‘The Odyssey’ Sets Sail Toward History With a Million-Dollar IMAX Triumph

Published 06/16/2026, 12:37 PM EDT

Credits: Universal Pictures

Anticipation for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has reached mythical heights, even as some audiences question how the filmmaker’s trademark realism will translate to Homer’s gods, monsters, and ancient legends. Yet the first movie ever shot entirely in IMAX 70mm, starring Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, and Robert Pattinson, has already become a cinematic phenomenon months before audiences enter the theater.

With nearly a month remaining until its debut, The Odyssey has already conquered the box office battlefield with $1 million in BFI IMAX ticket sales.

The Odyssey finds a treasure trove in BFI IMAX

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Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey may still be a month away from reaching theaters, but it has already written its first chapter in the record books. The British Film Institute revealed that the BFI IMAX sold a staggering 28,000 tickets in just 24 hours, generating £750,000, nearly $1 million, and setting the venue’s biggest opening day sales record.

The achievement looks even more remarkable when compared with previous cinematic giants. Denis Villeneuve’s Dune Part Two previously held an impressive £366,000 first-day total, while Nolan’s own Oppenheimer earned £254,000. The ancient Greek adventure did not simply beat those numbers; it sailed far beyond them.

This enthusiasm stretches far beyond London’s famous giant screen. American audiences previously sparked their own ticketing chaos by spending $3.4 million in one day and overwhelming AMC’s systems. Furthermore, the BFI IMAX has responded to the madness with 24-hour screenings across opening weekend, because apparently sleep is a lesser priority when Christopher Nolan presents a Greek legend.

10 Interesting Facts to Know Before Watching Christopher Nolan's ‘The Odyssey’

As fans gather their pre-sale tickets to witness the epic, explore the epic’s breathtaking filming locations, and decide for themselves whether the spectacle lives up to its mythical reputation, the box office predictions continue to soar.

Will Christopher Nolan's attempt at Homer's epic prove to be box-office legendary?

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is not just chasing box office success; it is marching toward a potentially historic theatrical run. Early industry projections estimate a thunderous $118 million domestic opening weekend, placing the Greek epic on course to deliver Nolan’s biggest debut since The Dark Knight Rises. The filmmaker’s name alone has become a genre of its own.

The road to the coveted billion-dollar milestone is already a major topic among analysts and box office watchers. Following the remarkable $975.8 million worldwide performance of Oppenheimer, many projections place The Odyssey somewhere between $800 million and $1 billion, helped by Homer’s timeless story and its broad blockbuster appeal.

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Of course, every great journey faces a few monsters along the way. An R-rating could limit younger audiences, while the arrival of Spider-Man: Brand New Day may create a fierce battle for premium screens. However, if the early ticket frenzy is any indication, Odysseus may have another legendary conquest waiting at the box office.

Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey' Dwarves Every Other 2026 Movie in a Key Category

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What do you think about The Odyssey's latest triumph? Let us know in the comments!

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Iffat Siddiqui

1030 articles

Iffat is an Entertainment Journalist at Netflix Junkie. A word wizard, she had the sorting hat smoke at the seams owing to her excellence in everything Hollywood and cinema until it finally declared that she belonged to the Royals, specifically Meghan Markle. Boasting over 300 articles (and counting), each one tastefully infused with the right mix of facts, wit, opinion, and essentially everything to make a perfect pop culture piece, she is the epitome of a trustworthy entertainment journalist.

Edited By: Hriddhi Maitra

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