Saturday Update: Despite the gloomy weather and the World Cup, Universal’s ‘The Odyssey’ is on its way to becoming Christopher Nolan’s best global opening ever, with a staggering $257.8M. This impressive feat surpasses his previous highs of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ ($249M WW debut in like-for-likes), ‘The Dark Knight’ ($198M WW), and ‘Oppenheimer’ ($180M WW).
In terms of top global openings year-to-date, ‘The Odyssey’ takes the top spot as the best live-action movie, but ranks third overall behind Universal/Illumination/Nintendo’s ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ ($372.5M WW) and Disney/Pixar’s ‘Toy Story 5’ ($312M WW). With a domestic opening of $120.5M, ‘The Odyssey’ is shaping up for a $137.3M opening in 73 offshore markets, including the UK & Ireland, France, Australia, Germany, Mexico, and Brazil.
This achievement also marks the biggest ever opening for 2x Oscar winner Nolan at the international B.O., surpassing ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ in like-for-like markets. Furthermore, ‘The Odyssey’ has set several record openings of Nolan’s career in 45 territories, including France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Netherlands, and Brazil. The feature take of Homer’s classic poem is also Universal’s biggest opening ever in 11 markets.
‘The Odyssey’ has also ranked as the second-biggest R-rated opening of all time internationally, behind ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ ($233.3M). The ensemble cast, featuring Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Tom Hollad, Jon Berthal, and Charlize Theron, has performed exceptionally well abroad, with standout performances in France, Australia, Italy, Mexico, and Germany.
As reported by JustWatch, 60% of entertainment viewers plan to watch both ‘The Odyssey’ on the big screen and the World Cup Final this weekend. This is after a survey of 3,210 people conducted between May-July 2026 across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and North America.
The movie’s impressive opening weekend has been fueled by its broad PLF screen footprint, including 4DX, D-Box, Dolby Vision, and leading PLF formats. With a strong IMAX presence, ‘The Odyssey’ has reached a total of $883K on Thursday in Brazil, outstripping ‘Oppenheimer’ by 85% to notch Nolan’s biggest opening day in the market and the biggest IMAX opening day YTD.
With these remarkable numbers, it’s clear that ‘The Odyssey’ is on its way to becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year. While some may be skeptical about its chances of reaching $1 billion, the movie’s strong word-of-mouth and its broad appeal make it a compelling contender for a record-breaking run at the box office.
As the movie continues to perform exceptionally well, fans and critics alike will be eagerly awaiting its next move. With its epic retelling of Homer’s classic poem and its stunning visuals, ‘The Odyssey’ is a must-see for anyone looking for a cinematic experience that will leave them breathless.
As the box office numbers continue to roll in, one thing is clear: ‘The Odyssey’ is a force to be reckoned with, and its record-breaking opening is just the beginning of its journey to the top.
Will ‘The Odyssey’ reach $1 billion at the box office, or will it fall short of its ambitious goal? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: this epic retelling of Homer’s classic poem is a must-see for anyone looking for a cinematic experience that will leave them on the edge of their seats.
