Christopher Nolan has conquered his previous titles with The Odyssey, as the recent Universal Pictures release is now the highest-grossing movie of the acclaimed filmmaker’s career.
The studio confirmed Sunday that the mythological epic has made $1.104 billion worldwide in its first month in theaters following its initial July 17 release. This surpasses 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises, which earned $1.085 billion, and 2008’s The Dark Knight at $1.005 billion, as Warner Bros.’ two Batman films had previously held the top spots on the list of the director’s biggest global sums.
As of Sunday, The Odyssey has collected $461.1 million domestically and landed in second place for the weekend behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus on his arduous journey home after the Trojan War, the film also stars Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson, marking the highest-grossing movie globally for Damon, Hathaway and Pattinson’s careers. Nolan and Emma Thomas produce for Syncopy. The adaptation of Homer’s ancient poem is now the second-highest-grossing R-rated film domestically and globally, behind only 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine.
In addition to distributing The Odyssey, Universal was also behind Nolan’s 2023 release Oppenheimer, which counts as the filmmaker’s fourth-highest-grossing title globally with $975.8 million. That film won seven Oscars, including best director for Nolan and best picture.
Nolan’s films have collected surpassed $7 billion at the global box office. The Odyssey is one of the year’s top five highest-grossing movies globally, having crossed the billion-dollar mark after The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Michael, Toy Story 5 and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Universal distributed The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and also handled international distribution for Michael, while Lionsgate was behind the Michael Jackson biopic’s domestic release.
“Christopher Nolan has earned audiences’ trust by consistently delivering must-see theatrical events, and The Odyssey is him operating at the peak of his powers,” said Universal Pictures’ president of domestic theatrical distribution Jim Orr. “Nolan’s epic film has been at the forefront of culture, with audiences seeking out premium formats and repeat viewings for this once-in-a-lifetime cinematic journey.”
Added Universal Pictures International’s president of distribution Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, “A singular filmmaker with the international following of Christopher Nolan is uniquely fit to adapt Homer’s ancient poem, which is one of the most influential and well-known stories in the world. The Odyssey is a global epic that has resonated with audiences everywhere with its massive scope and uncompromising vision.”
