Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” dominated the North American box office during its opening weekend, grossing an estimated $124.5 million, marking the highest live-action debut of the year. The film’s strong domestic performance was complemented by $139 million in international sales, bringing its global total to approximately $263.5 million, surpassing its reported production budget of $250 million.

Produced by Universal Pictures, the film features a star-studded cast led by Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway. Early projections had estimated opening weekend earnings below $100 million, but the epic adaptation of Homer’s ancient poem exceeded expectations, drawing widespread attention.

Industry analyst David A. Gross commented on the film’s success, noting Nolan’s unique ability to translate a nearly 3,000-year-old story into a contemporary cultural phenomenon. “Nolan is the only filmmaker working today who could take an ancient story like this, attract a cast as sprawling and accomplished as this, and make it a pop culture event,” Gross said.

“The Odyssey” follows the journey of its hero, Odysseus, as he encounters numerous challenges while attempting to return home from the Trojan War. The film is also notable for being the first feature to be shot entirely on IMAX film cameras, highlighting Nolan’s commitment to traditional filmmaking techniques in a modern adaptation.

In the wider box office landscape, Disney’s “Moana” held the second spot with $19 million in its second week, raising its North American total to $82 million and global earnings to $178 million. Universal’s “Minions & Monsters” followed with $14.8 million domestically over the weekend, contributing to a three-week global haul nearing $357.6 million.

Disney’s “Toy Story 5” dropped to fourth place during its fifth week, earning an estimated $13 million domestically and pushing its worldwide total close to $958 million. Warner Bros.’ “Evil Dead Burn” earned $5 million over the weekend in North America, lifting its two-week domestic total past $24 million and global earnings to $51 million.