The three-hour movie starring Matt Damon is also the first feature to be entirely shot on Imax 70MM film|@odysseymovie|X
A year after selling out 70MM Imax showtimes, Christopher Nolan’s $250 million epic The Odyssey is hitting theaters today, hoping for a $200 million worldwide debut.
The three-hour movie, based on Homer’s Greek mythology, has an A-list cast that includes Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and Tom Holland. It is also the first feature to be entirely shot on Imax 70MM film.
Advance ticket sales are reported to be at $30 million to $40 million, with Imax locations in London, Melbourne, and Prague selling out a year in advance.
Demand for the premium Imax format is so high that tickets at the only 25 US theaters equipped to show it are fetching up to $1,000 on eBay. Fans are also expected to shell out $70 for novelty Trojan Horse popcorn buckets.
International expectations are high, specifically looking to top Nolan’s 2023 Oppenheimer’s benchmark.
The movie weekend also coincides with the World Cup final on Sunday, but considering the buzz around the film, with a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score, it may not affect ticket sales.
Soaring US box office collections
So far, 2026 has been a stellar year for the US box office, with hits like Toy Story 5, Michael, Backrooms and Obsession. According to Rentrak, it is on track to reach $10 billion for the first time since 2019.