Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is on a tear — it’s turned into a cultural event, having just crossed the $200M domestic mark.
Shows are still sold out around the clock. It earned domestic 2026 bests this week: $18.6M on Monday, $21.4M on Tuesday, $18M on Wednesday, and $17.6M on Thursday. This is in addition to the $124M opening weekend it had.
And guess what? This coming weekend is looking awfully strong for Nolan’s massive epic. The numbers I’m hearing point to a $85M+ second frame — if the higher end is reached, that would mean just a 31% drop, which is extremely rare for a widely released blockbuster.
Current projections have “The Odyssey,” which has already made close to $400M worldwide, hitting $1 billion+ by the conclusion of its theatrical run. Right now, two movies have hit that milestone this year: “Michael” ($1.02B) and “Super Mario Galaxy Movie” ($1.01B), and this weekend will bring its third, “Toy Story 5,” which is currently at around $980M.
Ticket demand for “The Odyssey” has not slowed down — many areas have 70mm IMAX showings booked through August. It is not behaving like a normal blockbuster, but rather like a major theatrical event. Premium formats, especially IMAX, have been a major driver, with fans actively seeking out large-format screenings rather than simply watching wherever seats are available.
A $500M+ domestic finish is becoming a possibility. The main factors working in its favor are Nolan’s strong repeat-viewing audience, excellent word of mouth, and a lack of immediate competition — with no major wide release arriving next weekend.
Christopher Nolan’s power as a box office draw should no longer be in question. Variety’s Owen Gleiberman calls it an “elevated fanboy cult.” His following has evolved beyond admiration into a form of cinematic loyalty: audiences are not just watching his films; they are participating in a shared cultural event.
Nolan has evolved from delivering blockbuster successes for Warner Bros. into becoming a cornerstone asset for Universal Pictures. Hell, I’d argue that his fanbase has gone beyond the cultish and into near-religious territory.
Very sorry to hear about Tom Skerritt's passing today. He was 93. If you grew up watching movies from the '70s and '80s, Skerritt was simply there, the guy with the mustache and those calm eyes.