The Odyssey smashes 2026 preview box office record after huge Thursday night turnout

Christopher Nolan’s much-anticipated new film, The Odyssey, has enjoyed a record-breaking start at the box office, raking in $17.6 million from Thursday night preview screenings. This edges past the previous high set by Toy Story 5 and puts Nolan’s latest work ahead of even his own blockbuster, Oppenheimer, which earned $10.5 million during its Thursday launch.

The achievement is all the more remarkable considering the film’s nearly three-hour runtime and its R rating, which typically narrows a film’s initial audience. Recent years, however, have shown that restrictions haven’t curbed demand for director-driven or franchise films, with titles like Deadpool & Wolverine topping $1.3 billion worldwide and Oppenheimer itself bringing in $976 million globally.

• The Odyssey — $17.6m Thursday box office
• Toy Story 5 — $17.5m (previous record holder)
• Oppenheimer — $10.5m

Current estimates suggest The Odyssey could amass between $90–100 million over its opening weekend, though some industry watchers believe it may easily surpass these early projections. Reports suggest the film’s production budget sits at around $250 million, putting it among Nolan’s most ambitious projects since The Dark Knight Rises.

Critical response so far has been overwhelmingly positive, with The Odyssey holding a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 300 reviews. Reviewer Jonathan Sim called the film an “extraordinary achievement that deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible.”

The Odyssey is Nolan's biggest launch since The Dark Knight Rises in 2012.

The Odyssey is in cinemas now, with screenings available across the UK and worldwide.