Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ becomes year’s top-grossing foreign film, reaches 8 million admissions fastest

Nolan’s comeback sparks a sensation and reshapes the theatrical market

‘The Odyssey,’ the latest film from acclaimed director Christopher Nolan, has finally upended the box office landscape. It overtook ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ which opened a week earlier and had been leading the second-half box office, to become the year’s highest-grossing foreign film.

Universal Pictures, the film’s distributor, said in an official announcement on the 30th that ‘The Odyssey’ had drawn more than 8.471 million admissions as of 7 a.m. that day. That commanding figure surpassed the roughly 8.454 million admissions recorded by the former No. 1, ‘Spider-Man.’ The film had already surpassed 8 million admissions on the 28th, its 24th day in theaters, setting the year’s fastest box-office record among films released this year. It reached the milestone two days sooner than its rival, ‘Spider-Man,’ underscoring the explosive audience support for the film.

A faithful screen adaptation of Homer’s ancient epic ‘The Odyssey,’ the film chronicles the epic, perilous 10-year journey home undertaken by the hero Odysseus after the Trojan War. Three years after ‘Oppenheimer,’ Christopher Nolan’s trademark meticulous and commanding direction combines with standout performances from some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway and Zendaya, creating a powerful synergy that is driving the film’s sustained box-office run.

The box-office indicators also remain firmly in its favor. After dominating advance ticket sales for 28 consecutive days before its release, the film has continued to hold the No. 1 spot at the box office for 25 straight days since opening. Given its current surge in admissions, it is widely regarded as a near certainty that the film will become the year’s second 10 million-admission film after director Jang Hang-jun’s ‘The Man Who Lives With the King,’ and the first foreign film to reach that mark.