Christopher Nolan's new film "The Odyssey" has broken a personal box-office record previously held by "The Dark Knight," following what was already reported as the biggest global opening of Nolan's career. The milestone is notable because Nolan has built a reputation for large-scale, high-budget filmmaking, with only two of his previous films — "The Dark Knight" and "The Dark Knight Rises" — having crossed $1 billion worldwide, while "Oppenheimer" narrowly missed that mark in 2023.

"The Odyssey" opened with around $265 million globally against a reported $250 million budget, the largest budget Nolan has ever worked with, matching "The Dark Knight Rises." By comparison, the Russo Brothers' "The Electric State" cost $320 million but scored just 14% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, whereas "The Odyssey" has earned a "Certified Fresh" 94% critics' score and a 97% audience score, with critics praising its "majestic sweep" and ensemble performances.