Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey' Hits $1.1 Billion, Sets Career Record

The film, released on July 17, reached the milestone in less than a month, pulling in $1.104 billion globally. It overtook 2012's The Dark Knight Rises ($1.085 billion) and 2008's The Dark Knight ($1.005 billion).

The achievement pushes Nolan's cumulative lifetime directorial earnings past $7 billion worldwide. The $250 million production, excluding marketing costs, features Matt Damon as Odysseus, alongside Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Charlize Theron, and Lupita Nyong'o.

The milestone also marks the highest-grossing theatrical release for lead actors Damon, Hathaway, and Pattinson. Produced by Nolan and his wife Emma Thomas under their Syncopy banner, the film was released by Universal Pictures.

The Odyssey opened at No. 1 worldwide and held the top spot for two consecutive weekends. It is the third Universal title to cross $1 billion this year, after The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and the biographical drama Michael.

Universal executives credited the film's success to strong demand for premium large formats and repeat viewings. Jim Orr, president of domestic theatrical distribution, noted Nolan's track record of delivering event-level cinema, while Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, president of international distribution, highlighted the movie's global resonance and scale.