Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office, becoming the fifth film released in 2026 to reach the milestone.
Released on July 17, the epic has earned $429.65 million in North America and $578.8m internationally, taking its worldwide total to just over $1bn after three weeks in cinemas.
The film marks Nolan’s first billion-dollar release since The Dark Knight Rises, which grossed $1.08bn during its theatrical run in 2012.
Imax screenings have contributed around $257m to The Odyssey’s global earnings. The film is also on course to become the highest-grossing title ever released on Imax screens.
With its theatrical run continuing, The Odyssey could surpass The Dark Knight Rises to become Nolan’s highest-grossing film. His previous release, Oppenheimer, earned $975m worldwide.
The film is also set to open in China, the world’s largest movie market, on Friday. It will be screened across nearly 800 Imax locations and thousands of standard cinemas, potentially giving its box-office earnings another boost.
The Odyssey joins Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Toy Story 5, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Michael as the five films to cross $1bn in global ticket sales this year.
The milestone also highlights the continued recovery of the global cinema industry following the Covid-19 pandemic. With five billion-dollar films already recorded, 2026 has produced more such releases than any year since the pandemic. The record remains 2019, when nine films surpassed the $1bn mark.
