Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey kicked off its global promotional tour on Monday with a star-studded world premiere in London. The cast and crew are now set to travel across the world for six more premieres and press events in cities including Mumbai, Shanghai, New York and Paris, further fueling anticipation for one of the year’s most-awaited films. The buzz has only intensified after early box office projections painted an encouraging picture, while overwhelmingly positive first reactions from critics have pushed expectations even higher.
Strong opening projected for The Odyssey
Based on Homer’s legendary epic, The Odyssey is Christopher Nolan’s most ambitious project to date, carrying a reported production budget of $250 million. With such a massive investment, the film will require a blockbuster debut to begin its path toward profitability.
According to Long Range Forecast, the film is currently tracking for a domestic opening of $100-120 million when it arrives in North American theatres on July 17.
Historically, Nolan’s films have performed even better internationally than in North America thanks to his global fanbase. Oppenheimer, for example, earned $80.5 million domestically during its opening weekend but collected an even bigger $93.7 million overseas despite facing stiff competition from Barbie. Industry experts believe The Odyssey could outperform those figures, with its fantasy-action setting expected to resonate strongly with audiences worldwide.
Trade analysts estimate the film could generate between $120 million and $150 million from international markets during its opening weekend, resulting in a global debut of well over $220 million. More optimistic projections suggest the worldwide opening could even cross the $250 million mark.
Could become 2026’s biggest Hollywood debut
Early reactions from critics who attended the London premiere have described The Odyssey as “the biggest film event of the summer,” and early box office forecasts appear to support that excitement.
The biggest Hollywood opening of 2026 currently belongs to Michael, the Michael Jackson biopic, which debuted with $218 million globally, including $97 million from North America. The Odyssey is expected to narrowly surpass that figure and comfortably outpace every other live-action release of the year, including Project Hail Mary, which opened to an impressive $140.9 million worldwide.
The film is unlikely to challenge the year’s biggest overall debut, however. That title remains with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which launched with a staggering $372 million worldwide. Upcoming releases such as Toy Story 5 and Spider-Man: Brand New Day are also projected to cross the $400 million mark after The Odyssey hits theatres.
About The Odyssey
The Odyssey stars Matt Damon as the legendary Odysseus and features an ensemble cast including Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland and Zendaya.
Following its world premiere in London, the film will hold additional premieres in Paris and Mumbai, with the India event scheduled for July 11, before making its worldwide theatrical debut on July 17.
