'The Odyssey’ overtakes ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ as Korea’s highest-grossing international film

As of Oct 11 the epic film had generated KRW 139.2bn ($101.5m) surpassing Cameron's 'Avatar' KRW 138bn

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has overtaken Avatar: The Way of Water to become South Korea’s highest-grossing international film of all time, earning approximately $101.5 million at the country’s box office.

As of October 11, 2026, the epic film had generated KRW 139.2 billion ($101.5 million) in South Korea, surpassing the KRW 138 billion earned by James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water. The achievement makes The Odyssey the highest-grossing Hollywood release in the country’s box-office history, according to Variety.

Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, the film has attracted approximately 12 million admissions in South Korea since its release on 5 August. Its performance has continued well beyond its opening weeks, with the film maintaining the number one position for seven consecutive weekends, the longest such run for an international release in the country.

The film’s success has also extended to premium cinema formats. The Odyssey has set records for admissions on IMAX and Dolby Cinema screens in South Korea, with IMAX screenings reportedly selling out continuously through its fifth week in cinemas. Its strong performance in these formats has contributed to its impressive box-office earnings.

The film crossed 10 million admissions in just 33 days, making it the fastest non-franchise international release to reach that milestone in South Korea. It also became the first international film carrying a 15-plus age rating to achieve the feat.

The record-breaking performance marks another significant achievement for Nolan, whose earlier film Interstellar also attracted a substantial audience in South Korea. With The Odyssey, he becomes the first director to have two non-franchise international films surpass 10 million admissions in the country.

The film’s promotional campaign also generated considerable interest. Its Seoul press conference attracted 209 media representatives, while a premiere event hosted by CGV received more than 32,000 applications. Korean celebrities, including BTS member Jungkook and TXT’s Soobin, also recommended the film, helping sustain online discussion around its release.

Despite overtaking Avatar: The Way of Water, The Odyssey has not claimed the overall record for the highest-grossing film in South Korea. Two domestic productions remain ahead of it: The King’s Warden, which has earned approximately $111.7 million, and Extreme Job, which has generated around $101.8 million.

Nevertheless, the achievement places The Odyssey at the top of the international box-office rankings in one of the world's most competitive theatrical markets. Its sustained run demonstrates the continued appeal of large-scale original filmmaking and premium cinema experiences among South Korean audiences.