Nolan's 'Odyssey' Crosses $1 Billion in Just Three Weeks
Christopher Nolan's film becomes his first since 2012 to break the magic barrier, with the Chinese premiere still to come.
Christopher Nolan's film becomes his first since 2012 to break the magic barrier, with the Chinese premiere still to come.
Christopher Nolan's film "The Odyssey" has surpassed $1 billion in earnings just three weeks after its premiere, according to Egypt Independent. This epic work, based on the nearly 3,000-year-old ancient Greek epic, has cemented Nolan's position among the most prominent directors achieving massive commercial success.
According to data reported by Egypt Independent, the film has earned $429.65 million in the United States, while international markets brought in $578.8 million. Total earnings have thus reached $1.008 billion. However, the latest figures reveal that the film has continued to break records and is now officially Nolan's highest-grossing film with a total of $1.1 billion, surpassing "The Dark Knight Rises," which earned $1.08 billion in 2012.
With this result, "The Odyssey" has become Nolan's first film since "The Dark Knight Rises" in 2012 to break the billion-dollar mark. That film earned $1.08 billion at the time. Interestingly, "The Dark Knight" from 2008 also earned an identical $1.008 billion. It is expected that "The Odyssey" will surpass both predecessors in the coming days and become Nolan's highest-grossing film.
The film is currently the second highest-grossing film of the year, just behind "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," which has earned $1.67 billion. It has also become the second highest-grossing R-rated film in history, behind last year's hit "Deadpool & Wolverine" with $1.3 billion. In its fourth weekend of release, "The Odyssey" earned $110 million globally in a single day, with $79 million from international markets and $31.5 million from the U.S. Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, president of international distribution at Universal, stated: "A unique filmmaker with an international following like Christopher Nolan is uniquely capable of adapting Homer's ancient poem, which is one of the most influential and well-known stories in the world. 'The Odyssey' is a global epic that has resonated with audiences everywhere through its immense scale and uncompromising vision."
A significant portion of the revenue has come from IMAX screens, which generated $257 million in ticket sales. It is expected that "The Odyssey" will become the highest-grossing film in the company's history by the end of its first weekend. Indeed, the film has now become IMAX's most successful title of all time with $289 million, surpassing "Avatar" from 2009, which held the record with $271 million. In North America, IMAX screenings have earned $147.3 million, making it the most successful domestic IMAX release ever, while international markets added $141.8 million. This is also the first film to be shot entirely with IMAX cameras.
The film crossed the billion-dollar mark even before its premiere in China, the world's second-largest film market, where it is scheduled to open on August 14. High expectations are set, given that it will screen on approximately 800 IMAX screens, along with thousands of traditional cinemas.
Nolan, who wrote, directed, and produced the film, has assembled an impressive cast. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, who embarks on a perilous journey home after the Trojan War to reunite with his wife.
Alongside Damon, the film features Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and Jon Bernthal. The production is by Universal Pictures and Synopsis, with Nolan producing alongside his wife Emma Thomas. The director, who won an Oscar for "Oppenheimer," has amassed over $7 billion worldwide with his body of work, including hits like "Tenet," "Dunkirk," and "Interstellar."
