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Damon Credits Stunt Double as “Odyssey” Smashes Opening Record

7/21/2026

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Summary

Matt Damon Hugs

Matt Damon said his stunt double performed the arms in the Laestrygonian sequence of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, July 17.
He identified the double as Devyn Dalton and gave her a hug.
The film used seven-foot and sub-five-foot stuntmen to make the giants appear enormous.
Damon cut his weight from 185-200 to 167 pounds, stopped eating gluten, and complied with Nolan’s request to look lean yet powerful as Odysseus.

Summary

Odyssey Sets Record

The Odyssey premiered on July 17, 2026 and generated over $120 million in its opening domestic weekend.
The film earned more than $260 million worldwide in its debut, eclipsing Nolan’s previous $250 million record set by The Dark Knight Rises in 2012.
Rotten Tomatoes reported a 95 % Tomatometer rating and a 97 % Popcornmeter score for the movie.
The picture earned a $124 million U.S. opening, ranking third-largest domestic debut of the year.

History

Historical Context

When James Cameron’s Titanic opened on December 19 1997 via Paramount and 20th Century Fox, it became the first film to top $1 billion worldwide on March 1 1998 and later exceeded $2 billion after its 2012 3D re-release. That record set a benchmark that studios now chase, leading Warner Bros. to spend $124 million on Christopher Nolan’s 2026 Odyssey and to copy Titanic’s high-budget effects and star-driven marketing.

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Matt Damon Hugs

Matt Damon said his stunt double performed the arms in the Laestrygonian sequence of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, July 17.
He identified the double as Devyn Dalton and gave her a hug.
The film used seven-foot and sub-five-foot stuntmen to make the giants appear enormous.
Damon cut his weight from 185-200 to 167 pounds, stopped eating gluten, and complied with Nolan’s request to look lean yet powerful as Odysseus.

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