Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey becomes highest-grossing R-rated film

MUMBAI: Talk about an epic victory lap. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has sailed past Deadpool & Wolverine to become the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, with worldwide box-office earnings of $1.352 billion, according to Variety.

The film has overtaken the previous record-holder, Deadpool & Wolverine, which ended its theatrical run with $1.338 billion worldwide. The 2024 Marvel film starred Ryan Reynolds as the irreverent superhero alongside Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.

The Odyssey, which opened in cinemas on July 17, has collected $516 million in North America and a further $835 million internationally. Its domestic opening alone brought in $123 million, giving the film a strong launch before its global run gathered further momentum.

The film’s official social media account marked the record with a poster celebrating its new position as the highest-grossing R-rated film in cinema history, while encouraging audiences to continue watching the film in theatres.

Reynolds also joined the celebrations, congratulating the cast and crew on social media. “Congratulations to the entire cast and crew of The Odyssey for becoming the highest grossing R-rated movie of all time,” he wrote, adding a characteristically cheeky line: “That is one helluva car.”

The latest milestone comes shortly after The Odyssey became the highest-grossing film of Nolan’s career. It has now moved past his previous billion-dollar successes, including The Dark Knight, which earned about $1.006 billion worldwide, and The Dark Knight Rises, which grossed around $1.085 billion.

The film is also setting career box-office records for several members of its ensemble. It has become the highest-grossing film for Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson and Tom Holland.

Based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic, The Odyssey follows King Odysseus, played by Damon, as he attempts to return to Ithaca after the Trojan War. His journey involves battles, mythical creatures and other dangers as he seeks to reunite with his wife Penelope, played by Hathaway, and his son Telemachus, played by Holland.

The sprawling cast also features Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Mia Goth, Corey Hawkins, Jon Bernthal, Samantha Morton, Travis Scott and Benny Safdie.

With its latest record, The Odyssey has added another major achievement to an already formidable theatrical run. For Nolan, the voyage has turned into something even bigger than a return to the billion-dollar club: it is now the biggest R-rated box-office journey in film history.