Christopher Nolan's latest film, "The Odyssey", has registered a remarkable opening at the box office, becoming one of the biggest Hollywood releases of the year. The big-scale epic, based on Homer's poem of the same name, has performed strongly in both India and international markets, setting several new records and proving once again that Nolan remains one of the world's biggest filmmakers.
In India, "The Odyssey" collected Rs 22 crore net on its second day across 8,791 shows, according to trade reports from Sacnilk. Combined with its impressive Day 1 net collection of Rs 17.40 crore, the film has now earned Rs 39.40 crore net and Rs 47.03 crore gross in India after just two days.
The strong second-day performance follows the biggest opening day ever for a Christopher Nolan film in India. The film has continued to attract large audiences, especially in premium formats such as IMAX, where demand has remained exceptionally high.
One of the biggest reasons behind the film's success has been its popularity on premium screens. IMAX and other premium formats like 4DX, PXL, and EpiQ have contributed a significant share of the overall revenue. The English IMAX version recorded an impressive 73.86% occupancy on its opening day, while IMAX screens alone generated more than Rs 5 crore in India on Friday. Overall, premium formats accounted for more than 40% of the film's total Indian revenue, highlighting audiences' willingness to pay extra for the large-screen experience.
The film has also broken several important records in India. It became Nolan's biggest opening film in the country, surpassing "Oppenheimer", which had opened with Rs 14.50 crore net in 2023. Despite receiving an Adults Only (A) certification, the film has attracted large audiences across major cities.
Before its release, "The Odyssey" also benefited from exceptional advance bookings. It reportedly sold more than 142,000 tickets in advance across India's national cinema chains, giving it the 11th highest pre-sales for a Hollywood film in the country. Demand for premium screenings pushed ticket prices to record levels, with luxury recliner seats reaching around — wait for it — Rs 3,400 in Pune and Rs 3,100 in Mumbai.
Another milestone came with its performance as a standalone original film. "The Odyssey" is now the biggest opening-day performer among non-franchise Hollywood films in India. While franchise blockbusters such as "Deadpool & Wolverine" and "Avatar: Fire and Ash" registered slightly higher opening-day collections, Nolan's film stands out as an original property rather than an entry in an established franchise.
The film's success is not limited to India. Worldwide, "The Odyssey" has earned an estimated $257.8 million (over Rs 2,150 crore) during its opening weekend, making it the biggest global opening of Christopher Nolan's career.
According to reports from international trade trackers, the film collected $120.5 million in North America, outperforming early expectations, while international markets contributed $137.3 million from 73 territories. Strong demand for premium IMAX screenings also played a major role in the film's global performance.
With the $257.8 million opening, "The Odyssey" has surpassed the debut weekends of several of Nolan's previous blockbusters, including "The Dark Knight Rises" ($249 million), "The Dark Knight" ($198 million), and the Oscar-winning "Oppenheimer" ($180 million).
Featuring an ensemble cast led by Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway, "The Odyssey" has emerged as both a commercial and critical success. Its record-breaking opening in India and around the world highlights the continued popularity of Nolan's films and the growing demand for large-scale cinematic experiences.
