The record books have been rewritten. Christopher Nolan’s epic adventure The Odyssey has achieved what no film has ever done before — crossing the $300 million mark exclusively from IMAX screenings worldwide. Christopher Nolan has officially conquered IMAX as his epic The Odyssey has become the first film in history to cross the $300 million mark from IMAX screenings worldwide, with its IMAX haul now standing at a staggering $346.4 million. A milestone this monumental doesn’t just rewrite the record books — it reshapes our understanding of what a premium format can contribute to a film’s commercial success.
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The Historic IMAX Milestone
Its $346.4 million IMAX gross is around $75 million ahead of Avatar’s entire IMAX run, ending a record that James Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster had held for more than 15 years.
The Odyssey has now become the highest-grossing IMAX film of all time, with the Christopher Nolan-directed epic setting a new benchmark that could prove extremely difficult to beat. The IMAX record is particularly fitting for Nolan because The Odyssey was shot entirely using IMAX 70mm film cameras, making it the first feature ever produced entirely in that format.
Its streak of four consecutive weekends earning more than $50 million on IMAX screens makes history, as no other IMAX release has ever managed to earn more than $50 million on just two consecutive weekends.
IMAX Box Office Journey — Weekend by Weekend
| Weekend | IMAX Gross | Notable Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Weekend | $52 Million | Record IMAX Opening |
| Second Weekend | $48 Million | Record IMAX Sophomore Outing |
| Third Weekend | $50M+ | 3rd Consecutive $50M IMAX Weekend |
| Fourth Weekend | $52 Million | Crossed $289M — Broke Avatar’s Record |
| Fifth Weekend | $37 Million | Crossed $300M — First Film in History |
| Cumulative IMAX Total | $346.4 Million | New All-Time IMAX Record |
Film Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Film Title | The Odyssey |
| Director / Writer | Christopher Nolan |
| Studio | Universal Pictures / Syncopy |
| Production Budget | $250 Million |
| Release Date | July 17, 2026 |
| Cinematography | Hoyte van Hoytema |
| Music | Ludwig Göransson |
| Editor | Jennifer Lame |
| Global Box Office | $1.30 Billion |
| IMAX Gross | $346.4 Million |
| IMAX % of Total | ~26% |
| Film Format | Shot Entirely on IMAX 70mm Film Cameras |
Star-Studded Cast
The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon as the Greek king Odysseus, is notable as the first feature shot entirely with IMAX cameras.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Matt Damon | Odysseus |
| Tom Holland | Telemachus |
| Anne Hathaway | Penelope |
| Robert Pattinson | Antinous |
| Lupita Nyong’o | Helen |
| Zendaya | Athena |
| Charlize Theron | Calypso |
Global Box Office Performance
The Odyssey has now crossed approximately $1.30 billion globally, putting it firmly among the biggest blockbusters of 2026. In North America, it has grossed $505 million while the international cume tops $786 million.
It is currently the second-biggest movie of the year behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day with $1.67 billion, as well as the second-highest-grossing R-rated release of all time, following 2024’s Deadpool and Wolverine with $1.3 billion.
The big-budget adaptation of Homer’s original epic is officially Christopher Nolan’s biggest movie ever with $1.1 billion, ranking ahead of 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises with $1.08 billion, not adjusted for inflation.
The Odyssey vs. All-Time IMAX Records
| Film | IMAX Gross | Year |
|---|---|---|
| The Odyssey | $346.4 Million | 2026 |
| Avatar | ~$271 Million | 2009 |
| Spider-Man: Brand New Day | $42.4 Million (2 weekends) | 2026 |
| Oppenheimer | $190 Million | 2023 |
| Dune: Part Two | $147 Million | 2024 |
Opening Weekend: A Record-Breaking Launch
From the very first frame, The Odyssey announced itself as a transformative IMAX event. Over its opening weekend, the film generated $52 million in global box office for IMAX. The company’s locations represented less than 1% of total screens but a whopping 20% of the film’s worldwide debut.
The Odyssey opening was 47% higher than Nolan’s previous film, Oppenheimer. The biopic hauled in more than $190 million via IMAX throughout its entire run in 2023.
IMAX 70mm: The Premium of the Premium
Within the IMAX format itself, the 70mm version of The Odyssey has established a category of its own. Of the $289 million IMAX total at that point, $37.5 million, or 13%, had come from the 41 global locations showing the film in IMAX 70mm, with many of those locations selling out screenings through September. In the United States, the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood has been the biggest contributor with $2.8 million grossed from that theater alone.
Since there are so few of those screens across the globe, most of those showtimes are sold out into September.
What Makes This Record So Remarkable?
IMAX contributed an incredible $140 million of global ticket sales for The Odyssey, which is notable as the first feature shot entirely with IMAX cameras. In its second weekend of release, The Odyssey amassed $38 million worldwide in IMAX, ranking as the company’s largest sophomore outing in history.
The film added another $37 million from IMAX screens during its fifth weekend, including an impressive $13 million from China alone.
IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond was effusive in his praise for the film’s performance. “Chris has crafted the type of masterwork that draws our biggest fans back to experience it two or three times — while introducing entirely new fans to IMAX,” said IMAX’s CEO Richard Gelfond.
IMAX’s Bigger Picture: A Record Year in Sight
The success of The Odyssey is not just a win for Universal and Nolan — it is a landmark moment for the entire IMAX business model. Shares of IMAX jumped more than 8% on Thursday after the company reported it was still on track to deliver a record $1.4 billion in global box office this year.
Still to come to global IMAX screens this year are Sony and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Zach Cregger’s take on Resident Evil, Tom Cruise’s newest feature Digger, Godzilla Minus Zero, David Fincher’s The Adventures of Cliff Booth, and Paramount’s Street Fighter. Then Warner Bros. and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three will cap off the year. The first Dune film generated $61 million in IMAX theaters during the tail end of the pandemic and Dune: Part Two secured $147 million globally.
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FAQs
What IMAX record has The Odyssey broken?
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has become the first film in history to cross the $300 million mark from IMAX screenings worldwide, with its IMAX haul now standing at a staggering $346.4 million.
Who directed The Odyssey and what is it based on?
The Odyssey is written and directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron. It is based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem of the same name.
How much has The Odyssey earned at the global box office overall?
The Odyssey has now crossed approximately $1.30 billion globally, putting it firmly among the biggest blockbusters of 2026. In North America, it has grossed $505 million while the international cume tops $786 million.
Was The Odyssey really shot entirely on IMAX cameras?
With an estimated budget of $250 million, the film is believed to be the most expensive of Nolan’s career and the first to be shot entirely on IMAX’s 70mm film cameras.
How does The Odyssey’s IMAX performance compare to Christopher Nolan’s previous films?
The Odyssey‘s IMAX opening was 47% higher than Nolan’s previous film, Oppenheimer, which hauled in more than $190 million via IMAX throughout its entire run in 2023. The $346.4 million IMAX total for The Odyssey almost doubles that figure in a single theatrical run.
