Updated
Updated · Deadline · Jul 21
The Odyssey Sets $263.7M Global Opening Record for Christopher Nolan as China Lifts 3 Local Hits
Updated
Updated · Deadline · Jul 21

The Odyssey Sets $263.7M Global Opening Record for Christopher Nolan as China Lifts 3 Local Hits

3 articles · Updated · Deadline · Jul 21

Summary

  • $263.7 million put Universal's The Odyssey far ahead of the global box office, with $140.2 million from 73 overseas markets and $123.5 million in North America for Nolan's biggest worldwide launch.
  • China was the main counterweight to Odysseus' dominance because the film does not open there until Aug. 14, letting holiday-fueled local releases fill the chart.
  • Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Soccer ranked No. 2 globally with $73.7 million in its second China weekend and $214.3 million total, while All Wishes Come True opened to $30.6 million and A Part of Me to $13.6 million.
  • Toy Story 5 placed third worldwide with $43.7 million, lifting its total to $957.3 million and putting it within reach of becoming 2026's third $1 billion film.
  • Elsewhere, Moana reached $177.4 million globally, Minions and Monsters hit $358.4 million, and South Korea's Hope opened to $16.4 million ahead of its Sept. 9 U.S. release.

Insights

With identical $250M budgets, why is Nolan's epic a triumph while Disney's remake faces a massive loss?
Will the success of Nolan's R-rated film, shot entirely on IMAX, change how future Hollywood blockbusters are made?
Despite terrible reviews, 'Moana' scored high with audiences. What does this disconnect reveal about modern film criticism?