Nolan’s “The Odyssey” Becomes Universal’s Highest-Grossing Film Ever, Topping $1.67B

Christopher Nolan’s epic historical drama “The Odyssey” has set an all-time box office record for Universal Pictures. The studio officially confirmed that the film’s worldwide gross has surpassed $1.677 billion, overtaking the sci-fi blockbuster “Jurassic World,” which had held the top spot at the studio since 2015.

International Box Office and the Fall of the Dinosaurs

Studio financial projections indicate that the film’s total gross will hit $1.685 billion by the end of the current weekend. Domestic North American ticket sales have brought in around $601.2 million, while international markets delivered a massive $1.083 billion.

As Variety points out, this sets a major precedent for the industry: for the first time in over a decade, Universal’s all-time box office is led by a standalone auteur film unaffiliated with ongoing franchises like “Fast & Furious,” “Minions,” or “Jurassic Park.” The studio’s previous record holder stalled at the $1.67 billion mark.

According to annual tracking data from The Numbers, the only film topping Nolan’s project in 2026 is the blockbuster “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” which has earned over $2.4 billion.

IMAX Triumph and an R-Rating Record

For Christopher Nolan himself, the milestone marks the commercial pinnacle of his career. The ancient epic has outgrossed both “Oppenheimer” and the Batman trilogy finale, “The Dark Knight Rises.”

An official announcement from NBCUniversal highlighted a slate of historic milestones achieved by the film:

• The film has officially become the highest-grossing R-rated release in cinematic history;
• It generated record-breaking revenue for IMAX theaters thanks to extensive on-location shooting on 70mm film;
• It is the first original title since James Cameron’s 2009 “Avatar”—neither a sequel nor a spinoff—to gross over $1 billion exclusively outside North America.

“The Odyssey” has already cemented the 12th spot on the all-time worldwide box office chart. With screenings continuing on hundreds of screens around the world, the final box office tally will keep climbing as it aims for a place among the top 10 highest-grossing films in history.