Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Sets Record as Highest-Grossing IMAX Film Ever

Christopher Nolan has long enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with IMAX, utilizing the format’s expansive screens and unparalleled clarity to enhance his films for over a decade. This partnership reached new heights with ‘The Odyssey,’ marking the first feature ever filmed entirely with IMAX cameras, a groundbreaking achievement that laid the groundwork for the film’s impressive box office journey from the outset.

Since its release on July 17, the sword-and-sandal epic has consistently exceeded expectations, amassing over $1.1 billion globally, making it Nolan’s highest-grossing film to date, surpassing ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ which earned $1.085 billion. This remarkable feat alone would have been a fitting conclusion to a historic run, but the film’s performance in premium formats has been even more astonishing.

‘The Odyssey’ has officially become IMAX’s highest-grossing release of all time, generating $289.3 million globally from the format, surpassing 2009’s ‘Avatar,’ which previously held the record with $271 million before inflation adjustments. This milestone was achieved during the film’s fourth weekend in theaters, with IMAX screenings alone contributing $52 million to the film’s global total, accounting for nearly half of the $110 million the movie earned that weekend.

Of the $289.3 million total from IMAX, $147.3 million has come from North America, making it the format’s largest domestic release ever, while international markets have added $141.8 million and counting, with releases in China and Japan still forthcoming. Notably, the film’s IMAX 70mm screenings, which are Nolan’s preferred format, have generated $37.5 million from just 41 locations worldwide, with many theaters selling out screenings well into September.

This IMAX success has persisted even as ‘The Odyssey’ shares premium screens with the blockbuster ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ which has grossed $42.4 million in IMAX while approaching $1.67 billion worldwide. Despite this competition for screen space, ‘The Odyssey’ has continued to expand its IMAX presence, with the format proving crucial in maintaining the film’s momentum well beyond its opening weeks.

The film’s overall box office performance has also been impressive outside of IMAX. With $461 million domestically and $643 million internationally, ‘The Odyssey’ now ranks as the second-highest-grossing R-rated release of all time, both domestically and globally, trailing only 2024’s ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’

These milestones are particularly noteworthy since ‘The Odyssey’ is far from finished with its theatrical run. The film has yet to debut in China, where IMAX operates approximately 800 screens, and early preview screenings there have already generated $6.3 million ahead of the full release in that market.

Universal is heavily invested in the film’s potential as a global cinematic event, centered around one of humanity’s oldest and most recognizable stories, to ensure ‘The Odyssey’ becomes just as significant a draw in China as it has been worldwide. With the Chinese and Japanese releases still pending, the film’s IMAX total and overall global box office are likely to continue rising before its theatrical run concludes.

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