The Odyssey' Achieves Record-breaking $264M Opening Weekend
WHO:
ABC News Business - Christopher Nolan directed "The Odyssey."
The Hollywood Reporter - The film stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron.
The Hollywood Reporter - Universal Pictures produced "The Odyssey."
WHAT:
Variety - "The Odyssey" is nearly three hours in length and is not part of a major franchise.
The Hollywood Reporter - The film's opening weekend was stronger than initially projected, with the studio targeting a domestic opening in the mid-$80 million to $100 million range.
The Hollywood Reporter - The film's audience skewed male, with men making up 56 percent of the general audience and over three-quarters of ticket buyers among those above age 25.
The Hollywood Reporter - Half of the film's audience fell between the ages of 18 and 34.
The Hollywood Reporter - "The Odyssey" is the first feature to be shot entirely on IMAX cameras.
The Hollywood Reporter - Premium large formats accounted for 53 percent of the domestic total for "The Odyssey."
The Hollywood Reporter - The film received a 95 percent approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the best tally of Nolan's career.
The Hollywood Reporter - "The Odyssey" is also rated "verified hot," with a 97 percent Rotten Tomatoes score from audiences.
The Hollywood Reporter - The film is ranked second in Nolan's movies, behind only "The Dark Knight."
The Hollywood Reporter - Cinema United president and CEO Michael O’Leary stated that movie fans have shown great demand for grand-scale entertainment like "The Odyssey."
ABC News Business - "The Odyssey" achieved a global box office debut of $264.1 million.
Variety - The film earned $124.5 million domestically and $139.6 million internationally.
The Hollywood Reporter - "The Odyssey" is the highest R-rated opening of the year and Universal's highest weekend launch ever for an R-rated movie.
The Hollywood Reporter - The film received an A CinemaScore from audiences.
The Hollywood Reporter - "The Odyssey" is Nolan's biggest worldwide opening of all time, surpassing "The Dark Knight Rises" which had a global launch of $249 million in 2012.
The Hollywood Reporter - The film had a production budget of $250 million.
WHERE:
The Hollywood Reporter - "The Odyssey" was shown on 3,900 North American screens.
The Hollywood Reporter - The film pulled $29.6 million from IMAX screens domestically and $22.2 million from IMAX showings internationally.
WHEN:
The Hollywood Reporter - "The Odyssey" is set to compete with Sony’s anticipated release of "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" on July 31.
WHY:
The Hollywood Reporter - The film's success is attributed to its immersive theatrical experience and the demand for grand-scale entertainment.
HOW:
The Hollywood Reporter - "The Odyssey" was shot entirely on IMAX cameras, appealing to cinephiles and moviegoers seeking premium large formats.
(UPDATED July 19, 2026 21:10 UTC)
"The Odyssey," a nearly three-hour film shot entirely on IMAX cameras, has exceeded expectations with its opening weekend, targeting a domestic total between $80 million and $100 million. The audience for the film skewed male, with 56 percent of viewers being men and over three-quarters of ticket buyers aged 25 and older, while half of the audience fell between 18 and 34 years old. With a remarkable 95 percent approval rating from critics and a 97 percent score from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, "The Odyssey" has become the second highest-rated film in Christopher Nolan's career, just behind "The Dark Knight."
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(UPDATED July 19, 2026 19:18 UTC)
Christopher Nolan's latest film, "The Odyssey," has made a remarkable global box office debut of $264.1 million, marking it as the highest R-rated opening of the year and Universal's biggest launch ever for an R-rated movie. Starring a star-studded cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway, the film received an A CinemaScore from audiences and was shown on 3,900 screens across North America, pulling in significant earnings from IMAX showings. "The Odyssey" is set to face off against Sony’s "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" on July 31, as it continues to draw audiences with its immersive theatrical experience and grand-scale entertainment.