Cinema

The Odyssey Becomes Christopher Nolan’s Highest-Grossing Film Ever and Breaks Imax Record

The film has reached $1.1 billion worldwide while generating a record $289 million from Imax screenings.

pttl team August 10, 2026 5 min read

Η Οδύσσεια του Christopher Nolan που έσπασε τα ρεκόρ στο παγκόσμιο box office και την Imax — Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has become his highest-grossing film ever while setting a new worldwide Imax box office record.

Summary

The Odyssey has reached $1.1 billion at the global box office
It is now the highest-grossing film of Christopher Nolan’s career
Imax screenings have generated $289 million, setting a new all-time record for the company
The film is the first feature-length production shot entirely with Imax cameras
Imax 70mm screenings have generated $37.5 million from just 41 locations
The film is scheduled to officially open in China on August 14, 2026

Contents

Christopher Nolan’s biggest movie at the box office
The second-biggest movie of 2026
$461 million in North America
China could provide another boost
An all-time Imax record
The first feature film shot entirely with Imax cameras
Strong performance for Imax 70mm screenings
What we think
Frequently asked questions

Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has reached $1.1 billion worldwide, becoming the biggest box office hit of his career while also breaking Imax’s all-time record.

The cinematic adaptation of Homer’s epic has surpassed “The Dark Knight Rises,” which earned $1.08 billion without adjusting for inflation, while the film’s Imax revenue has climbed to $289 million, ahead of the $271 million earned by “Avatar.”

The achievement is even more significant because the film is only in its fourth weekend of theatrical release and has yet to officially open in China, one of the world’s largest movie markets.

Christopher Nolan’s biggest movie at the box office

With $1.1 billion in worldwide ticket sales, “The Odyssey” now ranks as Christopher Nolan’s highest-grossing film.

The previous record belonged to “The Dark Knight Rises” with $1.08 billion. The figures have not been adjusted for inflation.

Nolan’s films have collectively generated approximately $7 billion at the global box office. Three of them have crossed the $1 billion threshold: “The Odyssey,” “The Dark Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises.”

“Oppenheimer,” released in 2023 and the first Nolan film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, also came close to the milestone, finishing its theatrical run with approximately $975 million.

The second-biggest movie of 2026

“The Odyssey” is currently the second-highest-grossing film of 2026, behind “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” which has reached $1.67 billion worldwide.

It is also the second-highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, behind only 2024’s “Deadpool and Wolverine,” which earned $1.3 billion.

$461 million in North America

So far, the film has generated $461 million in North America and $643 million from international markets, bringing its worldwide total to approximately $1.1 billion.

Its momentum remains particularly strong even in its fourth weekend of release. During that weekend alone, it earned approximately $110 million worldwide, including $79 million internationally and $31.5 million in North America.

China could provide another boost

A significant part of the film’s commercial run is still ahead, as its official release in China is scheduled for August 14.

Even before its regular opening, preview screenings in the Chinese market have already generated approximately $6.3 million.

Imax’s presence in China could be particularly important for the film, as the company operates roughly 800 screens in the country.

An all-time Imax record

“The Odyssey” has generated $289 million from Imax screenings worldwide, making it the highest-grossing release in the company’s history.

The previous record was held by “Avatar” with $271 million, again without adjusting the figures for inflation.

In North America, the film has earned $147.3 million through Imax, which is also a new record for the company in that market. International territories have contributed another $141.8 million.

The first feature film shot entirely with Imax cameras

One of the main reasons the film’s relationship with Imax is particularly noteworthy is the way it was produced.

“The Odyssey,” starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, is the first feature-length film to be shot entirely with Imax cameras. Other major productions have used Imax technology for selected sequences, but not throughout an entire feature film.

Universal has emphasized that the combination of Nolan’s international following and the worldwide familiarity of Homer’s story contributed to the film’s response across different markets.

Strong performance for Imax 70mm screenings

The Imax 70mm version, the format Nolan has repeatedly promoted as his preferred way to experience his films, is also showing exceptional strength.

Just 41 locations worldwide screening “The Odyssey” in Imax 70mm have generated $37.5 million. That represents approximately 14% of the film’s total Imax box office.

Because so few theaters are capable of presenting the format, several locations have already sold out screenings extending into September.

Imax CEO Richard Gelfond said the film’s performance has surpassed even the company’s high expectations and is playing a major role in a year that Imax expects could become its strongest ever at the global box office.

What we think

The success of “The Odyssey” demonstrates how a large-scale production can turn its presentation format into a meaningful part of the theatrical experience rather than treating it as an additional feature. The particularly strong demand for scarce Imax 70mm screenings also reinforces Christopher Nolan’s long-standing strategy of emphasizing the big-screen experience and premium theatrical formats. With the film’s Chinese release still ahead, its final box office total remains open.