'The Odyssey' soars past $1 billion at global box office

Christopher Nolan's epic fantasy film becomes his biggest hit since 'The Dark Knight Rises'

Christopher Nolan's epic fantasy film The Odyssey has surpassed the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office, becoming the director's first billion-dollar release since The Dark Knight Rises in 2012.

After just three weeks in cinemas, The Odyssey has earned approximately $429.65 million in North America and $578.8 million internationally, bringing its global total to more than $1.008 billion. The film is now on track to become the highest-grossing movie of Nolan's career, surpassing the lifetime earnings of The Dark Knight Rises.

Starring Matt Damon as the legendary Greek hero Odysseus, the film adapts Homer's ancient epic poem for the big screen. Despite its nearly three-hour runtime and mythology-based story, The Odyssey has attracted strong audiences worldwide, reinforcing Nolan's reputation as one of Hollywood's most commercially successful filmmakers.

Premium large-format screenings have played a significant role in the film's success. IMAX alone has contributed more than $257 million in global ticket sales, with the film expected to become the highest-grossing IMAX release in history. The movie is also preparing for its China release on August 14, where it will debut across thousands of cinemas, including nearly 800 IMAX screens.

The Odyssey is the fifth film of 2026 to cross the $1 billion milestone, joining Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Toy Story 5, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Michael. Industry analysts believe the continued success of these major releases could help push North American box office revenue beyond $4 billion for only the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The latest milestone further cements The Odyssey as one of the biggest cinematic successes of 2026 and another landmark achievement for Christopher Nolan.

The Odyssey is a 2026 epic action fantasy film written and directed by Christopher Nolan, who produced it with his wife Emma Thomas. An adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic poem the Odyssey, it stars an ensemble cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron. In the film, Odysseus (Damon), the Greek king of Ithaca, undergoes a long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War and encounters mythical beings as he attempts to reunite with his wife Penelope (Hathaway).

Nolan began writing the script in March 2024 and secured the project with Universal Pictures by October. The Odyssey was announced in December. Casting took place from late 2024 through early 2025, and Damon was confirmed for the lead role in February 2025. Nolan studied several translations of the Odyssey before deciding upon a maximally realistic interpretation of Greek mythology, drawing inspiration from the epic historical films Andrei Rublev (1966) and Ran (1985), as well as the films of special effects artist Ray Harryhausen. Filming took place on location from February to August 2025 in Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Iceland, Western Sahara, and Malta, as well as at the Universal Studios Lot in Los Angeles. With an estimated budget of $250 million, it is among the most expensive films of Nolan's career, and the first feature film to be shot entirely on IMAX's 70 mm film cameras.

The Odyssey premiered at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London on July 6, 2026, ahead of a theatrical release by Universal Pictures on July 17 in the US and the UK. It was made available in IMAX and multiple premium large formats. The film received critical acclaim, with particular praise for Nolan's direction as well as some criticism for its deviations from the source material. It has grossed $988 million worldwide, becoming the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2026, and set numerous records for Nolan, including for some premium format pre-sales that were released a year in advance.

Principal photography lasted for 91 days between February 25 and August 5, 2025, using the working title Charlie's Tale, and wrapped nine days ahead of schedule. Location shooting primarily took place in six countries: Morocco, Western Sahara, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Scotland, and the United States.