Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has become the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, with Universal Pictures confirming Thursday that the film has crossed $1.352 billion worldwide, overtaking the $1.338 billion record set by Marvel’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” in 2024.
A New R-Rated Record
“The Odyssey,” Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic, opened in North America on July 17 with a $123.5 million debut across 3,919 theaters. Its domestic total now stands at $516.3 million, with international markets contributing roughly $835 million more. The film crossed the $1 billion mark worldwide on August 7, becoming only the third R-rated movie in history to do so, joining “Deadpool & Wolverine” and 2019’s “Joker,” which earned about $1.079 billion.
Reynolds Passes the Torch
“Deadpool & Wolverine” star Ryan Reynolds congratulated the film’s cast and crew on social media, posting an edited clip that spliced footage from both movies together. Reynolds referenced a fight scene set inside a Honda Odyssey minivan in his own film, joking that “that is one helluva car.”
The film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca making his way home after the Trojan War, alongside Anne Hathaway as his wife Penelope and Tom Holland as their son Telemachus. The ensemble cast also includes Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Zendaya, John Leguizamo, Jon Bernthal and Samantha Morton.
Nolan’s Biggest Film Ever
The record adds to a string of milestones “The Odyssey” has hit since its release. Earlier this month it passed 2012’s “The Dark Knight Rises,” which earned $1.085 billion, to become Nolan’s highest-grossing film ever. It has also become the highest-grossing release in IMAX history, pulling in roughly $354 million from IMAX screens alone and surpassing the $271 million record previously held by “Avatar.”
“The Odyssey” was shot entirely using IMAX film cameras, a first for a feature film, and runs two hours and 52 minutes. Its production budget is reported at $250 million, well below the roughly $537 million Disney spent on production and marketing for “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
Why the Numbers Stand Out
What has drawn particular attention from industry analysts is how “The Odyssey” reached its record. Unlike “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which leaned heavily on its domestic opening weekend, more than 60 percent of “The Odyssey”‘s total gross has come from international markets, a split industry watchers say reflects Nolan’s standing as one of the few directors whose name alone drives global ticket sales for an original, non-franchise film.
With the film still playing in premium formats worldwide, including sold-out IMAX 70mm screenings running through mid-September, its final worldwide total is expected to climb further before its theatrical run winds down.
