Christopher Nolan is no stranger to making waves at the box office, andThe Odysseyis expected to do the same. Having Nolan’s fandom behind it is one thing, but a prime release date next summer and a star-studded cast headlined by Matt Damon and Tom Holland help. The chance for big fantasy action can also position it as a blockbuster made for the big screen.
Since production is still underway,The Odysseyis currently in a position where it must wait for its chance to be in front of audiences and start dominating the box office. This leavesSuperman,F1: The Movie,Jurassic World Rebirth,How To Train Your Dragon, and soonThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsas titles to keep bringing viewers to theaters and giving them a chance to seeThe Odyssey’s trailerin most cases.
Yet,The Odyssey’s tickets are on salealready for some select early IMAX 70mm showings. Universal and Nolan unleashed the bold strategy to mark one year until the film’s release, and the response was emphatic. Thesetickets are already almost completely sold out, with some being resold online for huge prices.
The Odyssey Is Technically 2026’s Highest-Grossing Movie Already
How Much Has It Made?
The early ticket launch was a genius marketing stunt from Nolan and Universal to already makeThe Odysseyfeel like a can’t-miss cinematic event. But, the timing of it puts the movie in a unique position where it can claim to be the highest-grossing movie of 2026 already.
Since 2025 is only halfway over,no other movies coming out next year have made any ticket sales. There are even movies coming out within a few weeks or months of right now that people can’t buy tickets for. But, from the very moment the first ticket forThe Odysseywas sold, it became 2026’s highest-grossing movie, even if that total was only around $20.
With tickets selling out almost completely,The Odyssey’s total sales is well beyond $20. In fact, a report fromThe Hollywood Reporterstates thatThe Odysseyhas already done $1.5 million in sales. Those tickets haven’t been officially redeemed, but the payments have been made, and that puts Nolan’s epic atop next year’s box office charts already.
The Odysseyhas already surpassed Christopher Nolan’s directorial debut,Following, at the box office, as it only made $126K
This is an unprecedented accomplishment for the director and one that may not be repeated anytime soon. Hollywood is not accustomed to selling tickets for movies this far in advance, and even ifThe Odysseyhad the demand to sell out,other movies may not be able to replicate this kind of early hype.
Now, the question becomes whetherThe Odysseywill retain its place atop 2026’s box office chart when everything is said and done. That could be very difficult to pull off with multi-billion-dollar franchises likeStar Wars,Avengers,Toy Story,Shrek, and more coming out next year. Even ifThe Odysseydoesn’t end 2026 as the highest-grossing film, it can claim that record for the time being.
