Christopher Nolan turned one of literature’s oldest surviving stories into his biggest worldwide box-office launch.
The Odyssey earned an estimated $264.1 million globally during its opening weekend, according to figures Universal Pictures released Sunday.
The total included $124.5 million from theaters in the United States and Canada and $139.6 million from 73 international markets.
The result gives Nolan his largest global opening in unadjusted dollars, surpassing the approximately $249 million debut of The Dark Knight Rises in 2012. It also opened far above Nolan’s previous film, the 2023 awards-season phenomenon Oppenheimer.
Nolan Set a New Global Record in Unadjusted Dollars
Reuters reported that The Odyssey now holds Nolan’s largest worldwide opening when historical grosses are compared without adjusting for changes in ticket prices.
Inflation produces a different ranking. Reuters calculated that The Dark Knight Rises opened to the equivalent of $358.5 million in 2026 dollars, while The Dark Knight reached an inflation-adjusted $304 million. By that measure, The Odyssey ranks third among Nolan’s global launches.
Universal distribution chief Jim Orr said the audience was unusually broad, although moviegoers between ages 18 and 34 represented half of its North American ticket buyers.
IMAX Generated $51.8 Million Worldwide
The first feature shot entirely with IMAX film cameras generated $51.8 million from the format worldwide, including $29.6 million domestically. The result delivered IMAX its largest global weekend to date, according to the Associated Press.
Half of the movie’s North American audience chose an enhanced format, with 23% attending an IMAX screening. IMAX is devoting its screens to The Odyssey for three weeks.
Only 41 theaters could project the film in IMAX 70mm, but those locations contributed $6.3 million. Demand prompted more than 50 North American theaters to schedule screenings between midnight and 7 a.m., while some 70mm locations have largely sold out performances for the next month.
IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond said advance ticket sales reached $50 million, the strongest presale total in the company’s history. Some theaters were already selling tickets for the movie’s fifth week before its opening weekend ended.
The $250 Million Production Still Needs a Long Theatrical Run
The Odyssey carried a reported production budget of $250 million, making it one of the most expensive R-rated films ever produced. The Associated Press reported that Universal committed approximately another $125 million to marketing.
The $264.1 million global opening does not mean those costs have already been recovered. Studios receive only a portion of ticket sales, with theaters retaining the remainder, while distribution and other expenses extend beyond the reported production and advertising budgets.
Universal nevertheless expects the movie to continue playing throughout the summer and into the fall. The film faced no major new-release competition during its opening weekend, and its strongest premium screenings remain booked well in advance.
Audiences Gave the Film an A CinemaScore
Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, with Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Zendaya as Athena, Robert Pattinson as Antinous and Charlize Theron as Calypso. Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton and Elliot Page also appear in the ensemble.
Opening-night moviegoers awarded the film an A CinemaScore. Reviews were also among the strongest of Nolan’s career, with the movie holding a 95% critics score when the weekend estimates were released.
The next major release expected to challenge The Odyssey is Sony’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which also stars Holland and Zendaya and opens July 31.