‘The Odyssey’ Maintains Its Momentum
Studio estimates released Sunday reported that “The Odyssey” pulled in $87 million in its second weekend across the United States and Canada, slipping just 30% from its opening weekend. That kind of hold is unusually strong for a summer blockbuster, which typically sees bigger week-two drops.
This turnout marked the highest-grossing second weekend for a Christopher Nolan film when not adjusting for inflation. For context, 2008’s “The Dark Knight” had taken in $75.2 million at the same point in its run.
“That would be an impressive opening weekend for any film,” said Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Rentrak. “This is a testament to the outpouring of excitement and enthusiasm that moviegoers are having for Christopher Nolan’s latest epic.”
IMAX and Premium Screens Fuel Box Office
Much of the movie’s strong second weekend came from premium screenings. IMAX showings alone generated $48 million in global revenue over the weekend. The exclusive 70 mm IMAX screenings—just 41 exist worldwide—contributed $5.2 million, with most showtimes reportedly sold out through September, according to IMAX. Seats are so in demand it’s become tough to get a ticket.
Looking Ahead: Competition Heats Up
There were no major new releases challenging “The Odyssey” this weekend, and it’s exceptional for a film opening above $100 million to post such strong second-week earnings. Among R-rated films, only “Deadpool & Wolverine” has managed a bigger second weekend.
But next weekend could shift the scene. “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” which also stars Tom Holland and Zendaya from “The Odyssey,” is set to hit theaters and may give audiences another major option. Some analysts are predicting “Spider-Man” could have the year’s biggest debut, yet Nolan's film is expected to retain most IMAX screens in the near term.
Box Office Standings: Disney and Broadway Round Out the Top 5
Disney’s “Moana” took second place at the box office with $10.5 million. “Toy Story 5” followed closely with $10 million, and has now surpassed $1 billion in global ticket sales after five weekends—$448 million from domestic theaters and $573 million internationally. This milestone marks the sixth time a Pixar film has crossed the $1 billion mark.
Bleecker Street’s release of “Hadestown: The Musical,” a live stage recording of the popular Broadway show telling a Greek myth through folk and jazz, rounded out the top five with $9.7 million in its opening weekend.
Summer Box Office Outlook
This year’s box office is currently about 10% ahead of the prior year, and the summer season has crossed the $3 billion mark. Before the pandemic, summers would routinely reach $4 billion, with only 2023’s “Barbenheimer” year hitting that benchmark since. Dergarabedian suggested that, while ambitious, this summer could approach those pre-pandemic heights given the ongoing draw of “The Odyssey” and the strong potential of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”
“That’s a pretty heavy lift for August, but this could be a mega August given the staying power of ‘The Odyssey’ coupled with ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’” he said. “For ‘The Odyssey’ it’s a marathon, it’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon run that’ll play well into August.”
With audiences still crowding theaters for “The Odyssey,” it appears the journey is far from over—and Hollywood’s summer resurgence remains in full swing.
