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Odyssey Opens $263M, Sparks ‘Woke’ Backlash

7/22/2026

39 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Nolan Smashes Debut

The Odyssey opened in U.S. theaters with a $263.7 million worldwide gross, marking Christopher Nolan’s biggest debut.
IMAX contributed $51.8 million (23%) of the opening, including $29.6 million from U.S. IMAX screens.
Only 41 theaters worldwide—about 40 in the United States—can show the 70 mm IMAX format.
Premium formats accounted for 53% of domestic weekend revenue, with 70 mm IMAX locations averaging over $100,000 per theater.

Summary

MAGA denounces Odyssey

MAGA supporters preemptively denounced The Odyssey as “woke” because of its diverse casting.
The casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen and Elliot Page as Achilles sparked a racist-fuelled social-media outcry.
Scenes filmed in the disputed Western Sahara drew criticism from artist Mohamed Sleiman Labat, who said the shots exploited Sahrawi suffering.

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Nolan Smashes Debut

The Odyssey opened in U.S. theaters with a $263.7 million worldwide gross, marking Christopher Nolan’s biggest debut.
IMAX contributed $51.8 million (23%) of the opening, including $29.6 million from U.S. IMAX screens.
Only 41 theaters worldwide—about 40 in the United States—can show the 70 mm IMAX format.
Premium formats accounted for 53% of domestic weekend revenue, with 70 mm IMAX locations averaging over $100,000 per theater.

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