‘The Odyssey’ Surpasses ‘Toy Story 5’ for Biggest Non-Holiday Monday of 2026

Christopher Nolan has consistently demonstrated that original, adult-driven films can thrive in a landscape dominated by franchises and sequels. With its opening days, ‘The Odyssey’ has made a compelling case, transforming what could have been a challenging sell into one of the year’s most notable box office narratives.

The film’s momentum showed no signs of slowing down as the weekend transitioned into the workweek. Instead of experiencing the typical steep decline most blockbusters face on Mondays, Nolan’s mythological epic continued to draw audiences into theaters at a remarkable pace, surprising even veteran box office analysts.

Reports indicate that ‘The Odyssey’ outperformed expectations once again on Monday, achieving the largest non-holiday Monday of 2026 with nearly $19 million, surpassing ‘Toy Story 5’s’ first Monday total of $17.3 million. This impressive hold highlights the strong word of mouth surrounding a nearly three-hour, R-rated film that few anticipated would perform so well on an ordinary weekday.

This figure also places ‘The Odyssey’ among the elite in Nolan’s filmography. It ranks as the third biggest Monday ever for a Nolan movie, following ‘The Dark Knight’s’ $24.4 million and ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ $19.3 million during their respective release weeks.

Such comparisons carry significant weight, especially considering how differently ‘The Odyssey’ is positioned compared to those earlier blockbusters. Unlike Nolan’s Batman trilogy, which benefitted from built-in franchise recognition, ‘The Odyssey’ had to cultivate its audience based solely on Nolan’s reputation, an all-star cast, and positive reviews rather than existing brand loyalty.

The film’s reviews have undoubtedly contributed to its sustained ticket sales beyond the opening weekend. It received an A grade on CinemaScore exit polls and boasts a 95 percent score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting a level of enthusiastic word of mouth that could carry the film through its subsequent weeks.

The demand for premium formats has also played a crucial role in the film’s ongoing success. Reports indicate that securing IMAX seats has been particularly challenging in major markets like Los Angeles and New York City, with this format continuing to contribute significantly to the film’s daily grosses well after its opening weekend.

‘The Odyssey’s’ opening weekend alone made history, marking Nolan’s largest worldwide opening ever and becoming the third biggest domestic debut of the year, trailing only ‘Toy Story 5’ and ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.’ Surpassing a Monday total from a Pixar sequel already near the top of the year’s box office charts underscores the rarity of this sustained interest.

The film’s ensemble cast has undoubtedly contributed to its ongoing appeal. Featuring Matt Damon as Odysseus, the impressive lineup includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Elliot Page, Jon Bernthal, and John Leguizamo, providing audiences with a wealth of star power across marketing and reviews.

With ‘The Odyssey’ continuing to exceed expectations well beyond its opening weekend, it appears increasingly likely to enjoy a lengthy theatrical run rather than a brief, front-loaded surge. Given how uncommon it is for an original, non-franchise blockbuster to achieve such numbers on a regular Monday, Nolan’s latest may be remembered as one of the defining box office success stories of the year.

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