Updated
Updated · Variety · Aug 20
The Odyssey Tops R-Rated Box Office Record at $1.352 Billion, Passing Deadpool & Wolverine
Updated
Updated · Variety · Aug 20

The Odyssey Tops R-Rated Box Office Record at $1.352 Billion, Passing Deadpool & Wolverine

3 articles · Updated · Variety · Aug 20

Summary

  • $1.352 billion worldwide made Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" the highest-grossing R-rated film ever, edging past "Deadpool & Wolverine" at $1.338 billion.
  • The July 17 release has held strongly after a $123 million domestic debut, reaching $516 million in North America and $835 million internationally despite its nearly three-hour runtime.
  • Imax drove a major share of the run with $354 million in ticket sales, helping make "The Odyssey" the format's top-grossing release ever and only the third R-rated film to cross $1 billion.
  • The milestone also makes "The Odyssey" Nolan's biggest film, surpassing 2012's "The Dark Knight Rises" at $1.08 billion, as Ryan Reynolds publicly congratulated the handoff from the "Deadpool" franchise.

Insights

Is the staggering success of The Odyssey proof of original cinema's return, or is Christopher Nolan simply his own blockbuster franchise?
How did an R-rated adaptation of Homer's epic manage to shatter IMAX box office records previously held by Avatar?
Will Nolan's record-breaking epic force Hollywood to finally abandon superhero franchises for massive, director-driven historical spectacles?