Christopher Nolan’s latest film, ‘The Odyssey,’ made a significant impact at the box office over the weekend, earning approximately $124.5 million in ticket sales across the United States and Canada. This achievement underscores Nolan’s unique ability to draw audiences to theaters, a rarity in an industry that has increasingly focused on franchise characters over individual directors and stars.
Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus and Zendaya as Athena, the three-hour epic adaptation of Homer’s ancient poem demonstrates Nolan’s continued influence in the film world. The movie, made with a budget of $250 million, marks the first commercial feature entirely filmed in IMAX, a factor that contributed to its success.
According to Rentrak, a film data service, ‘The Odyssey’ is on track to be the year’s largest domestic opening for a live-action film. It ranks third among all 2026 releases, following ‘Toy Story 5’ and ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.’
The film’s success is largely attributed to Nolan himself, as noted by a majority of ticket buyers polled by PostTrak, a film industry research service. The movie’s ensemble cast, including Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, John Leguizamo, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Elliot Page, and Tom Holland, was also a major draw.
IMAX locations accounted for about 24 percent of the opening total, with AMC Entertainment scheduling IMAX screenings at unconventional hours to meet high demand. Shows were often sold out even at early morning times, highlighting the film’s widespread appeal. Rich Gelfond, IMAX’s chief executive, noted, ‘Our presales for the next five weeks are robust, with IMAX screenings sold out well in advance.’