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The Odyssey’s Box Office Performance Proves Elon Musk Wrong Once Again
Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of "The Odyssey" has enjoyed a strong opening weekend at the box office, despite months of criticism from Elon Musk over its casting choices. Musk had repeatedly attacked the film, accusing Nolan of pursuing awards through diversity casting after Lupita Nyong'o was cast as Helen of Troy and Elliot Page as the soldier Sinon, going as far as calling the director "racist" against Greek people. The film's commercial and critical success suggests Musk's campaign has had little effect on audience turnout.
The Odyssey took in more than $50 million in US theatres on its opening Friday, with the domestic weekend total estimated at around $137 million and a global opening haul of roughly $264.1 million, comfortably covering its $250 million production budget. Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with the New York Times praising its "passion in every frame" and the film peaking at 98% on Rotten Tomatoes before settling at 95%, the highest score of any Nolan film. Commentators also noted the inconsistency in Musk's criticism, pointing out he raised no objection to Matt Damon, who lacks Mediterranean heritage, playing Odysseus.
In short
- The Odyssey earned an estimated $264 million globally on its opening weekend.
- Elon Musk had accused Nolan of "woke" casting choices for months.
- Critics have praised the film, which holds a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The film's undeniable commercial and critical success—with $264 million in global box office and a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score—directly contradicts Musk's predictions of failure and demonstrates that diverse casting poses no liability to quality or audience reception. The resounding success across both metrics proves that concerns about inclusive casting in classical adaptations were unfounded.
The case against
A film's box office performance and critical reception reflect its overall excellence in direction, writing, design and execution, which is distinct from assessing any particular creative choice in isolation. The film's success proves it is a well-crafted work that audiences embraced, but does not necessarily vindicate every specific decision within it or settle broader artistic questions about how classical works should be adapted.
Explained simply
Christopher Nolan directed a film adaptation of Homer's "The Odyssey", the ancient Greek epic about a hero's long journey home after the Trojan War. The film's casting attracted significant public attention and criticism.
Elon Musk publicly campaigned against the casting decisions over several months, contending that they prioritised diversity over merit or appropriateness to the story's Greek heritage. He accused Nolan of pursuing awards through such casting and made accusations of racism against Greek people.
The dispute reflects broader tensions within entertainment over how to cast classical works, touching on questions of cultural authenticity, performer ability, and representation. These debates have become increasingly common as the entertainment industry has undergone significant demographic changes.