Christopher Nolan's latest cinematic voyage, The Odyssey, is making waves at the global box office, and it's already leaving some mythological predecessors in its wake. In less than a week since its release, the film has overtaken the lifetime worldwide gross of Zack Snyder's 2014 sequel 300: Rise of an Empire, a feat that underscores the massive appeal of Nolan's ambitious adaptation.
After smashing through two major milestones in consecutive days, The Odyssey is on track to cross the $500 million mark worldwide in its second weekend. The film debuted with a staggering $265 million globally, marking the biggest opening weekend of Nolan's career—surpassing even The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. With a reported budget of $250 million, tied with his third Batman film, this is Nolan's most expensive project to date.
In its first few days, The Odyssey had already eclipsed the lifetime earnings of Ridley Scott's Exodus: Gods and Kings and Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049. Now, it has added another scalp: 300: Rise of an Empire, which grossed around $340 million worldwide during its entire theatrical run. For context, that 2014 film was a standalone sequel to Snyder's original 300, a surprise blockbuster that earned $470 million globally. Interestingly, Nolan and Snyder have a history—Snyder directed Man of Steel, which Nolan executive produced, and both directors were once attached to competing Greek mythology projects at Warner Bros., with Nolan linked to Troy.
Directed by Noam Murro, 300: Rise of an Empire starred Sullivan Stapleton and Eva Green, and carried a budget of $110 million. It received mixed reviews, holding a 45% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it "an empty exercise in stylish gore" despite Green's standout performance. In contrast, The Odyssey has been a critical darling, boasting a 94% critics' score and a 97% audience rating on the same platform, both earning it "Certified Fresh" and "Verified Hot" statuses.
Nolan's epic has already grossed over $350 million worldwide, and with strong word-of-mouth and no major competition in sight, it's poised to continue its box office dominance. For fans of the director's work, this film caps his lifelong obsessions in a visually stunning and narratively rich package. Meanwhile, those curious about the source material might enjoy fantasy books that hook readers from the first page.
As The Odyssey sails past yet another benchmark, it's clear that Nolan's take on Homer's classic is resonating with audiences worldwide. Stay tuned for more updates on this box office juggernaut.
