A Historic Overseas Milestone
Universal's 'The Odyssey,' directed by Christopher Nolan, has achieved a significant box office feat: it has become the 17th film ever to surpass $1 billion in international ticket sales. As of yesterday, the epic has earned $1.014 billion overseas, contributing to its worldwide total of $1.59 billion, which already stands as Nolan's personal best.[S1]
What makes this achievement particularly notable is that 'The Odyssey' is the first Hollywood production that is neither a sequel nor a remake to reach this overseas threshold since James Cameron's 'Avatar' did so in 2009. This distinction highlights the film's unique appeal in a market often dominated by franchise installments.[S1]
Global Audience Response
Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, president of distribution at Universal Pictures International, praised the film's performance, noting that from its record-breaking opening to this historic milestone, 'The Odyssey' has captivated audiences worldwide. She expressed pride in partnering with Nolan, producer Emma Thomas, and Syncopy to deliver this theatrical experience.[S1]
The film's top international markets include the UK & Ireland with $109.2 million, China with $92.7 million, France with $84.6 million, Korea with $74 million, and Italy with $63.2 million. Other significant contributors are Germany ($57.5M), Australia ($43M), Spain ($41M), Mexico ($37.3M), and India ($23.5M).[S1]
Record-Breaking Run Continues
'The Odyssey' opened to $264.1 million globally, marking Nolan's biggest debut ever, surpassing his previous record set by 'The Dark Knight Rises' in 2008. Its international opening of $139.6 million also set a new personal best for the director, ahead of 'Oppenheimer' and 'The Dark Knight Rises' when comparing like-for-like markets.[S1]
The movie has achieved the largest opening for a Nolan film in 52 markets, including Brazil, France, Italy, India, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, and Spain. It also stands as Nolan's top-grossing title ever in 75 markets, such as Australia, Germany, and the UK & Ireland. Moreover, 'The Odyssey' has become the highest-earning film in IMAX history, amassing over $457 million globally, and IMAX has prolonged its 70MM showings until the end of the month.[S1]
