- Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' has crossed the USD 700 million mark at the global box office within just 12 days of its release.
- The film has earned USD 320.5 million in North America and USD 407.4 million from international markets, bringing its worldwide total to USD 727.9 million.
- It is currently the fourth highest-grossing film of 2026 and is expected to join the billion-dollar club soon.
- The film's performance is notable as it has yet to release in China, the world's second-largest theatrical market, where it is set to open on August 14.
- Joyce Carol Oates has publicly criticized Emily Wilson's viral review of the film, stating that her tone strikes a sour note.
- The film is projected to collect between USD 50 million and USD 60 million in its third weekend despite competition from Sony and Marvel's *Spider-Man: Brand New Day*.
- Oates remarked that Wilson's review is surprising since all translations are subjective and not equivalent to the original text.
- Wilson's review has led to a significant increase in sales of her translation, with purchases up by more than 600% across Audible's U.S., U.K., and Canadian marketplaces.
Christopher Nolan's *The Odyssey* has achieved remarkable box office success, grossing over $727 million globally in just 12 days.12
The film has earned USD 320.5 million in North America and USD 407.4 million internationally, making it the fourth highest-grossing film of 2026.34
Despite not yet releasing in China, the film is projected to join the billion-dollar club soon, with estimates suggesting it could earn between USD 50 million and USD 60 million in its third weekend.57
Emily Wilson's review has sparked significant debate, particularly after a classicist criticized the film's adaptation of Homer's epic.
Wilson compared Nolan's nearly three-hour film to Peter Jackson's *Lord of the Rings* trilogy and *Game of Thrones*, noting that the film's race-neutral casting has been met with mixed reactions.
She argued that most non-white characters serve merely as support for the white protagonist, stating, “We are not shown that war or killing are bad, only that good men sometimes feel bad about it.”
Wilson also criticized the film for lacking depth, saying it “has nothing convincing to say about time, memory, history, war” and that its characters are underdeveloped.
As the film prepares for its release in China on August 14, it is set to open in nearly 800 IMAX screens and thousands of standard auditoriums, further boosting its box office potential.
“The film has earned USD 727.9 million worldwide, with USD 320.5 million from North America and USD 407.4 million internationally. Joyce Carol Oates criticized Wilson's review, arguing that all translations are subjective and questioning the intent behind Wilson's approach to the material.”
London Review of Books
