Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Sets a New Box Office Record for Universal

Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ has been one of the defining blockbusters of the year. The epic opened on July 17 with an estimated $264.1 million worldwide opening weekend and crossed $1 billion within 3 weeks.

The film was also a gamble. Its estimated $250 million budget made it the most expensive project of Nolan’s career, and it was the first feature shot entirely on IMAX film cameras.

That gamble has paid off in historic fashion. As Global Box Office shared, ‘The Odyssey’ has become the first movie in Universal Pictures’ history to cross $1.8 billion at the global box office.

According to The Numbers, the film’s worldwide total now stands at about $1.8009 billion. That figure makes it the 2nd-biggest movie released this year, behind only ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ at around $2.52 billion. The milestone builds on an earlier record. ‘The Odyssey’ had already passed ‘Jurassic World’ to become Universal’s highest-grossing worldwide release.

Audiences around the world have helped push the epic to these heights. According to Sacnilk, the film had earned about $625.5 million domestically and more than $1.17 billion internationally as of late October.

Christopher Nolan’s THE ODYSSEY has officially become, yesterday, the first movie in @UniversalPics’ history to cross the $1.8 billion mark at the global box office. An insane milestone that also makes it the 2nd biggest movie of the year. https://t.co/74R4AWjjFO

— Global Box Office (@GlobalBoxOffice) November 3, 2026

The United Kingdom was its biggest overseas market, with about $118.3 million. China followed with about $115.5 million, while South Korea contributed more than $102.6 million and France added over $93 million.

The film also held well after its debut. Its second weekend in North America dropped only about 27%, a sign of strong word of mouth. The Universal milestone is just one of the film’s achievements. ‘The Odyssey’ is now Nolan’s highest-grossing film, passing ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, and his first to cross $1 billion since that movie.

Defy the Gods. Watch the New Trailer for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and experience the film in IMAX 7 17 26. https://t.co/Mnjp2LnFtQ

— IMAX (@IMAX) May 5, 2026

It’s also the highest-grossing R-rated film ever, having passed ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. For a film carrying that rating and a massive budget, it’s an impressive run. Nolan wrote, directed, and produced the film with Emma Thomas. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, alongside Tom Holland as Telemachus and Anne Hathaway as Penelope.

The cast also includes Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra, Zendaya as Athena, and Charlize Theron as Calypso. Jon Bernthal, Elliot Page, Benny Safdie and John Leguizamo also appear.

Critics widely praised Nolan’s direction, the performances, and the film’s huge set pieces. Some took issue with its changes to the source material, but audiences clearly showed up in force.

The film’s IMAX presentation has been a big part of its success. A record 41 screens around the world were able to show it in IMAX 70mm, and some opening-weekend IMAX 70mm screenings sold out within 12 hours of going on sale a year early. IMAX screenings alone brought in $51.8 million during opening weekend. In China, about 800 IMAX screens showed the film when it opened there on August 14.

With its theatrical run winding down, ‘The Odyssey’ will soon reach home audiences. The film arrives on digital and Ultra HD Blu-ray on November 17. Before that, it has secured a place among the biggest films of the year. Reaching $1.8 billion cements its status as a landmark for both Nolan and Universal.

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