Christopher Nolan's Sci-fi Epic Inspired by 'The Odyssey' Arrives on Prime Video

WHO:

Collider - Christopher Nolan is the director of the sci-fi epic inspired by 'The Odyssey'.

WHAT:

Fast Company - The Odyssey is based on one of two ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer from the 8th or 7th century BCE.

CNN - Dennis MacDonald claims that the DNA of Homer’s epic poems is scattered throughout the New Testament, suggesting that biblical stories were inspired by The Odyssey and The Iliad.

CNN - MacDonald argues that the purpose of many biblical stories is to show that Jesus is superior to Homeric heroes like Achilles and Odysseus.

CNN - MacDonald states, “The purpose of many of these stories is to show that Jesus is better than the likes of Achilles, the likes of Odysseus, the likes of Hermes, and so on.”

Fast Company - The Odyssey is reported to be the "most successful IMAX run in AMC’s history" in just the first two weeks of its release.

Fast Company - The film's demand has helped it surpass the lifetime box office take for Nolan's most recent prior movie, Oppenheimer, in just 13 days.

Fast Company - The Odyssey has earned approximately $640 million worldwide as of July 26.

Fast Company - The film's demand has helped it surpass the lifetime box office take for Nolan's previous film, Oppenheimer, in just 13 days.

Fast Company - Many of the 70mm showings of The Odyssey are sold out through mid-August nationwide.

Fast Company - Tickets for 70mm screenings in New York and Los Angeles are sold out through August 19, and through September 10 in London.

Fast Company - The Odyssey is keeping its momentum from a massive opening weekend as it enters its third week in theaters.

Fast Company - New IMAX screenings of The Odyssey are in such high demand that people are going on social media to find out about new ticket drops for showings at all hours of the night, including 6 a.m.

Fast Company - The Odyssey continues to break box-office records as it enters its third weekend.

Screen Rant - The Odyssey's third weekend at the domestic box office sees it earning a record-smashing total despite competition from Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Collider - The Odyssey has beaten Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ as it stages a global box office takeover.

Fast Company - The Odyssey has earned approximately $286 million in North America as of the end of its second weekend.

Fast Company - The Odyssey has surpassed the lifetime box office take for Nolan's previous film, Oppenheimer, in just 13 days.

NY Post - Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey earned over $124 million in its opening weekend, marking the director's biggest debut since The Dark Knight Rises.

Fast Company - The Odyssey made another $87 million over its second weekend, bringing its total to approximately $640 million worldwide as of July 26.

Fast Company - The Odyssey is reported to be the "most successful IMAX run in AMC’s history" in just the first two weeks of its release.

Collider - Christopher Nolan's sci-fi epic, titled Interstellar, is coming to Prime Video.

Collider - The new film, The Odyssey, is currently dominating the box office.

WHERE:

Fast Company - Only 25 movie theaters across the U.S. and 41 internationally are showing The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm.

Collider - The film will be available on Prime Video, a streaming platform.

WHEN:

Fast Company - Tickets for 70mm screenings in New York and Los Angeles are sold out through August 19, and through September 10 in London.

Fast Company - Many of the 70mm showings of The Odyssey are sold out through mid-August nationwide.

Fast Company - Tickets for 70 mm screenings in New York and Los Angeles are sold out through August 19, and through September 10 in London.

Collider - Interstellar is set to arrive on Prime Video in the future, although no specific date is provided.

WHY:

CNN - MacDonald believes that early Christian authors used mimesis to inject Jesus “with narrative steroids to let him compete with the mythological heroes of the Greeks and Romans.”

Reddit Movies - Nolan discusses his adaptation choices and philosophical changes made in the film, indicating a desire to explore deeper themes beyond the original text.

HOW:

CNN - MacDonald points out that both Odysseus and Jesus conceal their identities as a strategic decision to accomplish their missions.

Fast Company - AMC Theatres reported that IMAX screens are responsible for a significant percentage of ticket sales for The Odyssey.

Reddit Movies - Nolan was interviewed by a doctoral student from China, who questioned him on his narrative decisions and the criticisms against his films.

(UPDATED August 2, 2026 12:48 UTC)

A new analysis by Dennis MacDonald suggests that the DNA of Homer's epic poems, particularly The Odyssey, is woven throughout the New Testament, indicating that biblical narratives may have drawn inspiration from these ancient texts. MacDonald argues that many biblical stories aim to portray Jesus as superior to legendary figures like Achilles and Odysseus, stating, “The purpose of many of these stories is to show that Jesus is better than the likes of Achilles, the likes of Odysseus, the likes of Hermes, and so on.” He also highlights a strategic similarity between Odysseus and Jesus, noting that both characters conceal their identities to achieve their respective missions.

(UPDATED August 2, 2026 09:51 UTC)

The Odyssey has become the most successful IMAX run in AMC’s history within just the first two weeks of its release, surpassing the lifetime box office take of Nolan's Oppenheimer in only 13 days. Currently, the film is being shown in just 25 theaters across the U.S. and 41 internationally, with tickets for 70mm screenings in New York and Los Angeles sold out through August 19, and through September 10 in London. This limited release has sparked significant demand, highlighting the film's impressive performance.

(UPDATED August 2, 2026 04:23 UTC)

The Odyssey has made a remarkable impact at the box office, earning approximately $640 million worldwide and surpassing the lifetime take of Oppenheimer in just 13 days. Many 70mm showings of the film are sold out through mid-August, with tickets for screenings in New York and Los Angeles completely booked through August 19, and in London through September 10. AMC Theatres has noted that IMAX screens are driving a significant portion of ticket sales for The Odyssey, highlighting its popularity among audiences.

(UPDATED August 1, 2026 17:16 UTC)

The Odyssey is maintaining its impressive momentum as it heads into its third week in theaters, continuing to break box-office records despite facing competition from Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Demand for new IMAX screenings is so high that fans are turning to social media to track down ticket drops at all hours, including as early as 6 a.m. Notably, The Odyssey has now surpassed Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ, marking a significant milestone in its global box office success.

(UPDATED August 1, 2026 16:19 UTC)

The Odyssey has made a remarkable splash at the box office, raking in approximately $286 million in North America by the end of its second weekend. In just 13 days, it has already surpassed the lifetime earnings of Christopher Nolan's previous film, Oppenheimer. Many of the 70mm showings of The Odyssey are sold out nationwide through mid-August, reflecting its immense popularity.

(UPDATED August 1, 2026 15:16 UTC)

Christopher Nolan's latest film, The Odyssey, has made a remarkable splash at the box office, earning over $124 million in its opening weekend, which is the director's biggest debut since The Dark Knight Rises. Following that success, the film raked in an additional $87 million during its second weekend, bringing its worldwide total to approximately $640 million, and it's already being hailed as the most successful IMAX run in AMC’s history. Tickets for the highly sought-after 70 mm screenings in New York and Los Angeles are sold out through August 19, and through September 10 in London, with only 25 theaters in the U.S. and 41 internationally showcasing the film in IMAX 70mm.

(UPDATED August 1, 2026 14:25 UTC)

Christopher Nolan's sci-fi epic, inspired by 'The Odyssey', is titled Interstellar and will soon be available on Prime Video, although a specific release date has not been announced. The film currently dominating the box office is The Odyssey, and in a recent interview, Nolan discussed his adaptation choices and the philosophical changes he made to explore deeper themes. During the interview, a doctoral student from China questioned Nolan about his narrative decisions and the criticisms his films have faced.