Christopher Nolan's epic adaptation of Homer's poem, Odyssey, has set another box office record. Recently, the film surpassed the global box office collection of Deadpool and Wolverine, thus becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. The Odyssey has now earned over $1 billion from theatres outside the US. It is the first film that is not a remake or a sequel to cross the $1 billion mark at the non-US box office.
The Odyssey follows King of Ithaca Odysseus' perilous journey back home following the Trojan War. With his and his men's actions enraging the Gods, especially Poseidon, the journey becomes treacherous for them as they encounter monsters, giant figures, a witch, and dangers in the ocean en route.
The Odyssey stars Matt Damon in the titular role, alongside an ensemble cast of lead and supporting actors that includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron.
On the whole, it has earned over $1.5 billion from theatres. The cinematic adaptation of Homer's film is already creating much Oscar buzz, with several critics expecting it to win big at the 2027 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor.
While The Odyssey has earned critical acclaim and much audience appreciation, the film is not without its detractors. A section of the audience claims that Nolan's adaptation is not loyal enough to Homer's poem. Further, Emily Wilson, who translated the source material, criticised Nolan's film, calling it "gimmicky" with "abysmal" writing.
Pre-release and post-release, there has been some criticism for the modern dialogues in the film as well. However, it has overcome all these detractors to become one of 2026's highest-grossing and highly acclaimed films.
