The Odyssey box office hits $639 million as Imax run breaks records
Christopher Nolan’s R-rated epic has topped $639 million worldwide after two weekends, with Imax alone delivering $140 million.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
The Odyssey box office run is already in blockbuster territory: Christopher Nolan’s adaptation has reached $639.6 million worldwide after just two weekends, according to Variety.
The Universal-backed film, budgeted at $250 million, stars Matt Damon as Odysseus in a nearly three-hour, R-rated take on Homer’s ancient epic. Variety reported that the global total includes $353.2 million from international markets and $284.4 million in North America.
How much has The Odyssey made at the box office?
Variety reported that “The Odyssey” has made $639.6 million globally after its first two weekends in theaters. That haul puts the film past $600 million before it has opened in several major markets, including China, Japan and Korea.
Over the weekend, the film brought in $128.3 million across 81 overseas markets, Variety reported. Universal said holdover territories slipped just 10%, which the studio described as the best second-weekend hold for a film that opened above $100 million.
The movie has already passed the international total of “Project Hail Mary,” which Variety put at $340 million. Its biggest overseas markets so far are the United Kingdom and Ireland with $46.3 million, France with $31.8 million, Italy with $28.8 million, Australia with $20.6 million and Germany with $20.4 million.
Why is Imax such a big part of The Odyssey box office?
Imax has powered a hefty chunk of the film’s theatrical run. Variety reported that the premium-screen company has accounted for $140 million of worldwide ticket sales for “The Odyssey,” which is billed as the first feature shot entirely with Imax cameras.
The film crossed $100 million in Imax sales in 10 days, making it the second-fastest title in the company’s history to pass that mark, behind “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019, according to Variety.
In its second weekend, “The Odyssey” made $24 million internationally in Imax and $38 million worldwide in the format. Variety reported that this was Imax’s biggest second-weekend performance ever.
The rare 70mm Imax screenings, Nolan’s preferred format, added $5.2 million over the weekend from 41 screens worldwide. Variety reported that those 70mm showings have made $16.9 million so far, or 12.1% of the film’s total Imax box office, with many screenings sold out into September because there are so few such screens.
Imax CEO Richard Gelfond said Nolan had made a film that brings core Imax fans back for repeat viewings while also attracting new audiences to the format.
What else is happening at the 2026 box office?
Variety reported that Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” has crossed $1 billion worldwide and is the top-grossing film of 2026 with $1.02 billion.
It is the third film this year to pass the $1 billion mark, after “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” and “Michael,” both reported at $1.001 billion by Variety. “The Odyssey” now sits among the year’s top five Hollywood releases, with more major overseas openings still ahead.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.