Director Christopher Nolan’s cinematic adaptation of «The Odyssey» secured a massive international debut, collecting $264.1 mln in global ticket sales during its opening weekend, Universal Pictures confirmed Sunday.
The launch included $124.5 mln across cinemas in the U.S. and Canada. The production, which translates Homer’s ancient Greek poem to the screen, features Matt Damon as the legendary hero Odysseus during his hazardous return voyage from the Trojan War. The feature marks Nolan’s first theatrical release since his 2023 biographical drama «Oppenheimer», which secured multiple Academy Awards including best picture and best director.
The film topped both the domestic and international weekend box office charts, according to data tracking firm Rentrak. Universal’s president of domestic theatrical distribution, Jim Orr, stated the release achieved broad demographic appeal, with half of the recorded ticket buyers falling between the ages of 18 and 34.
Production costs for the feature reached $250 mln. Initial audiences awarded the film an «A» grade through tracking firm CinemaScore, while the aggregate audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes reached 97%.
Historical rankings and format selections
Adjusted for inflation, the opening figures place the release as Nolan’s third-highest global debut. It trails only his superhero sequels «The Dark Knight Rises» in 2012 and «The Dark Knight» in 2008, which generated inflation-adjusted global openings of $358.5 mln and $304 mln respectively.
Premium screening options drove a significant portion of the weekend revenue. Universal reported that half of the domestic filmgoers opted for enhanced viewings, with IMAX presentations accounting for 23% of the total box office share.
Advance ticket sales commenced a year prior at select locations. IMAX Chief Executive Richard Gelfond confirmed the corporation secured an unprecedented $50 mln in presales. To accommodate the heavy consumer demand, more than 50 large-format cinemas across North America introduced around-the-clock screenings between midnight and 7 a.m.
The production relied heavily on 70mm film and specialized IMAX cameras to document the narrative, which focuses closely on the mythological encounters, storms and tragedies that defined the protagonist’s journey home.
