UPDATE: The final number came in even higher at $124.5 million domestic with a $264.1 million global debut, and the movie has since posted a $90 million second weekend, the best of Nolan’s career, topping The Dark Knight.
The number went up overnight. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is now headed for a $120.5 million opening weekend off a $51.2 million Friday including previews, per Deadline’s Saturday morning update, ahead of Friday’s $117 million projection.
Audiences handed it an ‘A’ CinemaScore, Nolan’s fourth after Oppenheimer, The Dark Knight Rises, The Dark Knight, and Batman Begins, with Screen Engine exits showing an 81% definite recommend.
Nolan’s Biggest Global Launch
The worldwide number is the headline. The Odyssey is bound for $137.3 million overseas across 73 markets, bringing the global opening to $257.8 million, the biggest of Nolan’s career ahead of The Dark Knight Rises at $198 million and Oppenheimer at $180 million.
It’s his biggest foreign debut ever, his biggest opening of all time in 45 markets including France, Italy, Spain, and Brazil, and Universal’s biggest opening ever in 11 markets.
Overseas it’s also the second-biggest R-rated launch in history behind only Deadpool & Wolverine‘s $233.3 million.
The Domestic Records Hold
Stateside, the $120.5 million confirms everything from Friday: the best live-action debut of 2026, the biggest opening of Matt Damon’s career as a lead, and the third-best start of Nolan’s career behind The Dark Knight Rises at $160.8 million and The Dark Knight at $158.4 million.
It also ranks as the fifth-biggest R-rated opening ever domestically, behind Deadpool & Wolverine, Deadpool, Deadpool 2, and It: Chapter One.
For Robert Pattinson, it’s his fifth movie to open north of $100 million, joining three Twilight films and The Batman.
Nolan Is The Star
Per Deadline’s exits, the No. 1 reason moviegoers showed up was Nolan himself at 51%, ahead of the entire cast at 44% and Damon at 27%.
Premium formats drove 52% of the business, and the TCL Chinese Theatre, fresh off installing a 70mm Imax screen, is the top-grossing single venue in the country. Every one of the film’s top ten theaters has an Imax or 70mm screen.
The under-35 crowd made up 55% of the audience, and 47% of Friday buyers were same-day walk-ups.
The whole marketplace is up 40% from a year ago at $187.7 million, with Moana a distant second at $18.8 million. Down at No. 9, Supergirl fell another 62% to $1.4 million in its fourth weekend, sitting at $69.8 million domestic.
Sunday brings the official studio estimates, and we’ll update when they land.
For full coverage, see our complete Odyssey guide.
