The Odyssey becomes Christopher Nolan's biggest debut
The Odyssey becomes Christopher Nolan’s biggest global debut after Universal’s action-adventure opened to $264.1 million worldwide over the weekend. The split was $124.5 million domestically and $139.6 million internationally, topping The Dark Knight Rises’ $249 million career high, Variety reports. For more entertainment openings and release alerts, follow BlasterPost’s Streaming & TV Alerts.
Key Takeaways
- Universal’s The Odyssey posted a $264.1 million global opening weekend.
- It is Nolan’s biggest worldwide debut, ahead of The Dark Knight Rises ($249 million).
- Domestic ticket sales reached $124.5 million; international markets added $139.6 million.
- The R-rated Homer adaptation is the year’s third-biggest open behind two animated hits.
- Imax contributed $51.8 million globally, about 23% of opening revenues.
According to Variety, the film’s launch is striking because it is R-rated, nearly three hours long, and not part of a major franchise. It adapts Homer’s roughly 3,000-year-old epic poem, with Nolan’s draw cited as a key reason audiences showed up.
Why did The Odyssey set a Nolan record?
The Odyssey marks the biggest worldwide opening of Nolan’s career. It finishes ahead of 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises ($249 million) and 2009’s The Dark Knight ($198 million). Variety notes the comparison is not adjusted for inflation.
It is also the third-biggest opening of the year so far, behind The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($372.5 million) and Toy Story 5 ($312 million). Nolan wrote and directed the film, which stars Matt Damon as Odysseus.
The ensemble includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Elliot Page, Jon Bernthal, and John Leguizamo. Variety says strong reviews and word-of-mouth leave the movie primed for a long theatrical run.
How big was the international opening?
The Odyssey opened in 73 international markets. Top territories included the United Kingdom and Ireland ($17.4 million), France ($13.7 million), and Italy ($11.5 million).
Variety reports it is Nolan’s biggest opening in 48 of those territories, including France and Italy, and Universal’s largest debut in 11 markets. The film has yet to open in South Korea, China, or Japan.
Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, president of distribution for Universal Pictures International, said Nolan’s passion, vision and cinematic voice “consistently drive anticipation and attendance on a truly global scale,” calling The Odyssey a rare shared cultural moment across markets.
Why does the Imax factor matter for The Odyssey?
Variety notes The Odyssey is the first feature shot entirely with Imax cameras. Premium large formats drove a sizable share of opening sales: $22.2 million internationally (16% of revenues) and $51.8 million globally (23%).
That Imax haul is the company’s biggest opening in like-for-like markets, ahead of Avengers: Endgame. The film is pacing 47% ahead of Oppenheimer’s Imax start, which began at $35 million worldwide.
Imax CEO Richard Gelfond said audiences who skip Imax are not seeing the film as Nolan intended, calling the weekend a “transcendent moment” for the format.