Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has delivered the biggest Australian box office debut of 2026, opening with $13.44 million.
The Universal Pictures release comfortably landed at No. 1 over the weekend (Thursday, July 16th – Sunday, July 19th) while becoming the studio’s third-biggest opening weekend of all time in Australia. Only Jurassic World ($16 million) and Fast & Furious 7 ($14.66 million), both released in 2015, have opened higher for Universal locally.
The film also marks the biggest Australian opening weekend of Nolan’s career for an original feature, and his second-largest debut overall behind The Dark Knight Rises, which opened to $15.10 million in 2012.
Released across 321 locations nationwide, The Odyssey has attracted audiences across premium formats including IMAX, 4DX and 70mm presentations, with 16,888 sessions during the film’s first weekend.
“Even before the film opened, the level of demand was unlike anything we had seen for an original film in some time, with cinemas adding midnight and even 6am sessions across the opening weekend to give moviegoers more opportunities to experience it on the big screen,” said Mike Baard, Managing Director of Universal Pictures International Australasia.
“What has been particularly exciting is seeing audiences actively seeking out the experience that is right for them. Whether it’s on the biggest screens, in premium and luxury cinemas, on 70mm film, or at their favourite local cinema, people clearly want the elevated experience of seeing The Odyssey in a cinema.
“A $13.4 million opening weekend is an extraordinary result, but what is most exciting for us is the enthusiasm behind those numbers. To see cinemas full, early-morning and midnight sessions selling, and audiences seeking out so many different ways to experience the film is incredibly rewarding.
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“We’re equally thrilled by the response from critics, both here in Australia and around the world. To see a film of this scale and ambition connect so strongly with critics and moviegoers alike is something very special, and we’re excited to see audiences continue to discover it in cinemas over the coming weeks,” he added.
While standard cinema sessions generated the bulk of ticket sales, premium formats accounted for a significant share of the weekend’s takings. Traditional screenings represented 82% of the box office, while IMAX, IMAX 70mm, 70mm, and 4DX sessions combined for the remaining 18%. Seven Australian cinemas are screening the film in 70mm, including Melbourne’s famed IMAX 70mm venue, which has attracted moviegoers from around the world.
Globally, the film has become Nolan’s biggest debut of all time with US$264.10 million.
