Distributed by Universal Pictures and based on Homer’s epic poem Odyssey
—following the Trojan War hero Odysseus on his arduous journey home—the film has continued its domestic dominance in South Korea while making massive waves internationally.
Box Office Milestones and Domestic Ticket Surge in South Korea
The film achieved its 5-million-viewer milestone on August 17, 2026, crossing the threshold at 10:22 a.m. local time just 13 days after its August 5 release.
That velocity puts it shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the market’s heaviest hitters.
Audience Reception and Theater Dominance
Word of mouth remains a primary driver for the picture. The CGV Egg Index, which measures verified real-viewer satisfaction, sits at an exceptional 98%. That sustained approval rating has translated directly into ticket sales, allowing the film to comfortably fend off competition from Spider-Man: Brand New Day to maintain its grip on the daily box-office throne.
Advance ticket sales demonstrate that the momentum is far from cooling. For comparison, Spider-Man: Brand New Day
held a 15.2% reservation share, and the animated feature Detective Conan: The Scarlet Highway drew 2.7%.
Global IMAX Expansion and Record-Breaking Numbers
The domestic success mirrors a massive global run, particularly driven by IMAX screenings. According to data released by IMAX Corporation, The Odyssey
pulled in $47 million globally over the weekend, fueled heavily by its arrival in the Chinese market.
In China, the film grossed $19.3 million during its opening weekend alone—including $6.3 million from preview screenings and $13 million from the proper weekend frame. The performance highlights a striking concentration of premium viewing: though IMAX screens account for a mere 1% of the total screen count across the Chinese market, they captured a staggering 53% of the film’s total box office in the country.
Globally, the film has accumulated $346.4 million in total IMAX earnings, with large-format screens contributing 26% of the picture’s worldwide box office receipts. The weekend figures marked the fourth frame that the company surpassed $50 million in global weekend grossing, a feat IMAX noted it had never achieved more than once in a single year prior to 2026.
Technical Craftsmanship Behind the Scale
Much of the premium-format appeal traces back to production choices. The Odyssey was shot entirely on IMAX film cameras. To pull off the ambitious shoot, the company developed a specialized camera and sound blimp dubbed The Keighley
, running an extraordinary 2.1 million feet of IMAX film through production.
With a star-studded cast featuring Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron, the production combines marquee star power with an uncompromising technical format. The feature is scheduled to continue its run on global IMAX screens at least through mid-September, backed by strong international grosses and a domestic audience showing no signs of slowing down.
