Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Sparks Buzz Ahead of Release

WHO:

Screen Rant - Christopher Nolan, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong'o, Himesh Patel, and other cast members discussed the significant changes made from the poem to the film adaptation of The Odyssey.

Fast Company - Matt Damon stated, “I can say, without hyperbole, that it was the best experience of my career.”

Fast Company - Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron echoed Damon's sentiments about their filming experience.

Variety - The film features a star-studded cast including Mia Goth and Benny Safdie, alongside previously mentioned actors.

Fast Company - Deadline’s Gregory Nussen called The Odyssey Nolan’s “most achingly humanistic film.”

Fast Company - Rolling Stone’s David Fear described The Odyssey as “arguably Christopher Nolan’s best work after 2017’s Dunkirk.”

Fast Company - The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw praised the film for its “gasp-inducing, Imax-sized landscapes of loneliness shot by cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema.”

Fast Company - Christopher Nolan stated, “Now, I can get something made that I couldn’t otherwise get made. For me to take on Greek mythology on a big modern cinematic canvas is something that hasn’t been done.”

TODAY.com - Nolan revealed, “Oh, at least” when asked if it would be “another three years” before his next release after The Odyssey.

Fast Company - Matt Damon described filming The Odyssey as “the best experience of my career.”

Fast Company - Jon Bernthal recalled a challenging moment during filming, stating, “You ain’t breaking me, Chris. There’s nothing you can do to break me.”

Screen Rant - Anne Hathaway discussed the changes made to her character Penelope in The Odyssey.

Screen Rant - Jon Bernthal described challenging moments during the shoot, including being submerged in chilly water for the Trojan Horse sequence.

Fast Company - Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon, Lupita Nyong'o, Himesh Patel, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Bill Irwin

The Hollywood Reporter - Universal Pictures

WHAT:

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is projected to gross $257.8 million globally for its opening weekend, exceeding earlier estimates.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film is expected to earn approximately $137.3 million from 73 international markets during its opening weekend.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is eyeing an estimated $30 million from IMAX screens domestically, accounting for 25 percent of its North American haul.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film is projected to achieve the third-biggest opening weekend domestically of Nolan’s career, behind The Dark Knight Rises and The Dark Knight.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is set to become Nolan’s biggest global opening, surpassing The Dark Knight Rises’ $249 million worldwide launch.

Fast Company - The Odyssey is projected to gross $120 million in its opening weekend, surpassing earlier estimates.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film is now projected to gross over $200 million globally during its opening weekend, surpassing earlier estimates.

Variety - The Odyssey earned $51 million on its opening day from 3,919 North American screens, exceeding initial projections.

Fast Company - The Odyssey is projected to gross between $90 million to $100 million in North America during its opening weekend, which would be Nolan’s biggest non-Batman opening.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film is projected to achieve Universal's highest opening weekend for an R-rated film ever.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey has a 96 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, representing Nolan’s best score of his career.

Variety - The Odyssey earned $51 million on its opening day from 3,919 North American screens.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film is projected to gross $120 million in its opening weekend.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film is expected to achieve both the top live-action opening of the year and the top R-rated opening of the year.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is projected to have a global start around $200 million.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is projected to gross $120 million in its opening weekend, surpassing earlier estimates.

Variety - The film earned $51 million on its opening day from 3,919 North American screens.

Variety - The Odyssey earned $51 million on its opening day from 3,919 North American screens.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film is now projected to gross over $200 million globally during its opening weekend, surpassing earlier estimates.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is expected to achieve both the top live-action opening of the year and the top R-rated opening of the year, with a global start around $200 million.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is projected to open with a better-than-expected $117 million opening weekend, surpassing earlier estimates.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film is expected to achieve Universal's highest opening weekend for an R-rated film ever, with a global start around $200 million.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is projected to gross between $90 million to $100 million in North America during its opening weekend, which would be Nolan’s biggest non-Batman opening.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film is expected to achieve both the top live-action opening of the year and the top R-rated opening of the year.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is projected to have a global start around $200 million.

Fast Company - The Odyssey is projected to gross over $200 million globally during its opening weekend.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film is expected to achieve Universal's highest opening weekend for an R-rated film ever, with a global start around $200 million.

Fast Company - The Odyssey is projected to gross between $90 million to $100 million in North America during its opening weekend, which would be Nolan’s biggest non-Batman opening.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film collected $17.6 million from Thursday previews on 3,900 North American screens, targeting a $50 million Friday and a projected $117 million opening weekend.

Fast Company - The Odyssey is projected to gross over $4 billion in total for the summer blockbuster season, a feat only accomplished once since the pandemic.

Fast Company - The film is expected to achieve both the top live-action opening of the year and the top R-rated opening of the year.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is projected to have a global start around $200 million.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film's production budget was confirmed to be over $250 million.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey has a 96 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, representing Nolan’s best score of his career.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film is also anticipated to have Universal's highest opening weekend for an R-rated film ever.

Fast Company - The Odyssey is projected to gross over $4 billion in total for the summer blockbuster season, a feat only accomplished once since the pandemic.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is the first film to be shot entirely on IMAX cameras, making premium large formats a key draw for moviegoers.

Fast Company - The Odyssey is projected to break box office records, with estimates indicating it could gross between $90 million to $100 million in North America during its opening weekend.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film is expected to achieve Universal's highest opening weekend for an R-rated film ever, with a global start around $200 million.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film's production budget was confirmed to be over $250 million.

Screen Rant - Critics have described The Odyssey as one of the most subversive adaptations in Hollywood history.

Fast Company - The Odyssey is based on the epic poem attributed to Homer, written in the 8th or 7th century BCE.

Fast Company - The film features a Cyclops voiced by Bill Irwin, created through puppetry and animatronics, augmented by computer graphics.

Fast Company - Critics have praised The Odyssey, with early reviews calling it "Nolan’s most achingly humanistic film" and "arguably Christopher Nolan’s best work after 2017’s Dunkirk."

Fast Company - Matt Damon described his experience filming The Odyssey as “the best experience of my career.”

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is projected to achieve both the top live-action opening of the year and the top R-rated opening of the year.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is expected to gross over $200 million globally during its opening weekend.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film collected $17.6 million from Thursday previews on 3,900 North American screens.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film aims for a $50 million Friday and a projected $117 million opening weekend.

Screen Rant - The Odyssey's plot tells the story of King Odysseus’ 10-year journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.

Fast Company - Nolan was first inspired to adapt The Odyssey 20 years ago when he was briefly attached to direct 2004’s Troy.

Fast Company - Tickets for The Odyssey went on sale a year ago, and many of the limited 70mm IMAX screens have already sold out.

Fox News - Matt Damon’s Odysseus is deconstructed into a deeply flawed leader in Nolan's adaptation, raising questions about faithfulness to Homer.

Fast Company - The Odyssey is projected to make between $90 million to $100 million in North America during its opening weekend, which would be Nolan’s biggest non-Batman opening.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is expected to achieve Universal's highest opening weekend for an R-rated film ever.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film is projected to have a global start around $200 million.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey has a 96 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, representing Nolan’s best score of his career.

Variety - The Odyssey is projected to make between $90 million to $100 million in North America during its opening weekend.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is expected to achieve both the top live-action opening of the year and the top R-rated opening of the year.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film is also anticipated to have Universal's highest opening weekend for an R-rated film ever.

Fast Company - The Odyssey is projected to break box office records.

Fast Company - The Odyssey has a production budget of over $250 million.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey collected $17.6 million from Thursday previews on 3,900 North American screens.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film aims for a $50 million Friday and a projected $117 million opening weekend.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is projected to have a global start around $200 million.

Variety - The film is the first to be shot entirely on 65mm IMAX film cameras.

Variety - The film features a star-studded cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey has a 96 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

WHERE:

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is screening in North America and has limited IMAX 70mm screenings in select theaters, with tickets particularly coveted due to limited availability.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film is screening in North America and has limited IMAX 70mm screenings in select theaters.

WHEN:

TODAY.com - Christopher Nolan stated that it will be “at least” three years until his next movie after The Odyssey.

Fast Company - The Odyssey hits theaters on July 17, 2026.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film's opening weekend is projected for July 17-19, 2026.

WHY:

Fast Company - Nolan is betting on the experience economy to help Hollywood recover, as The Odyssey is the only wide release opening this weekend.

Fast Company - Nolan is betting on the experience economy to help Hollywood recover, as The Odyssey is the lone wide release opening this weekend.

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is the lone wide release opening this weekend, with no new wide releases scheduled for the following weekend.

Fast Company - Nolan is betting on the experience economy to help Hollywood recover.

The Hollywood Reporter - The film aims to attract moviegoers back to theaters after a stretch of underperforming debuts.

HOW:

The Hollywood Reporter - The Odyssey is the first feature to be shot entirely on IMAX cameras, making premium large formats a key draw for many moviegoers.

Fast Company - A new camera called the Keighley was developed to allow for intimate dialogue scenes while shooting on IMAX, which was previously not possible due to noise issues.

Variety - The Odyssey is the first film to be shot entirely on 65mm IMAX film cameras.

Fast Company - A new camera called the Keighley was developed to allow for intimate dialogue scenes while shooting on IMAX, which was previously not possible due to noise issues.

Variety - The Odyssey is the first film to be shot entirely on 65mm IMAX film cameras, making premium large formats a key draw for moviegoers.

Fast Company - A new camera called the Keighley was developed to allow for intimate dialogue scenes while shooting on IMAX, which was previously not possible due to noise issues.

Variety - The film is the first to be shot entirely on 65mm IMAX film cameras, making premium large formats a key draw for moviegoers.

Fast Company - A new camera called the Keighley made it possible to shoot The Odyssey entirely on 65mm IMAX film cameras.

Fast Company - Nolan used mostly practical effects, limiting the use of green screens, with Odysseus’ boat being physically on the water.

TODAY.com - Nolan explained that the film was shot entirely on IMAX 70 millimeter film to make the audience feel as though they were actually in a cave with a cyclops or aboard the deck of Odysseus’ ship.

Fast Company - A blimp was created to muffle the noise of the cameras, allowing for intimate dialogue-heavy scenes.

Fast Company - Mirrors were used to give actors eye lines to connect with their scene partners during filming.

Fast Company - A new camera called the Keighley was developed to allow for intimate dialogue scenes while shooting on IMAX, which was previously not possible due to noise issues.

Fast Company - Nolan took seven months to write the script and filmed for 91 days across six countries.

Fast Company - Nolan wrapped filming nine days early.

Fast Company - A new camera called the Keighley was developed to allow for intimate dialogue scenes while shooting on IMAX, which was previously not possible due to noise issues.

Fast Company - Nolan used a blimp to muffle the noise of the cameras, allowing for intimate dialogue-heavy scenes.

Fast Company - Mirrors were utilized to give actors eye lines to connect with their scene partners during filming.

Fast Company - A blimp was created to muffle the noise of the cameras, allowing for intimate dialogue-heavy scenes.

Fast Company - Mirrors were used to give actors eye lines to connect with their scene partners during filming.

Fast Company - A blimp was created to muffle the noise of the cameras, allowing for intimate dialogue-heavy scenes.

Fast Company - Mirrors were used to give actors eye lines to connect with their scene partners during filming.

Fast Company - A new camera called the Keighley was developed to allow for intimate dialogue scenes while shooting on IMAX, which was previously not possible due to noise issues.

Fast Company - Nolan took seven months to write the script and filmed for 91 days across six countries.

Fast Company - The film uses mostly practical effects, limiting the use of green screens.

The Hollywood Reporter - A new camera called the Keighley was developed to allow for intimate dialogue scenes while shooting on IMAX.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 22:10 UTC)

The Odyssey is projected to gross an impressive $257.8 million globally for its opening weekend, surpassing earlier estimates and making it Christopher Nolan’s biggest global opening to date. The film is expected to earn around $137.3 million from 73 international markets and is eyeing approximately $30 million from IMAX screens in North America, which would account for 25 percent of its domestic haul. Notably, this opening weekend is set to be the third-biggest of Nolan’s career, trailing only The Dark Knight Rises and The Dark Knight.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 21:10 UTC)

The Odyssey is set to make a significant splash at the box office, with projections now indicating it will gross over $200 million globally during its opening weekend, surpassing earlier estimates. On its opening day alone, the film earned an impressive $51 million from nearly 4,000 North American screens, also exceeding initial projections. This success is partly attributed to the innovative Keighley camera, which allows for intimate dialogue scenes to be filmed on IMAX without the noise issues that previously hindered such shots.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 20:11 UTC)

In a recent discussion, Christopher Nolan and cast members, including Anne Hathaway and Lupita Nyong'o, highlighted the significant changes made in adapting The Odyssey from poem to film. The movie is projected to gross between $90 million to $100 million in North America during its opening weekend, marking Nolan's biggest non-Batman debut and potentially achieving Universal's highest opening weekend for an R-rated film ever. Additionally, The Odyssey boasts a remarkable 96 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is Nolan's best score to date, thanks in part to the innovative Keighley camera that allows for intimate dialogue scenes on IMAX without the noise issues that previously hindered such filming.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 19:18 UTC)

The Odyssey has made a remarkable debut, earning $51 million on its opening day from nearly four thousand North American screens, and it's projected to gross $120 million over the opening weekend. This film is on track to achieve both the top live-action opening and the top R-rated opening of the year, with a global start expected to reach around $200 million. Notably, The Odyssey is the first film shot entirely on 65mm IMAX film cameras, utilizing a newly developed camera called the Keighley to capture intimate dialogue scenes without the noise issues that previously hindered such filming.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 18:11 UTC)

In a glowing endorsement, Matt Damon declared that his experience filming The Odyssey was the best of his career, a sentiment shared by co-stars Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron. The film is projected to gross an impressive $120 million in its opening weekend, having already earned $51 million on its first day across nearly four thousand North American screens. Directed by Christopher Nolan, The Odyssey is making waves as the first film shot entirely on 65mm IMAX film cameras, tapping into the experience economy to attract audiences and help Hollywood recover.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 17:13 UTC)

The Odyssey has made a remarkable debut, earning $51 million on its opening day from nearly 4,000 screens across North America. It's now projected to gross over $200 million globally during its opening weekend, which would set records for both the top live-action opening of the year and the top R-rated opening of the year. This impressive achievement comes alongside the introduction of a new camera called the Keighley, designed to capture intimate dialogue scenes on IMAX without the noise issues that previously hindered such filming.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 16:12 UTC)

The highly anticipated film The Odyssey, featuring a star-studded cast that includes Mia Goth and Benny Safdie, is projected to open with an impressive $117 million during its opening weekend, surpassing earlier estimates. This film is expected to achieve Universal's highest opening weekend for an R-rated film ever, with a global start around $200 million, and it will be screening in North America with limited IMAX 70mm screenings that have created a high demand for tickets. Christopher Nolan has indicated that it will be “at least” three years until his next movie after The Odyssey, as he aims to leverage the experience economy to help Hollywood recover, making this film the lone wide release opening this weekend.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 15:14 UTC)

The Odyssey is receiving high praise from critics, with Gregory Nussen from Deadline calling it Christopher Nolan’s “most achingly humanistic film,” while Rolling Stone’s David Fear argues it may be Nolan’s best work since Dunkirk. The film is projected to gross between $90 million to $100 million in North America during its opening weekend, marking Nolan’s biggest non-Batman debut, and is expected to achieve both the top live-action and top R-rated openings of the year. Utilizing a new camera called the Keighley, Nolan shot The Odyssey entirely on 65mm IMAX film, relying heavily on practical effects, including a real boat on the water for Odysseus’ journey.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 14:19 UTC)

Christopher Nolan has announced that his upcoming film, The Odyssey, will be a groundbreaking exploration of Greek mythology on a modern cinematic canvas, something he feels hasn't been done before. The film is projected to gross over $200 million globally during its opening weekend, making it Universal's highest opening weekend for an R-rated film ever. To enhance the viewing experience, Nolan shot the entire film on IMAX 70 millimeter film, aiming to immerse the audience in the world of cyclopes and the adventures of Odysseus.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 13:18 UTC)

In a recent interview, Matt Damon described filming The Odyssey as “the best experience of my career,” while Jon Bernthal reflected on a tough moment during production, asserting, “You ain’t breaking me, Chris. There’s nothing you can do to break me.” The film is projected to gross between $90 million to $100 million in North America during its opening weekend, which would mark Christopher Nolan’s biggest non-Batman debut, after already collecting $17.6 million from Thursday previews on 3,900 screens. To enhance the filming experience, a blimp was created to muffle camera noise for intimate dialogue scenes, and mirrors were utilized to help actors maintain eye lines with their scene partners.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 11:16 UTC)

The Odyssey is set to be a massive success, projected to gross over $4 billion this summer, a milestone only reached once since the pandemic. The film is expected to achieve the top live-action opening of the year, along with the highest opening for an R-rated film, with a global start estimated around $200 million and a production budget exceeding $250 million. With a remarkable 96 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this film marks Christopher Nolan's best score to date, aided by innovative filming techniques that allow for intimate dialogue scenes on IMAX.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 10:19 UTC)

In a recent interview, Anne Hathaway shared insights about the changes made to her character Penelope in the upcoming film The Odyssey, while Jon Bernthal recounted the challenges he faced during filming, including being submerged in chilly water for the iconic Trojan Horse scene. The Odyssey is projected to gross over $4 billion this summer, a remarkable achievement that has only been reached once since the pandemic, and it also marks the first film shot entirely on IMAX cameras, highlighting the appeal of premium large formats for audiences. Notably, director Christopher Nolan wrapped filming nine days ahead of schedule, showcasing his efficiency on this highly anticipated project.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 09:20 UTC)

The highly anticipated film, The Odyssey, is projected to break box office records, with estimates suggesting it could gross between $90 million to $100 million in North America during its opening weekend. Additionally, it is expected to achieve Universal's highest opening weekend for an R-rated film ever, with a global start around $200 million, despite a production budget exceeding $250 million. To enhance the film's intimate dialogue scenes while shooting on IMAX, a new camera called the Keighley was developed, overcoming previous noise issues that made such scenes challenging to capture.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 06:34 UTC)

Critics are hailing The Odyssey as one of the most subversive adaptations in Hollywood history, with early reviews praising it as "Nolan’s most achingly humanistic film" and "arguably Christopher Nolan’s best work after 2017’s Dunkirk." The film, based on the epic poem attributed to Homer, features a Cyclops voiced by Bill Irwin, brought to life through a combination of puppetry, animatronics, and computer graphics. To enhance the film's intimate dialogue-heavy scenes, Nolan cleverly used a blimp to muffle camera noise and employed mirrors to help actors maintain eye lines with their scene partners.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 05:42 UTC)

Matt Damon has called his experience filming The Odyssey “the best experience of my career,” and the film is projected to achieve both the top live-action opening and the top R-rated opening of the year, with expectations to gross over $200 million globally during its opening weekend. The film has already collected $17.6 million from Thursday previews on nearly 3,900 North American screens, aiming for a $50 million Friday and a projected $117 million opening weekend. To enhance the filming process, a blimp was created to muffle camera noise for intimate dialogue scenes, while mirrors were utilized to help actors maintain eye contact with their scene partners.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 03:57 UTC)

Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey, which tells the story of King Odysseus' ten-year journey home after the Trojan War, is set to open this weekend as the only wide release. Tickets for the film went on sale a year ago, and many of the limited 70mm IMAX screens have already sold out, while Matt Damon's portrayal of Odysseus presents a deeply flawed leader that raises questions about faithfulness to the original text. To enhance the film's intimate dialogue-heavy scenes, a blimp was created to muffle camera noise, and mirrors were utilized to help actors connect with their scene partners during filming.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 01:23 UTC)

The upcoming film The Odyssey is projected to earn between $90 million and $100 million in North America during its opening weekend, marking Christopher Nolan's biggest non-Batman debut. It is also expected to set a record for Universal's highest opening weekend for an R-rated film, with a global start estimated around $200 million, and it currently boasts a remarkable 96 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the best of Nolan's career. To enhance the film's intimate dialogue scenes, a new camera called the Keighley was developed, allowing for IMAX shooting without the noise issues that previously hindered such scenes.

(UPDATED July 17, 2026 23:13 UTC)

The upcoming film The Odyssey is projected to earn between $90 million and $100 million in North America during its opening weekend, making it a contender for both the top live-action opening and the top R-rated opening of the year. Additionally, it is expected to set a record as Universal's highest opening weekend for an R-rated film ever. This impressive achievement comes alongside the introduction of a new camera called the Keighley, designed to capture intimate dialogue scenes on IMAX without the noise issues that previously hindered such filming.

(UPDATED July 17, 2026 22:17 UTC)

The highly anticipated film "The Odyssey," directed by Christopher Nolan and featuring a star-studded cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway, is projected to break box office records with a global start around $200 million. The film has already collected $17.6 million from Thursday previews across 3,900 North American screens and aims for a $50 million Friday, with an opening weekend projection of $117 million from July 17 to 19, 2026. Shot entirely on 65mm IMAX film cameras, "The Odyssey" utilizes mostly practical effects and has received a 96 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as it seeks to draw moviegoers back to theaters after a period of underperforming debuts.