The Odyssey Dominates Weekend Box Office

“The Odyssey” continued its strong performance in North American theaters, securing $87 million in its second weekend of release according to studio estimates. This marks only a 30% drop from its debut, a noteworthy reduction for a blockbuster film. Director Christopher Nolan observed his best second weekend performance without adjusting for inflation. Previously, in 2008, “The Dark Knight” earned $75.2 million in its second weekend.

Paul Dergarabedian, Rentrak’s head of marketplace trends, noted, “That would be an impressive opening weekend for any film,” highlighting the enthusiasm from audiences towards Nolan’s latest work.

Globally, “The Odyssey” amassed $639.6 million. Supported by $128.3 million from international theaters, cinemas worldwide are increasing showtimes to fulfill demand. Premium large format and IMAX screens contributed significantly to its earnings, with IMAX alone accounting for $48 million. Notably, the exclusive 70 mm IMAX screens earned $5.2 million, and most showtimes are already sold out through September.

With no major new competitors, the sustained second weekend performance is uncommon for a film that launched with over $100 million. Among R-rated films, it trails only “Deadpool & Wolverine.”

Next weekend’s release of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” may offer competition, sharing stars Tom Holland and Zendaya with “The Odyssey.” Analysts predict it might achieve the year’s largest opening weekend. Despite this, Nolan’s film will maintain its share of IMAX screens for an extended period.

Disney releases “Moana” and “Toy Story 5” took second and third positions, earning $10.5 million and $10 million respectively. “Toy Story 5” reached a $1 billion global tally in its fifth week, with $448 million from domestic and $573 million from international markets. It’s the sixth Pixar film to hit this milestone.

Bleecker Street’s “Hadestown: The Musical” entered the charts at number five with $9.7 million in its debut. This recording captures the popular Broadway show which blends folk and jazz to narrate a Greek myth.

Olivia Wilde’s “The Invite,” in a limited release, added $2.6 million to reach a cumulative $19.8 million.

Year-to-date, box office performance is roughly 10% ahead of the previous year. The summer box office surpassed $3 billion, though pre-pandemic years saw figures exceeding $4 billion. The “Barbenheimer” event in 2023 was an exception. Dergarabedian is cautiously optimistic about reaching this milestone again, thanks to the enduring success of “The Odyssey” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”

Dergarabedian commented, “That’s a pretty heavy lift for August, but this could be a mega August given the staying power of ‘The Odyssey’ coupled with ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day.’ For ‘The Odyssey,’ it’s a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a marathon run that’ll play well into August.”

Top 10 Movies by Domestic Box Office

1. “The Odyssey,” $87 million
2. “Moana,” $10.5 million
3. “Toy Story 5,” $10 million
4. “Minions & Monsters,” $9.7 million
5. “Hadestown,” $9.6 million
6. “The Invite,” $2.6 million
7. “Evil Dead Burn,” $2.6 million
8. “Young Washington,” $2 million
9. “Motor City,” $1.6 million
10. “Obsession,” $1.5 million