey, sparking debate.
Matt Damon says the Trojan Horse scene was improvised on set.

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