Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Becomes His Highest-Grossing Movie Ever

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has become the highest-grossing film of the acclaimed director's career, surpassing The Dark Knight Rises after crossing $1.1 billion at the global box office in its first month in theaters.

The Universal Pictures epic, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, has earned $1.104 billion worldwide following its July 17 release, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The total includes $461.1 million in North America and $643.6 million internationally.

The milestone moves The Odyssey past The Dark Knight Rises, which grossed $1.085 billion worldwide in 2012. Nolan's 2008 film The Dark Knight previously ranked second at $1.005 billion, while Oppenheimer is now his fourth-highest-grossing film with $975.8 million.

The new epic has also become the highest-grossing film worldwide for Damon, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson, who join Nolan in the Homer adaptation alongside Tom Holland.

The Odyssey Reaches $1.1 Billion Worldwide

The Odyssey crossed the $1 billion threshold after four weekends in theaters, making it one of only five films released in 2026 to reach that milestone.

Deadline noted that the film's global total stands at about $1.1 billion, with $461.1 million generated domestically and $643.6 million overseas. It currently ranks among the year's biggest box-office successes, behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has surpassed $1.26 billion, and Toy Story 5, which has reached about $1.09 billion.

The film's success gives Universal three movies among the year's billion-dollar releases. The studio also distributed The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which has passed $1 billion, and handled the bulk of international distribution for Lionsgate's Michael, the Michael Jackson biopic that has also crossed the billion-dollar mark.

The Odyssey Sets IMAX Record

Beyond its overall box-office performance, The Odyssey has set a major record in the premium-format market.

The film has generated $289.3 million globally from IMAX screenings, making it the highest-grossing IMAX release of all time, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The achievement is particularly significant because Nolan shot the entire narrative feature using IMAX film cameras. The filmmaker has long been one of the industry's strongest advocates for large-format theatrical presentation, and the performance of The Odyssey suggests audiences have responded to the film's emphasis on premium cinema experiences.

Universal has also pointed to repeat viewings and premium-format screenings as factors behind the film's strong performance.

“Christopher Nolan has earned audiences’ trust by consistently delivering must-see theatrical events, and The Odyssey is him operating at the peak of his powers,” Universal Pictures President of Domestic Theatrical Distribution Jim Orr said.

Nolan’s $7 Billion Box-Office Career

With The Odyssey now at the top of Nolan's box-office rankings, his films have collectively earned more than $7 billion worldwide.

The new film overtook The Dark Knight Rises, which had held the director's career box-office record for more than a decade. The Dark Knight follows with more than $1 billion, while Oppenheimer has earned $975.8 million worldwide.

Oppenheimer, also distributed by Universal, became a major critical and commercial success after its 2023 release. The film won seven Academy Awards, including best picture and best director for Nolan.

The Odyssey has also strengthened Universal's relationship with Nolan, following the studio's success with Oppenheimer.

The Odyssey Becomes a Major R-Rated Hit

The film's box-office performance is even more notable given its R rating.

The Odyssey is now the second-highest-grossing R-rated film both domestically and worldwide, behind Deadpool & Wolverine, which earned about $1.33 billion globally.

Deadline reported that The Odyssey is also the highest-grossing R-rated film of 2026 in both North America and the global market.

The achievement puts Nolan's ancient Greek epic in unusual company, demonstrating that a large-scale historical mythology film aimed at adult audiences can still generate blockbuster-level theatrical returns.

Homer’s Epic Finds a Global Audience

Starring Damon as Odysseus, The Odyssey follows the Greek hero's arduous journey home after the Trojan War. The cast also includes Holland, Hathaway and Pattinson, with Nolan and Emma Thomas producing through their Syncopy banner.

The film adapts Homer's ancient poem, one of the foundational works of Western literature, and turns the thousands-year-old story into a large-scale theatrical spectacle.

Universal Pictures International President of Distribution Veronika Kwan Vandenberg said Nolan's international following made him uniquely suited to adapt the ancient work.

“A singular filmmaker with the international following of Christopher Nolan is uniquely fit to adapt Homer’s ancient poem,” she said.

With more than $1.1 billion already earned, The Odyssey has become not only Nolan's biggest commercial success but also one of the defining theatrical hits of 2026.

Read: How Did The Odyssey Set a New Box Office Record for Christopher Nolan?

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