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

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Christopher Nolan has once again reshaped the global box office with The Odyssey. The epic adaptation of the classic Greek poem grossed US$652 million (around Rp10.5 trillion) worldwide in just 10 days, making it one of Hollywood's highest-grossing films of 2026.

The film's performance is especially notable because it is a three-hour, adult-oriented blockbuster, a format that rarely achieves such widespread commercial success.

Here are the key reasons behind The Odyssey's record-breaking run:

Strong Domestic and Global Earnings

The Odyssey has earned US$286 million in North America, accounting for nearly half of its worldwide gross. Combined with robust international ticket sales, the film has quickly established itself as one of the year's biggest commercial successes and continues to perform strongly across major markets.

Exceptional Second-Weekend Hold

Most blockbuster films experience steep declines after their opening weekend. The Odyssey, however, remained remarkably resilient.

After debuting with US$123.5 million in North America, the Matt Damon-led film collected another US$90 million in its second weekend, representing a decline of just 27 percent.

The unusually small drop points to strong audience satisfaction and positive word-of-mouth, making it one of the best second-weekend holds ever recorded for a film that opened above US$100 million domestically.

IMAX and Premium Screen Demand

A major factor behind the film's success has been overwhelming demand for premium large-format screenings, particularly IMAX theaters. High occupancy rates on these screens have helped boost ticket revenue, while cinema operators have reported strong audience turnout across multiple markets.

A New Career Milestone for Nolan

The film has also rewritten Nolan's own box office record. Its US$90 million second weekend in North America surpassed the US$75.2 million earned by The Dark Knight in 2008, setting the strongest second-weekend performance of the director's career.

The milestone underscores The Odyssey's remarkable staying power and highlights its ability to sustain audience interest well beyond its blockbuster opening.

According to The Straits Times, The Odyssey has already grossed US$652 million worldwide in just 10 days and remains on a strong box office trajectory as its theatrical run continues. If the momentum holds, the film is poised to strengthen its position among Hollywood's highest-grossing releases of 2026 while further cementing Christopher Nolan's reputation as one of the industry's most commercially successful filmmakers.

Laode Muhamad Ashegaf contributed to the writing of this article.

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