Cinema VinesChristopher Nolan’s epic The Odyssey has outperformed his previous blockbuster Oppenheimer in a surprising second‑weekend surge. After debuting at $123 million in its first weekend, the film dropped only 30% to $87 million on the second weekend, the smallest decline for any major studio‑backed R‑rated feature. That $87 million haul eclipses the $82 million earned by Oppenheimer in its opening weekend back in 2023.
Internationally, the film has continued to dominate, pulling in $128.3 million from overseas screens during the same period. By day ten, The Odyssey’s worldwide gross surpassed $639.6 million. Universal Pictures noted that theatres worldwide are adding more showtimes to meet the sustained demand, with premium large‑format venues contributing heavily to the total. IMAX screens alone accounted for $48 million, and the 41 70‑mm IMAX locations earned $5.2 million.
Industry analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Rentrak praised the film’s performance, saying, “That would be an impressive opening weekend for any film. This is a testament to the outpouring of excitement and enthusiasm that moviegoers are having for Christopher Nolan’s latest epic.” He added that the strong earnings are due to Nolan’s goodwill and the lack of competing releases in the past two weeks.
The Odyssey, based on Homer's classic, stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and Tom Holland as Telemachus, with supporting roles from Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton, and Zendaya. While the film enjoys a relatively clear run, the upcoming release of Spider‑Man: Brand New Day may introduce new competition, though analysts predict the superhero film could achieve the biggest opening weekend of the year.
