Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated 2026 epic, The Odyssey, is already making cinematic history more than a year ahead of its release. Advance tickets for the mythic action film recently went on sale, and the response has been nothing short of staggering. At London’s legendary BFI IMAX—the largest screen in the UK—the film shattered all previous pre-sale benchmarks, selling a breathtaking 28,000 tickets in its first 24 hours and grossing an unprecedented £750,000 (roughly $1 million).
This monumental achievement underscores the filmmaker’s unparalleled draw at the global box office and the public’s unwavering appetite for premium large-format cinematic experiences.
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Smashing Previous IMAX Records
To put the hype surrounding The Odyssey into perspective, the first 24-hour box office takings at the BFI IMAX have completely eclipsed recent Hollywood blockbusters. The previous record-holder, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two (2024), took in £366,000 in its opening day of sales, while Nolan’s own Best Picture-winning phenomenon, Oppenheimer (2023), grossed £254,000 in the same timeframe. The Odyssey nearly tripled Oppenheimer’s day-one presales.
The demand caused widespread website crashes, with virtual queues stretching to over 30,000 eager cinephiles. Four opening weekend screenings sold out in under an hour a full year in advance, prompting BFI IMAX to schedule round-the-clock, 24-hour screenings to accommodate the frenzy.
BFI IMAX 24-Hour Advance Ticket Sales Record
| Rank | Movie Title | Director | 24-Hour Gross (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Odyssey (2026) | Christopher Nolan | £750,000 |
| 2 | Dune: Part Two (2024) | Denis Villeneuve | £366,000 |
| 3 | Oppenheimer (2023) | Christopher Nolan | £254,000 |
A Star-Studded Retelling of Homer’s Epic
With an estimated production budget of $250 million, The Odyssey is an ambitious, ground-up adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem. The film chronicles the perilous 10-year journey of Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, as he battles mythical beings, angry gods, and treacherous seas to reunite with his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus, following the Trojan War.
Nolan, who wrote and directed the project under his Syncopy production banner alongside his wife Emma Thomas, has assembled one of the most star-studded ensemble casts in recent cinematic history. Universal Pictures has confirmed a massive roster of Hollywood heavyweights to bring the ancient world to life.
Confirmed Cast of The Odyssey
| Actor | Character | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Damon | Odysseus | The fabled Greek king of Ithaca |
| Anne Hathaway | Penelope | Odysseus’s loyal, long-suffering wife |
| Tom Holland | Telemachus | Odysseus and Penelope’s son |
| Zendaya | Athena | Goddess of wisdom and warfare |
| Robert Pattinson | TBC | Supporting lead |
| Charlize Theron | TBC | Supporting lead |
| Lupita Nyong’o | TBC | Supporting lead |
Pushing the Boundaries of Cinema Technology
Nolan has always pushed the envelope of practical effects and large-format cinematography, but The Odyssey takes his technological ambition to uncharted territory. The film holds the distinct honor of being the very first feature film to be shot entirely on IMAX 70mm using IMAX film cameras.
In a departure from heavily computerized contemporary blockbusters, Nolan aims to render iconic mythical obstacles—including cyclopes, sea monsters, and sorceresses—with minimal CGI and maximum practical ambition. The 15-perf 70mm IMAX format offers an unparalleled level of visual immersion, which is why fans rushed to secure tickets at the BFI IMAX, one of only three venues in the UK capable of projecting the rare celluloid print.
Set to run at an epic 172 minutes, The Odyssey is poised to deliver a deeply human character study wrapped in a colossal theatrical spectacle. The film opens in IMAX and premium large formats worldwide on July 17, 2026.
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FAQs
How many tickets did ‘The Odyssey’ sell in its first 24 hours at the BFI IMAX?
The film sold a record-breaking 28,000 tickets in its first 24 hours of advance sales at the BFI IMAX in London, generating a venue record of £750,000 in gross revenue.
Who is starring in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’?
The ensemble cast features Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Tom Holland as Telemachus, and Zendaya as Athena, alongside Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and Lupita Nyong’o.
When is the release date for ‘The Odyssey’?
Universal Pictures is set to release The Odyssey globally in theaters and IMAX on July 17, 2026.
What makes ‘The Odyssey’ unique in terms of filmmaking technology?
The Odyssey is making cinematic history as the first-ever feature film to be shot completely on IMAX 70mm film using specialized IMAX cameras.
Is ‘The Odyssey’ a direct adaptation of Homer’s epic poem?
Yes. Christopher Nolan’s script is a faithful but realistic cinematic interpretation of Homer’s ancient Greek saga, focusing on Odysseus’s arduous 10-year journey home from the Trojan War.
