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‘The Odyssey’ Becomes Christopher Nolan’s Biggest Global Debut of All Time With $264 Million
Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" opened to $264.1 million worldwide, making it the biggest global debut of his career and a striking result for an R-rated, near-three-hour film without franchise backing. The Universal release adapts Homer's ancient epic and stars Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside a large ensemble cast, with its success underlining Nolan's box-office pull following the acclaim and record earnings of 2023's "Oppenheimer".
The weekend haul comprised $124.5 million domestically and $139.6 million internationally across 73 markets, surpassing Nolan's previous best openings from "The Dark Knight Rises" ($249 million) and "The Dark Knight" ($198 million), though figures aren't inflation-adjusted. It ranks as the year's third-biggest opening behind "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" and "Toy Story 5", with top overseas territories including the UK and Ireland ($17.4 million), France ($13.7 million) and Italy ($11.5 million); the film has yet to open in South Korea, China or Japan.
In short
- "The Odyssey" is Nolan's biggest-ever global opening at $264.1 million.
- Strong reviews and word-of-mouth suggest a long theatrical run ahead.
- Still to open in South Korea, China and Japan.
Explained simply
Christopher Nolan is an acclaimed British-American film director known for creating ambitious, large-scale films with complex narratives and significant budgets. His 2023 film "Oppenheimer" achieved both critical acclaim and major commercial success, establishing him as a director whose work attracts global audiences.
His latest film, "The Odyssey", is an adaptation of Homer's classical epic poem about the Greek hero Odysseus. The film stars Matt Damon in the lead role alongside a large ensemble cast. It runs nearly three hours and is rated R for mature audiences.
Nolan's significance in contemporary cinema lies in his ability to attract audiences worldwide without relying on established franchises or intellectual property. This makes his projects closely watched as indicators of audience appetite for original, ambitious filmmaking. His previous films have achieved landmark commercial success, making each new release closely followed by the industry.
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