Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' gallops to an impressive $120 million in its muscular box office opening, marking a significant milestone in the director's career. This star-studded adaptation of the Greek classical mythological tale, starring Matt Damon as the heroic Odysseus, has fended off competition with $51.2 million on Friday from 3,900 North American screens, including Thursday previews. The film's success is even more remarkable considering its production budget of $250 million, which was initially projected to open domestically in the range of mid-$80 million to upwards of $100 million. The Odyssey is eyeing a $120 million-plus frame, which would make it 2026's biggest live-action opening, surpassing Toy Story 5 and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. It's also set to claim the top R-rated opening of the year and Universal's highest weekend launch ever for an R-rated movie. Globally, the film is headed for $257.8 million for the summer weekend, with $137.3 million from 73 international markets. This marks an even stronger start than initially projected, with the studio targeting a domestic opening in the range of mid-$80 million to upwards of $100 million. The Odyssey is the weekend's sole new offering in wide release, unlike Nolan's most recent title, Oppenheimer, which opened in July 2023 alongside Barbie as part of the sensation known as Barbenheimer. The film about the physicist who led development of the atomic bomb opened to $82.4 million domestically and ultimately collected $975 million worldwide, along with winning seven Academy Awards, including best picture and Nolan's first best director Oscar. Nolan's successful ride with The Odyssey includes impressive reviews, as its 95 percent approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes is currently the best tally of his career, just ahead of The Dark Knight and Memento at 94 percent. The Odyssey is also "verified hot," with a 97 percent Rotten Tomatoes score from audiences. In his review for The Hollywood Reporter, chief film critic David Rooney deemed it "a meditative action movie both immense and intimate, albeit one whose flow is impeded by the inherently episodic nature of the nonlinear source material and some questionable casting choices." Additionally, THR's list ranking Nolan's movies places The Odyssey in second place, behind only The Dark Knight. The Odyssey made headlines as the first feature to be shot entirely on IMAX cameras, with Premium large formats being a priority for many moviegoers, and cinephiles have flocked to the 25 U.S. theaters that screen IMAX 70mm film. The sophomore frame for Disney's live-action Moana is set to dock in second place, after a disappointing opening, with Dwayne Johnson-led feature heading for $5.8 million on Friday and roughly $19 million for the weekend, with a decline of around 56 percent. The Odyssey's success is a testament to Nolan's ability to craft captivating narratives and his commitment to pushing the boundaries of cinematic storytelling. As the film continues to dominate the box office, it will be fascinating to see how it performs in the coming weeks and whether it can maintain its impressive opening numbers. Nolan's box office journey with The Odyssey looks to be one for the books, as the film continues to make waves in the industry.
