Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” Tops His Career Box-Office Record

In its fourth weekend, *The Odyssey* has amassed roughly $1.1 billion worldwide, surpassing the $1.085 billion total of *The Dark Knight Rises* and becoming Nolan’s highest-grossing film. The R-rated epic is the second-largest R-rated release of all time, behind *Deadpool & Wolverine*.

Variety Magazine

The film opened on July 17 2026 as a three-hour adaptation of Homer’s poem. Written, directed and produced by Christopher Nolan (with Emma Thomas), it stars Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Tom Holland and Charlize Theron. The project cost $250 million to produce with a $125 million marketing spend.

The Independent

• Domestic gross: $461.1 million (Universal, Aug 9).

‘The Odyssey’ Box Office Passes $1.1 Billion to Become Christopher Nolan’s Biggest

• International gross: $643.6 million.

Deadline Hollywood

• Worldwide total: reported between $1.008 billion and $1.104 billion.

‘The Odyssey’ Box Office Passes $1.1 Billion to Become Christopher Nolan’s Biggest

• IMAX performance: $289 million globally, the highest-grossing IMAX title ever.

Variety Magazine

• R-rated ranking: second-largest worldwide, after *Deadpool & Wolverine*.

The Film That Finally Beat Batman in Christopher Nolan's Career

• Career records: highest-grossing global release for Damon, Hathaway and Pattinson.

Express Tribune

The success shows a non-franchise, adult-oriented epic can compete with superhero tentpoles when paired with a marquee director and premium-format appeal. Strong IMAX and 70 mm attendance highlights the profitability of large-format screenings, a segment that outpaces standard ticket sales despite overall theater attendance remaining below pre-pandemic levels. The upcoming China release on August 14 could add a substantial boost.

The Film That Finally Beat Batman in Christopher Nolan's Career

• Jim Orr, Universal Pictures: “Christopher Nolan has earned audiences’ trust… *The Odyssey* is him operating at the peak of his powers.”

The Odyssey becomes Nolan's highest grossing film

• Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, Universal Pictures: “A singular filmmaker with the international following of Christopher Nolan is uniquely fit to adapt Homer’s ancient poem.”

Hollywood Reporter

• Richard Gelfond, CEO of IMAX: “We had the very highest of hopes for ‘The Odyssey’ from the start.”

Variety Magazine

In South Korea, the Korean Film Council recorded 1,333,437 admissions over the opening weekend, capturing 63.5 % of ticket presales and dethroning *Spider-Man: Brand New Day*.

'The Odyssey' debuts atop weekend box office

Outlets list slightly different worldwide totals: Deadline cites $1.1 billion; The Guardian and The Hollywood Reporter $1.104 billion; Variety $1.008 billion. No source provides a definitive breakdown of remaining international markets, and the impact of the pending China launch remains unquantified.

The Odyssey becomes the highest-grossing film of Christopher Nolan’s career, surpassing The Dark Knight Rises –

• “Christopher Nolan has earned audiences’ trust by consistently delivering must-see theatrical events, and The Odyssey is him operating at the peak of his powers,” — Jim Orr, Universal Pictures

Deadline Hollywood

• “A singular filmmaker with the international following of Christopher Nolan is uniquely fit to adapt Homer’s ancient poem, which is one of the most influential and well-known stories in the world,” — Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, Universal Pictures

Deadline Hollywood

• “We had the very highest of hopes for ‘The Odyssey’ from the start,” — Richard Gelfond, IMAX

Variety Magazine

*The Odyssey* will open across 800 IMAX screens in China on August 14, with preview screenings already held in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Its continued performance in premium formats and the Chinese run are expected to push the worldwide total beyond the current $1.1 billion mark.

Variety Magazine