Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey sails to record $258 million debut

MUMBAI: Christopher Nolan didn’t just set sail, he appears to have conquered the box office before reaching shore. The Odyssey has stormed into cinemas with one of the biggest openings of the year, delivering a blockbuster debut that is already rewriting records for the acclaimed filmmaker and Universal Pictures.

The epic adaptation of the Greek myth, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, collected $51.2 million on Friday, including Thursday previews, across 3,900 North American screens. The film is now tracking towards a domestic opening of more than $120 million, making it 2026’s biggest live-action debut and trailing only Toy Story 5 ($159 million) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($131 million) among all releases this year.

Internationally, the film is proving equally formidable. The Odyssey is projected to earn $137.3 million across 73 overseas markets, taking its global opening weekend to approximately $257.8 million.

The performance comfortably surpasses Universal’s initial expectations, with the studio having targeted a domestic launch in the $85 million to $100 million range. Produced on a reported $250 million budget, the film has quickly positioned itself as one of the summer’s biggest theatrical events.

Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film follows Odysseus’ perilous journey home after the Trojan War as he attempts to reclaim his kingdom of Ithaca and reunite with his wife Penelope, played by Anne Hathaway. The ensemble cast also features Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya and Charlize Theron, with Nolan producing alongside Emma Thomas under their Syncopy banner.

The release has also become a showcase for premium cinema formats. As the first feature filmed entirely with IMAX cameras, The Odyssey has driven strong demand for large-format screenings. The film is expected to generate around $30 million from domestic IMAX screens—accounting for 25 per cent of its North American haul alongside a further $22 million from international IMAX showings.

If projections hold, The Odyssey will become Nolan’s third-biggest domestic opening, behind only The Dark Knight Rises ($160 million) and The Dark Knight ($158 million). It is also on course to deliver the biggest global opening of Nolan’s career, overtaking The Dark Knight Rises, which debuted with $249 million worldwide.

The latest success follows Nolan’s acclaimed Oppenheimer, which opened to $82.4 million domestically in 2023, went on to earn $975 million globally, and secured seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Nolan’s first Best Director Oscar.

Critical and audience response has also strengthened the film’s momentum. The Odyssey currently holds a 95 per cent critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest of Nolan’s career, narrowly ahead of The Dark Knight and Memento, both at 94 per cent. Audiences have been even more enthusiastic, awarding the film a 97 per cent score and an A CinemaScore.

Elsewhere at the box office, Disney’s live-action Moana is expected to finish second with around $19 million in its second weekend, taking its domestic total to $82 million after a 56 per cent decline.

Illumination’s Minions & Monsters and Disney’s Toy Story 5 are battling for third place. Minions & Monsters is targeting approximately $14 million in its third weekend, lifting its domestic total to $136 million, while Toy Story 5 is projected to collect $13.8 million, taking its North American haul to $429 million.

Rounding out the top five is Warner Bros.’ Evil Dead Burn, which is expected to add $4.7 million in its second weekend, bringing its domestic earnings to $23.8 million after a 66 per cent drop.

With no major wide releases arriving next weekend ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31, The Odyssey appears to have clear waters ahead. For Nolan, whose films have repeatedly pushed the boundaries of cinematic spectacle, the latest voyage is proving that audiences are still eager to embark on epic adventures especially when they’re best experienced on the biggest screen possible.