Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" has officially crossed the $1 billion mark at the international box office, marking a significant achievement for the director and its theatrical partners. The film, which continues its run in theaters, has accumulated $1.59 billion globally, positioning it as Nolan's most profitable movie ever and the 17th film in history to achieve this box office milestone.
This success makes "The Odyssey" the first standalone, non-sequel, and non-remake film to reach this benchmark since James Cameron's "Avatar" in 2009. It joins an elite group of films that include "Avengers: Endgame," "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day."
Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, Universal Pictures International's president of distribution, expressed pride in the film's performance, stating, "From its record-breaking opening to this historic milestone, "The Odyssey" has captivated audiences around the world." She added, "We are incredibly proud to have partnered with Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas and everyone at Syncopy to share this visionary theatrical experience with audiences everywhere."
Earlier in its run, "The Odyssey" also claimed the title of the highest-grossing R-Rated film of all time, surpassing "Deadpool & Wolverine." This achievement was humorously acknowledged by Ryan Reynolds, who shared a mashup video referencing both films.
Audiences have until September 30 to experience "The Odyssey" in its extended 70mm IMAX showings, a format that has seen its availability prolonged due to demand and the limited number of screens capable of projecting it. This extension is expected to further contribute to the film's already substantial box office success.
The film's strong performance mirrors a successful summer for blockbuster cinema, with titles like "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" also achieving historic box office numbers, including becoming the highest-grossing domestic film in history and the most profitable Spider-Man movie ever.
"The Odyssey" was reviewed by IGN and scored an 8 out of 10, described as a "must-watch cinematic experience."