Nolan breaks his own 14-year record

Christopher Nolan lập kỷ lục mới nhờ bom tấn sử thi The Odyssey.

According to box office figures released on August 10, The Odyssey crossed the one-billion-dollar mark after nearly a month of release. The film's total global box office currently stands at approximately $1.1 billion.

This massive revenue pushes The Odyssey past The Dark Knight Rises - a work that grossed $1.08 billion in 2012 - to become the highest-grossing film in director Christopher Nolan's career.

Previously, Nolan had three works that approached or exceeded the billion-dollar milestone. The Dark Knight grossed over one billion dollars, The Dark Knight Rises reached $1.08 billion, while Oppenheimer stopped at approximately $975 million.

Tạo hình của Matt Damon trong vai chính phim "The Odyssey". Ảnh: Universal Pictures

With The Odyssey, the British filmmaker not only solidifies his status as a billion-dollar director but also raises his personal box office record to a new level. This is a remarkable achievement for a film with a nearly three-hour runtime, adapted from a classical epic and not part of a long-standing superhero franchise.

This week, the film distributed by Universal Pictures grossed an additional $31.5 million. The work still has the potential to significantly increase its revenue as it prepares for release in China, one of the world's largest film markets.

The Odyssey also set a record on the IMAX system. The film's revenue at large-format screens in the North American market reached approximately $147.3 million, becoming the highest-grossing domestic title in IMAX history.

The film is adapted from Homer's epic of the same name. Matt Damon takes on the role of Odysseus, the king finding his way back to his homeland of Ithaca after the Trojan War.

Odysseus's journey spans many dangerous seas. The character must face the one-eyed giant Polyphemus, the enchanting songs of the Sirens, and challenges involving the goddess Calypso.

Christopher Nolan's work continues to feature a famous cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, and Charlize Theron. The large production scale, star-studded cast, and Nolan's appeal make the film one of the most anticipated projects of 2026.

Beyond its commercial success, The Odyssey has received positive feedback from critics. The film holds a 94% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, on par with The Dark Knight, and belongs to the group of Nolan's most highly acclaimed works.

The success of The Odyssey continues to prove the ability of the filmmaker, born in 1970, to turn difficult subjects into box office events. Previously, Nolan brought stories about dreams, space travel, war, and nuclear physics to a large audience through Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk, and Oppenheimer.

Chân dung đạo diễn tỷ USD đang làm mưa làm gió ở Hollywood.

After winning the Oscar for Best Director with Oppenheimer, Nolan continues to reach new revenue milestones. The Odyssey is currently his third film to surpass one billion dollars, and the first in his career to hit the $1.1 billion mark.

The success of The Odyssey comes at a time when Spider-Man: Brand New Day is creating a sensation in the international market. Both films feature Tom Holland and Zendaya.

After 10 days of release, Spider-Man: Brand New Day grossed approximately $1.67 billion globally. In its second weekend alone, the Sony and Marvel production earned an additional $144.5 million.

In the US and Canada, the film reached $655.1 million. Revenue from international markets exceeded one billion dollars. After just seven days, the film surpassed Toy Story 5 to become the highest-grossing film of the year.

The simultaneous appeal of The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day has contributed to helping the Hollywood film market achieve its most positive results since the pandemic. Ticket sales in 2026 are approximately 18.5% higher than the same period last year.

As of the beginning of August, the global box office has recorded five films surpassing the one-billion-dollar mark, including Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey, Toy Story 5, Michael, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. This is the highest number of billion-dollar films in a single year since 2019. Among them, The Odyssey makes a unique mark by helping Christopher Nolan surpass a record of his own that had stood for over a decade.