The Odyssey surpasses $1.1 billion, becoming Christopher Nolan's highest-grossing film and claiming the IMAX all-time record

Record-breaking run

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has grossed $1.104 billion worldwide in under a month, surpassing The Dark Knight Rises ($1.085 billion) as the highest-grossing film of the director's career. The adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic opened on 17 July and has spent four weekends in theaters, collecting $461.1 million domestically and $643.6 million from overseas markets as of Sunday, 9 August. The film added $110 million globally in its fourth weekend alone, including $79 million internationally and $31.5 million domestically. It debuted at number one globally and held the top position for two consecutive weekends.

IMAX milestone and format distinction

The Odyssey is also the highest-grossing IMAX release of all time, with $289 million from IMAX screenings, overtaking 2009's Avatar, which grossed $271 million in the format. In North America, the film has generated $147.3 million in IMAX, making it IMAX's biggest domestic release to date. The film is notable as the first feature shot entirely with IMAX cameras; other productions typically incorporate the technology only for select sequences.

Rankings and context

The Odyssey is the second-highest-grossing R-rated release of all time, behind 2024's Deadpool & Wolverine, which earned $1.3 billion worldwide. It is the highest-grossing R-rated film of 2026 in both North America and globally. Among 2026 releases, it ranks as the second-biggest film of the year behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has grossed between $1.26 billion and $1.67 billion depending on the source. The Odyssey is the fifth film of the year to cross the $1 billion mark, joining Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($1.01 billion), the Michael Jackson biopic Michael ($1.016 billion), and Toy Story 5 ($1.09 billion). The film has not yet opened in China, the second-biggest moviegoing market, with a release scheduled for 14 August.

Cast and production

The three-hour epic stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, on his 10-year journey home after the Trojan War. The ensemble cast includes Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Charlize Theron, and Lupita Nyong'o. The film has become the highest-grossing movie globally for Damon, Hathaway, and Pattinson's careers. Nolan, 56, wrote and directed the film and produced it alongside his wife, Emma Thomas, through their company Syncopy, with Universal Pictures distributing. The production budget was reported at $250 million, excluding marketing costs. Nolan's films have now grossed more than $7 billion globally. His previous release, Oppenheimer (2023), grossed $975.8 million and won seven Oscars, including best picture and best director.

Studio response

Universal Pictures executives praised the film's performance and Nolan's track record of drawing audiences to theaters. Jim Orr, president of domestic theatrical distribution, highlighted the director's consistency and the film's cultural reach. Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, president of distribution at Universal Pictures International, emphasized the film's global appeal and its connection to one of literature's most enduring stories.

Christopher Nolan has earned audiences' trust by consistently delivering must-see theatrical events, and The Odyssey is him operating at the peak of his powers.

A singular filmmaker with the international following of Christopher Nolan is uniquely fit to adapt Homer's ancient poem, which is one of the most influential and well-known stories in the world. The Odyssey is a global epic that has resonated with audiences everywhere with its massive scope and uncompromising vision.