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Matt Damon as Odysseus in Christopher Nolan\u2019s \u2018The Odyssey.\u2019 <\/p>\n Matt Damon as Odysseus in Christopher Nolan\u2019s \u2018The Odyssey.\u2019 <\/p>\n
The first feature film ever to be shot entirely on IMAX cameras, The Odyssey, has surpassed $1 billion at the box office \u2014 a remarkable achievement for an R-rated movie. <\/p>\n
Christopher Nolan\u2019s version of Homer\u2019s epic poem has wowed audiences across the world and surpassed the $1 billion milestone at the global box office this past weekend. Total sales currently stand at $1.1 billion. <\/p>\n
It is also IMAX\u2019s highest-grossing release of all time, with the large screen theaters raking in $289 million, surpassing Avatar (2009). Theaters showing the film in 70mm, Nolan\u2019s preferred format, have grossed $37.5 million from just 41 locations across the world. <\/p>\n
While Nolan is arguably the world\u2019s most influential director and The Odyssey is a pillar of the Western literary canon, the film\u2019s status as the first movie ever shot entirely on large-format 70mm IMAX cameras<\/a> \u2014 among the highest-resolution film cameras ever made and capable of capturing an extraordinary level of detail \u2014 has undoubtedly contributed to its success.<\/p>\n It marks Nolan\u2019s highest-grossing movie ever, beating his previous best effort, The Dark Knight Rises (2012), which grossed $1.085 billion. <\/p>\n Deadline notes<\/a> that The Odyssey achieved its impressive numbers in four weeks, grossing $461.1 million domestically and $643.6 million in international markets. <\/p>\n The Odyssey is the highest-grossing R-rated movie of 2026 and the second-highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time; Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) tops the list at $1.33 billion. It\u2019s also the highest-grossing film for three of The Odyssey\u2019s stars: Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Robert Pattinson.<\/p>\n While these numbers are impressive, it\u2019s not over yet. The Odyssey is still showing in theaters and many 70mm showings are sold out through September. <\/p>\n \u201cA singular filmmaker with the international following of Christopher Nolan is uniquely fit to adapt Homer\u2019s ancient poem, which is one of the most influential and well-known stories in the world,\u201d says Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, Universal\u2019s president of international distribution, per Variety<\/a>. \u201cThe Odyssey is a global epic that has resonated with audiences everywhere with its massive scope and uncompromising vision.\u201d<\/p>\n While it\u2019s a huge win for the art of filmmaking \u2014 Nolan eschews CGI, preferring to shoot everything in-camera \u2014 not everyone will be happy about the film\u2019s success. The world\u2019s richest man, Elon Musk, has repeatedly criticized Nolan for choosing actress Lupita Nyong\u2019o to play Helen of Troy, claiming the British director had \u201clost his integrity\u201d<\/a> for making a diverse casting choice. <\/p>\n