Already past $1B globally, Nolan’s The Odyssey still has major international markets to come
If you’re a Nolan fan, The Odyssey has crossed a blockbuster threshold worldwide, with major international markets still ahead — and it’s on course to become his biggest film.
Right, bit late getting round to The Odyssey, but apparently I’m not the only one still scrambling for IMAX tickets. Christopher Nolan’s big-budget take on Homer’s epic is already a box office juggernaut—over $1 billion worldwide so far—and, would you believe, there’s plenty more to come, with huge markets just opening or still to launch. Box office records, brace yourselves.
The Odyssey passed the $1 billion mark in global box office revenue, with substantial territories still to come.
How the Numbers Stack Up
Nolan’s The Odyssey isn’t just making a splash—it’s well on track to become his most successful project ever. The film’s taken in $429.7 million in the States and $570.3 million internationally. To put that in perspective: Nolan’s previous record-holder, The Dark Knight Rises, topped out at $1.085 billion. So, unless the world runs out of cinemas, this one’s overtaking it soon.
And don’t think it’s done. The film’s just opened in Korea, and is hitting cinemas in China on 14 August, then Japan on 11 September. Which means its biggest box office hauls may well be ahead of it. For once, the hype cycle might actually be justified.
The IMAX situation is still absurd—if you’re thinking of catching it on the big, big screen, you’d better have planned weeks ahead, because tickets are harder to get than a politician’s apology. Yet regular cinemas are packed too, so it’s a win for multiplexes any way you look at it.
Where the Cash Is Coming From
Where’s Nolan raking in all that cash? Here’s a quick list of the biggest foreign territories so far, with the UK leading the charge (no surprises):
- UK/Ireland: $75.3M
- France: $52.4M
- Italy: $46.9M
- Germany: $35.2M
- Australia: $29.8M
- Mexico: $28M
- Spain: $27.3M
- India: $19.6M
- Netherlands: $13.9M
- Saudi Arabia: $13.1M
And keep in mind, numbers from China and Japan—two of the most lucrative markets in the world—haven’t even shown up on the board yet. So those tally sheets are only getting fatter.
Box Office Chaos Incoming
Meanwhile, over in superhero land, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is taking a victory lap with $1.35 billion since opening last Thursday. Not only is that the top-grossing film of 2026, but analysts reckon it’s got legs for a hefty second weekend too.
With The Odyssey and Spidey both throwing haymakers at the box office, cinema owners must be laughing all the way to the bank—popcorn buckets, overpriced fizzy drinks, the lot. You don’t often get two films smashing records at the same time, but apparently this is the year of the blockbuster pile-on.
And just wait—December 18 is already being nicknamed 'Dunesday', when Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday both drop on a single day. If you’re thinking of seeing both, don’t forget to remortgage your house for snacks and tickets in advance.