Christopher Nolan’s latest epic “The Odyssey” continues its remarkable theatrical run, earning an estimated $87 million in its second weekend across cinemas in the United States and Canada. The strong performance represents only a 30% decline from its opening weekend, marking one of the strongest holds ever recorded for a major blockbuster.
The second-weekend figure has become the biggest of Nolan’s career, surpassing the previous benchmark set by “The Dark Knight,” which earned $75.2 million in its second weekend in 2008, without adjusting for inflation.
“This would be an impressive opening weekend for many films,” said Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Rentrak, highlighting the continued enthusiasm surrounding Nolan’s latest cinematic project.
Global Box Office Nears $640 Million
“The Odyssey” has continued to attract audiences worldwide, adding an estimated $128.3 million from international markets during the weekend. The film’s global box office total has now reached approximately $639.6 million.
The demand has been especially strong for premium large-format screenings, with theaters adding additional shows to accommodate audiences. IMAX screenings alone contributed around $48 million globally during the weekend, while limited 70 mm IMAX locations generated approximately $5.2 million.
Several of the world’s 70 mm IMAX venues, which remain extremely limited in number, have reported heavy demand, with many screenings booked weeks in advance.
Limited Competition Helps Maintain Momentum
The film benefited from a relatively quiet release schedule, with no major new blockbuster entering the market during the weekend. Analysts noted that maintaining such a strong second-week performance is unusual for films that open above the $100 million mark.
Among R-rated movies, the achievement ranks among the strongest second weekends ever, following the performance of “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
However, competition is expected to increase soon with the release of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” which features actors Tom Holland and Zendaya. Some analysts predict the superhero sequel could become one of the year’s biggest opening films.
Despite the upcoming competition, “The Odyssey” is expected to retain access to many premium IMAX screens in the coming weeks.
Disney Titles Continue Strong Run
Disney releases remained steady in the rankings, with “Moana” earning an estimated $10.5 million to secure second place.
“Toy Story 5” followed closely with approximately $10 million for the weekend. The Pixar sequel crossed the major milestone of $1 billion worldwide in its fifth week, becoming the sixth Pixar film to achieve the feat.
Meanwhile, Bleecker Street’s “Hadestown: The Musical,” a filmed version of the acclaimed stage production, opened with around $9.7 million, placing it among the weekend’s top performers.
Overall Box Office Shows Positive Growth
The domestic box office year-to-date performance is currently running about 10% ahead of last year, while the summer movie season has crossed the $3 billion mark.
Industry analysts noted that summer box office totals regularly exceeded $4 billion before the pandemic, with only the 2023 “Barbenheimer” phenomenon reaching that level in recent years.
With “The Odyssey” showing strong staying power and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” arriving soon, analysts believe the current summer season could become one of the strongest since the pandemic era.
Top 10 Domestic Box Office Performers (Estimated Weekend Earnings)
- 1-“The Odyssey” — $87 million
- 2-“Moana” — $10.5 million
- 3-“Toy Story 5” — $10 million
- 4-“Minions & Monsters” — $9.7 million
- 5-“Hadestown: The Musical” — $9.6 million
- 6-“The Invite” — $2.6 million
- 7-“Evil Dead Burn” — $2.6 million
- 8-“Young Washington” — $2 million
- 9-“Motor City” — $1.6 million
- 10“Obsession” — $1.5 million
