UPDATE: The weekend delivered. The Odyssey opened to $120.5 million domestic with an ‘A’ CinemaScore, the best live-action debut of 2026, and its $257.8 million global launch is the biggest of Nolan’s career.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey grossed $17.6 million from Thursday night previews, per Universal’s Friday morning numbers reported by Deadline.
That’s the biggest preview haul of 2026, edging out Toy Story 5‘s $17.5 million and blowing past Michael‘s $12.6 million as the year’s best for a live-action title.
It also ranks as the third-best preview night of Nolan’s career, behind only The Dark Knight Rises at $30.6 million and The Dark Knight at $18.5 million. Oppenheimer did $10.5 million on its way to an $82.4 million opening.
Premium Screens Are Carrying It
The format breakdown tells the story. Per Deadline, 58% of Thursday’s gross came from Imax, PLF, and 70mm prints.
Imax digital accounted for 25%, exhibitor large formats like Dolby and Screen-X another 25%, and Imax 70mm pulled 5% on just 34 screens, with standard 70mm adding 3%.
Imax 70mm showtimes sold out a year in advance. Fandango reports The Odyssey is its No. 1 pre-seller of 2026, with advance sales heading into the weekend around $40 million.
$100 Million Weekend Incoming
The $17.6 million figure is identical to The Batman‘s previews, which led to a $134 million opening. It’s just under Jurassic World Dominion‘s $18 million, which opened to $145 million, and ahead of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which started with $118.4 million.
Deadline now projects a $100 million-plus opening weekend, at the upper end of the $80 million to $120 million tracking we’ve been following.
Theaters are treating it like an event. AMC Lincoln Square opened at 7 a.m. Friday and has showtimes running to 3 a.m. Saturday.
The demand follows a historic critical reception. As we reported, The Odyssey holds a 96% audience score, the best of Nolan’s career, matching its 96% Tomatometer, and capping the turnaround from the most disliked trailer he’s ever released.
The Odyssey is now playing everywhere, with Matt Damon leading Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Bernthal, Mia Goth, Samantha Morton, and Elliot Page. Rated R, 2 hours 52 minutes.
For full coverage, see our complete Odyssey guide.
