‘The Odyssey’ Surpasses Pixar’s ‘Incredibles 2’ as Christopher Nolan’s Epic Thrives

Laura Bais
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Summer blockbusters typically shine brightly before fading away within a month, but Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ has defied this trend. Its box office journey continues to break records long after many other films have exited theaters. Now, ten weekends post-release, this adaptation of Homer’s epic poem is still making waves on the all-time charts.

Released on July 17, ‘The Odyssey’ came with high expectations following Nolan’s previous success with ‘Oppenheimer,’ which grossed $976M globally and won seven Oscars. Audiences and exhibitors anticipated another major hit. This film is notable for being the first feature entirely shot with IMAX cameras and boasts a reported budget of $250M, marking the largest of Nolan’s career.

Recently, ‘The Odyssey’ achieved another significant milestone by surpassing ‘Incredibles 2’ to become the 17th highest-grossing film of all time at the domestic box office. In its 10th weekend, it earned $4.9M, reflecting a modest drop of just 35.4%, bringing its North American total to an impressive $609.8M. Current projections suggest a final total between $620M and $630M.

This domestic total is the result of remarkable staying power. The film debuted with $123.5M, marking Universal’s largest R-rated opening ever, and only experienced a 27% decline in its second weekend—a stark contrast to the typical 50% drop for films opening above $100M. ‘The Odyssey’ has now outperformed ‘The Dark Knight’ to become Nolan’s highest-grossing film domestically, reclaiming the No. 1 global spot in its eighth weekend.

Premium formats have significantly contributed to its success. IMAX extended the film’s 70mm run through September 30, allowing it to remain in theaters for 11 weeks. It has now become IMAX’s highest-grossing release ever, surpassing ‘Avatar’ with over $457M worldwide.

Globally, ‘The Odyssey’ has amassed $1.684B, placing it 12th on the all-time chart. It is now Universal’s highest-grossing release ever, surpassing ‘Jurassic World,’ and stands as Nolan’s biggest hit to date. Domestically, it ranks second among Universal films, trailing only ‘Jurassic World’ at $653.4M.

The film has also set new records for R-rated films, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film ever, overtaking ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ with its $1.33B total. Additionally, it has made history as the first Hollywood non-sequel and non-remake to cross $1B at the international box office since ‘Avatar’ in 2009.

Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, the film features a stellar cast including Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and Robert Pattinson as Antinous. Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, and Jon Bernthal complete the ensemble, contributing to the film’s must-see status. Critics have lauded its craftsmanship and scale, though some have pointed out its emotional and thematic depth could be improved.

This combination of critical acclaim and box office success has sparked discussions about the upcoming awards season. Early predictions from Deadline speculate on how the Academy might respond to Nolan’s epic, highlighting its potential in various categories. While it remains to be seen if this translates into nominations, the impressive box office figures provide significant momentum.

Screenshot 2026 07 25 at 11 02 38 The Odyssey 2026 Rotten Tomatoes

With a domestic total of $609.8M, the upcoming weekends will be crucial in determining how close ‘The Odyssey’ can get to the $630M projection. Although it still has a way to go to challenge ‘Jurassic World’ as Universal’s domestic leader, surpassing a Pixar classic is a significant achievement for an R-rated, nearly three-hour epic.

Such a performance would have seemed improbable for a sword-and-sandal film based on a 3,000-year-old poem. Yet, Nolan has crafted one of the most enduring theatrical runs in recent years, contributing to a summer that has proven remarkably strong for the box office.

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