- The Odyssey earned $51.2 million on Friday from 3,900 screens, heading for a $120 million+ opening, which would be 2026's biggest live-action opening and the top R-rated opening of the year.
- The global opening is projected at $257.8 million from 73 markets, exceeding the initial projection of mid-$80M to $100M domestic, on a $250 million budget.
- IMAX screens contribute an estimated $30 million domestically (25% of domestic haul) and $22 million internationally.
- Domestically, it is Nolan's third-biggest opening after Dark Knight films, and globally it will be his biggest opening ever.
- The film has a 95% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, the best of Nolan's career, and a 97% audience score.
- David Rooney called it “a meditative action movie both immense and intimate” with episodic impediments and questionable casting.
- THR's ranking places The Odyssey second among Nolan's films, behind The Dark Knight.
Christopher Nolan's *The Odyssey* debuted with a stunning $120 million in North America, making it the biggest live-action opening of 2026. The film, featuring the heroic Odysseus, surpassed initial projections of $80 million to $100 million, showcasing its strong audience appeal with an A CinemaScore.12312
The film is also on track to achieve the highest R-rated opening of the year and Universal's best weekend launch for an R-rated title. Internationally, it is expected to gross $257.8 million over the weekend, with $137.3 million from 73 markets.45
Nolan's latest work is set to become his biggest global opening, surpassing *The Dark Knight Rises*' $249 million. The film's success is bolstered by a 95 percent approval rating from critics and a 97 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating widespread acclaim.78
Critics have praised the film, with David Rooney of *THR* calling it “a meditative action movie both immense and intimate.” The film's strong performance is further highlighted by its anticipated $30 million from IMAX screens domestically, contributing significantly to its North American haul.6
Overall, *The Odyssey* not only marks a significant milestone in Nolan's career but also sets a new standard for R-rated films in the box office landscape.
“The film earned $51.2M on Friday from 3,900 screens and an A CinemaScore, heading for a $257.8M global opening across 73 markets. It also notched a 95% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, Nolan's best, a 97% audience score, and $30M from IMAX domestically.”
The Hollywood Reporter
