No 2026 film can touch The Odyssey at the box office
After a storming second weekend, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is setting a box office pace few expected from an R-rated historical epic — the figures tell the story.
Christopher Nolan isn’t exactly new to outclassing the rest of Hollywood, but with The Odyssey, he’s managed to blow past even his own high bar for blockbuster dominance in 2026. This time he’s taken Homer’s classic story—yes, the actual ancient Greek Odyssey—and somehow turned it into an R-rated epic that not only packs cinemas, but has the kind of staying power you hardly ever see, especially for a film that bans under-18s outright.
The Odyssey grossed $639.6 million worldwide after just 10 days in cinemas.
Nolan + Homer = Box Office Juggernaut
Let’s talk numbers, since that’s what’s got everyone’s attention. In its first weekend, The Odyssey hauled in a staggering $123.5 million across North America (if you believe Box Office Mojo). Now, most films that launch this big fall off a cliff on their second weekend. Typical drop-off? Fifty percent or more—audiences get their fill, the hype dies, and on we go. Nolan’s film? A mere 30% slide. That’s only $87 million for Weekend #2, showing astonishing word-of-mouth and a fanbase that doesn’t mind repeat viewings. If you’re keeping score: this is now the second-biggest second weekend ever for an R-rated release. Only Deadpool & Wolverine did better, but then again, that one had superhero tailwinds and nearly doubled The Odyssey’s opening haul.
So as it stands, North America’s given Nolan $286 million so far, with the rest of the world throwing in $353.2 million. That gets the global total up to $639.6 million after just ten days on release. Repeat: ten days, and already one of the year’s most lucrative films with clear runway to grow. Nolan’s not playing in the same league as the rest of 2026’s releases at this point.
The IMAX Gamble Paid Off
If you’ve heard Nolan speak for more than two minutes, you know he’s obsessed with IMAX. He shot 100% of The Odyssey on those giant, unwieldy IMAX cameras—machinery that usually terrifies everyone but him, apparently. So was it worth it? Yes, and then some: IMAX screenings alone have accounted for $140 million in ticket sales ($78 million domestic, $62 million from abroad per Variety). It smashed its way to the $100 million IMAX mark in just ten days, which is absurd considering most blockbusters never sniff that milestone, let alone in such a short window.
What Happens Next?
Of course, no one coasts at the top forever. The real test for Nolan’s mythic mariner comes up fast, as Spider-Man: Brand New Day is about to swing onto screens with Tom Holland and Zendaya at the centre of the web. Marvel’s got the hype machine in overdrive, so it’ll be interesting to see if The Odyssey can hold its position or if the Greek hero will have to yield to a bloke in spandex.