Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has shattered box office records worldwide making it the filmmakers biggest opener out of The Batman franchise.
Sarika Sharma
July 20, 2026 / 11:52 IST
The Odyssey
- “The Odyssey” is Nolan’s biggest opening after Batman.
- Film earned $124.5m in North America opening.
- Set new benchmarks for IMAX screenings globally.
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Director Christopher Nolan has once again proved his box office might with his latest epic, The Odyssey.
The film has stormed theatres across the globe and has delivered one of the biggest openings of the year.
Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o and Charlize Theron, the film has opened to both critical acclaim and exceptional commercial success.
Biggest opening of Nolan’s career
Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of the 2,700-year-old poem by Homer was reportedly made at a whopping $250m with the filmmaker admitting in one of his earlier interviews that he could only afford to make it after Oppenheimer’s super success.
The Odyssey has got Nolan his best ever opening after the Batman franchise. The Dark Knight Rises opened globally with USD 249m in 2012. Now latest reports suggest that in North America alone, The Odyssey has collected a whopping $124.5m. It is an impressive feat considering Odyssey got an R Rating.
Universal Pictures had projected a $100m opening weekend in North America.
Record-breaking IMAX performance
The film has also set new benchmarks for premium-format screenings. Shot entirely using IMAX film cameras, The Odyssey generated over $81 million globally from IMAX screenings, making it one of the biggest IMAX openings ever.
The demand for 70mm IMAX screenings was so high that several theatres reported sold-out shows, including midnight and early-morning screenings.
Christopher Nolan’s biggest opening in India
The Odyssey has performed equally well in India. According to trade estimates, The Odyssey collected Rs 20.76 crore gross (Rs 17.40 crore net) on its opening day across languages, making it Christopher Nolan’s biggest opening day in the country, ahead of Oppenheimer. Premium formats, especially IMAX, accounted for a significant share of ticket sales.
Critics and audiences respond positively
Beyond its box office performance, The Odyssey has also received a positive response from critics and audiences. The film earned an ‘A’ CinemaScore from opening-day audiences in North America and a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating strong word of mouth.
A landmark release for Universal
Produced on an estimated budget of $250 million, The Odyssey marks Nolan’s first film since the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer. Industry analysts believe the film’s strong opening, along with limited competition over the next few weeks, positions it for a long and strong theatrical run.
Universal is also banking on sustained momentum from premium formats, where nearly half of North American moviegoers opted to watch the film.
Adapted from Homer’s ancient Greek epic, The Odyssey follows the legendary king Odysseus on his perilous journey home after the Trojan War. Nolan’s latest spectacle, which already had a record-breaking debut, has claimed its place as one of the biggest Hollywood openings of 2026 and another major milestone for the filmmaker.
Sarika Sharma is Editor, Entertainment, MoneyControl.com. She has over 25 years of experience in the field of entertainment journalism.
first published: Jul 20, 2026 11:52 am
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