The big-budget epic opened with $264.1 million at the global box office, besting many big name brands. Every Hollywood studio wants its own Christopher Nolan. This weekend showed why.

"The Odyssey," written and directed by Nolan, opened to an estimated $264.1 million worldwide. Domestically, its $124.5 million debut was the third biggest for any film this year, behind the animated sequels "Toy Story 5" and "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie."

Its opening was higher than many 2026 releases based on more current intellectual property, like "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu," "Supergirl" and "Scream 7."

Nolan's brand power and commercial track record got Comcast's Universal Pictures to say yes to a roughly $250 million, R-rated adaptation of an ancient Greek poem shot across Europe with largely practical visual effects, including a 35-foot tall Trojan Horse.