Christopher Nolan’s epic film The Odyssey has broken Australian box office records in its opening weekend.
HOYTS says the film grossed $13.4 million from July 16 to 19 with 587,000 people viewing it in cinemas.
It said this marked the highest-grossing opening weekend ever for a non-franchise film in Australia.
The film, starring Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway, is an adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem the Odyssey.
The all-star cast includes Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron.
In the film, Odysseus (Damon), the Greek king of Ithaca, undertakes a perilous journey home after the Trojan War and encounters mythical beings as he attempts to reunite with his wife Penelope (Hathaway).
HOYTS said in a statement, released today, that the Australian box office was experiencing a significant revival, with revenue up 17 percent in 2026.
The year’s top-grossing films so far were Michael ($46.4m), Toy Story 5 ($42.4m), and The Devil Wears Prada 2 ($41.9m).
HOYTS Group President and CEO Damian Keogh said The Odyssey had the potential to become the biggest release of 2026.
“We congratulate Christopher Nolan and our partners at Universal Pictures on creating a truly cinematic event that has captivated audiences and driven HOYTS’ most successful weekend of 2026 to date,” Mr Keogh said.
“It looks and sounds spectacular on our premium large format screens. The strong admissions we’ve seen across these experiences demonstrate the continued demand from movie fans to enjoy blockbusters like this on the best screens possible.”
