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1h ago

The Odyssey Tops $700 Million as Big-Screen Sales Fuel Both Box-Office Records and Public Backlash

Heavy IMAX demand plus a planned China rollout on August 14 could vault the film past Christopher Nolan’s previous career benchmarks.

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British-US director Christopher Nolan is flanked by Matt Damon, who plays Odysseus and Anne Hathaway, who plays Penelope, at the premiere of "The Odyssey" in New York

Overview

  • The Odyssey has earned roughly $728 million worldwide within about 12 days, with Variety reporting $320.5 million domestic and $407.4 million overseas for a $727.9 million total.
  • Premium-format sales have driven the run, with IMAX screenings accounting for an outsized share of revenue and industry reports saying IMAX contributed about $140 million so far.
  • Emily Wilson, the translator Nolan cited, published a blistering London Review of Books critique that called the script 'abysmal,' faulted its narrative structure and raised ethical concerns about filming locations including an allegation of shooting in Western Sahara.
  • The film has outpaced Oppenheimer in key markets, becoming Nolan’s top grosser in India within two weeks, but it faces immediate pressure on screens and audience attention from Spider-Man: Brand New Day and a wide China release on August 14.
  • Beyond ticket sales, the release has sent sales and searches for Homeric texts soaring, sharpened awards-season talk, and prompted studio takedown actions after unauthorized online leaks.