Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has set a new global box-office record, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time after surpassing the lifetime theatrical earnings of Deadpool & Wolverine. The mythological epic has collected about $1.35 billion worldwide, moving past the $1.338 billion earned by the Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman-starrer in 2024. The milestone comes just over a month after The Odyssey opened in cinemas on July 17.
Nolan sets another box-office record
The achievement gives Nolan another major commercial landmark following the success of Oppenheimer. The Odyssey has now also emerged as the filmmaker’s highest-grossing movie, moving ahead of blockbusters including The Dark Knight Rises, The Dark Knight, Inception and Oppenheimer.
The film has earned more than $500 million in North America alone, while international markets have contributed the majority of its worldwide total. Its performance has been particularly significant given its R rating, which limits access for younger audiences in the United States without an accompanying adult.
The previous record belonged to Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine, which became a global phenomenon in 2024. That film had itself displaced Joker, the 2019 Joaquin Phoenix-starrer that finished its theatrical run with more than $1.07 billion worldwide.
Epic adaptation finds global audience
Based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic, The Odyssey follows Odysseus, king of Ithaca, on his dangerous journey home after the Trojan War. Matt Damon plays Odysseus, with the ensemble cast also featuring Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya and Charlize Theron.
The Universal Pictures release was made on an estimated $250-million budget, making it the most expensive film of Nolan’s career. The production was also notable for being the first feature film shot entirely using IMAX 70mm film cameras.
Premium-format screenings have played an important role in the film’s theatrical performance. Interest in the IMAX presentation had been unusually strong even before release, with tickets for selected 70mm screenings going on sale a year in advance and several shows selling out rapidly.
Reynolds congratulates Nolan and team
Ryan Reynolds marked the change at the top of the R-rated box-office rankings by congratulating Nolan and the team behind The Odyssey on social media. In characteristic fashion, the Deadpool star accompanied his message with a humorous reference to the Honda Odyssey.
The new record reshuffles the list of Hollywood’s most successful R-rated releases. The Odyssey now occupies the top position, followed by Deadpool & Wolverine, Joker and Nolan’s own Oppenheimer.
With the film still playing in theatres, its worldwide total is expected to climb further, extending its lead and giving Nolan another major box-office success after Oppenheimer became an unlikely billion-dollar-era phenomenon for an adult-oriented historical drama.