Christopher Nolan has long been cinematic royalty, but his latest epic has officially redefined box office history.
Universal Pictures announced that Nolan’s feature film adaptation of Homer’s classic poem, The Odyssey, has officially crossed $1.17 billion at the international box office.
With this massive milestone, the film has passed Furious 7 to become Universal Pictures’ highest-grossing international release of all time.
Legendary Numbers Across the Globe
The film’s theatrical run has been nothing short of historic. Shot using brand-new IMAX® film technology, the sprawling action epic has broken records in virtually every major film market worldwide:
- Universal’s All-Time International Crown: It is now Universal Pictures’ highest-grossing international title of all time, officially dethroning Furious 7.
- Nolan’s Biggest International Hit: The Odyssey stands as Christopher Nolan’s top-grossing international film of all time, surpassing The Dark Knight Rises. It is also Nolan’s biggest film ever across 78 individual markets, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, Korea, India, and Australia.
- Top-Tier Global Ranking: It currently ranks as the 8th highest-grossing international Hollywood film of all time. Also, it stands as the second highest-grossing international release of 2026, trailing only Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
- Historic Milestone in Korea: The film has earned the title of the biggest Hollywood release of all time in South Korea. Furthermore, it is the second-biggest film overall in the country’s box office history.
- Dominating Studio Records: The Odyssey is the highest-grossing Universal title ever in 45 individual markets.
Coverage of Christopher Nolan's Epic
Sailing Home: ‘The Odyssey’ Sets Sail for Home Video on November 17 with 90+ Minutes of Extras
70mm Records: ‘The Odyssey’ Is Breaking Records in 70mm—and One Historic L.A. Theater Is Extending Its Run
Springs Eternal: ‘The Odyssey’ Breaks Records at AFI Silver Theatre
Made for IMAX: When the Magic Flickers: 70mm IMAX Projector Issues During The Odyssey’s Opening Weekend
"All Hail Chris Nolan": How ‘The Odyssey’ Smashed AMC IMAX Records with $640M Global Box Office
“Christopher Nolan occupies rarefied air as a filmmaker whose star power transcends borders. This historic milestone speaks to the unyielding ambition of Chris and Emma [Thomas], delivering a cinematic achievement whose scale and craftsmanship breathe life into Homer’s epic poem,” said Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of Distribution at Universal Pictures International.
A Milestone Year for Universal
The unprecedented success of The Odyssey caps off an incredible year for Universal Pictures. The studio continues to lead all major distributors internationally with over $3.37 billion to date.
Universal has also become the first studio in 2026 to cross $5 billion at the global box office and the first to surpass $3 billion internationally.
Bringing Ancient Myth to Modern Screens
Produced by Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan for Syncopy, The Odyssey brings the 3,000-year-old foundational saga to IMAX screens for the first time.
Featuring an all-star ensemble cast led by Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, and Lupita Nyong’o, alongside Zendaya and Charlize Theron, the film proves that when visionary filmmaking meets timeless storytelling, audience demand truly knows no bounds.
