Box office projections for Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" indicate a robust opening weekend, significantly boosted by anticipation for its IMAX screenings. The film, adapted from Homer's ancient Greek poem, is notable for being the first movie ever shot entirely with IMAX 70mm film, drawing considerable audience interest in experiencing it in premium theaters.
"The Odyssey" has reportedly garnered approximately $15 million from Thursday previews in North America, a figure that positions it as the highest-grossing live-action movie preview performance of the year so far, surpassing "Michael's" $12.6 million. While this also exceeds "Oppenheimer's" $10.5 million in previews, it trails behind Nolan's previous successes like "The Dark Knight Rises" ($30.6 million) and "The Dark Knight" ($18.5 million).
A key question for "The Odyssey's" box office performance is its reception in non-IMAX theaters. It remains to be seen if audiences will prioritize premium formats or opt for more accessible screenings.
Industry reports project a North American opening weekend between $90 million and $100 million. Should it reach this target, it would mark Nolan's most significant debut since "The Dark Knight Rises" debuted to $160 million in 2012. Achieving over $100 million at the opening would place it among the year's top performers, alongside major animated sequels, as "Oppenheimer" opened to $82 million in 2023, fueled by the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon.
With a production cost of $250 million and an additional $125 million allocated for promotion by Universal, "The Odyssey" requires a strong box office run to ensure profitability. IGN's review awarded the film an 8/10, describing it as a "pretty great moviegoing experience" that adapts Homer with a "sense of horror and existential angst—and some humor too."