‘The Odyssey’ Sets Universal Record, But With a Box-Office Catch

The Odyssey has crossed a major box-office line for Universal Pictures, but the headline deserves some caution. The film’s $1.68 billion worldwide total now narrowly tops Jurassic World, which earned $1.67 billion worldwide. Yet higher ticket prices, inflation, and pricey IMAX screenings make raw dollar totals a flawed way to judge what movie audiences actually bought. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey opened to $124.5 million in July 2026 and has stayed in theaters for eight weeks. Demand for IMAX 70mm screenings pushed its theatrical window through September. The film has earned $593.1 million domestically and more than $1 billion overseas. Variety reports that the movie is now Universal Pictures’ top worldwide earner. Still, Jurassic World remains ahead at the domestic box office with $653 million, compared with The Odyssey at $593.1 million. That matters. A modern blockbuster can collect more cash without necessarily selling more individual tickets, especially when premium-format admission costs far more than a standard ticket. Universal executive Donna Langley praised the milestone, saying, “What Chris and Emma [Thomas] have created will go down as one of the most ambitious and ...