Topline
“The Odyssey” is off to a significantly hot start, according to multiple reports, and is projected to bring in $257 million in the U.S. and overseas for what would be director Christopher Nolan’s best global opening ever.
Key Facts
“The Odyssey” is on track for $257.8 million globally, which would top opening weekend box office performances from “The Dark Knight Rises” ($198M) and “Oppenheimer” ($180M), according to Deadline.
The movie based on Homer’s Greek epic generated $51 million in the U.S. on Friday, Variety reported, noting the stellar opening day has pushed opening weekend projections in the U.S. to as high as $120 million—though Deadline has projected a domestic opening up to $137 million.
If “The Odyssey” scores a $137 million opening weekend in the U.S., it will place behind the best opening of the year captured by “Toy Story 5” ($159 million) and above “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” ($131 million).
Nolan’s latest movie has received critical and commercial acclaim, boasting a 95% rating from critics and a 97% rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
Big Number
At least $625 million. That is how much “The Odyssey” will need to gross to break even. The film’s reported budget is $250 million alongside marketing costs of $125 million, which tack on to cuts taken by theaters.
Tangent
Elon Musk repeatedly targeted the movie ahead of its rollout, calling Nolan “racist against the Greek people” for casting of Black actress Lupita Nyong’o and transgender actor Elliot Page. Critics have lashed out at Musk, praising the movie and dismissing the Tesla chief’s criticisms as “racist” and “contemptible.”
Key Background
Nolan has regularly made over $700 million at the global box office throughout most of his career. “The Dark Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises” both crossed the $1 billion threshold in 2008 and 2012. “Inception” and “Interstellar” made $839 million and $764 million, respectively, at the box office. “Oppenheimer,” Nolan’s most recent movie prior to “The Odyssey,” raked in just shy of $1 billion. However, the biographical drama became the director’s most awarded movie, snagging seven Oscars including awards for best picture, best director (Nolan’s first directing win), best actor (Cillian Murphy), and best supporting actor (Robert Downey Jr.).
Critics Rave About ‘The Odyssey’—And Slam Elon Musk’s Anti-Woke Campaign (Forbes)
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