Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ has earned more than $1 billion internationally, and the film still has almost four weeks remaining in its theatrical run.
The movie continues to perform exceptionally well. According to ‘Deadline’, Nolan’s adaptation of the ancient Greek epic has grossed $1.59 billion worldwide, making it the director’s highest-grossing film and only the 17th movie ever to surpass $1 billion in international markets. While the global box office combines North American and international earnings, the international figure refers specifically to markets outside North America. Our coverage of the film’s $1 billion global milestone is available here.
‘The Odyssey’ is also the first original, standalone film that is neither a sequel nor a remake to reach that benchmark since James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ in 2009. Other movies to cross the $1 billion international mark include ‘Avengers: Endgame’, ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’, and ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’.
“From its record-breaking opening to this historic milestone, ‘The Odyssey’ has captivated audiences around the world,” said Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, president of distribution at Universal Pictures International. “We are incredibly proud to have partnered with Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, and everyone at Syncopy to share this visionary theatrical experience with audiences everywhere.”
The film set another major record in late August when it surpassed ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ to become the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever. Ryan Reynolds responded with a playful congratulatory video, combining footage of Deadpool battling Wolverine in the Honda Odyssey with scenes of Odysseus and his crew traveling through a forest of giants.
“Obviously, [The Odyssey] is an incredible, incredible movie,” Reynolds told ‘Variety’.
“Christopher Nolan literally breathes the rarest air on Earth. He’s a singular filmmaker. I mean, Matt Damon, Tom Holland, who’s clearly batting a thousand stars with Zendaya. I just love that people are going to the movie theaters. I don’t even care why or for what reason. Just go to the movie theaters. There’s no better shared experience.”
Audiences still have time to experience ‘The Odyssey’ as Nolan intended. The film’s 70mm IMAX screenings have been extended through September 30 because so few theaters worldwide are equipped to show the format. This marks the second extension for these screenings and could further boost the movie’s already impressive box office performance.
‘The Odyssey’ has been one of the defining theatrical successes of the summer, alongside ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’. The latter surpassed ‘Avengers: Endgame’ to become the highest-grossing domestic film ever and the most successful ‘Spider-Man’ movie to date, becoming the first film in the franchise to earn $2 billion in theaters.
For another reason to catch ‘The Odyssey’ before its extended screenings conclude, read our review on IGN. We awarded Nolan’s adaptation an 8 out of 10, calling it a “must-watch cinematic experience.”
