{"id":10980,"date":"2026-07-20T00:04:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T19:04:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=10980"},"modified":"2026-07-20T00:04:54","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T19:04:54","slug":"christopher-nolan-defies-backlash-as-the-odyssey-sets-glorious-new-264000000-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=10980","title":{"rendered":"Christopher Nolan defies backlash as The Odyssey sets glorious new $264,000,000 record"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"646\" height=\"449\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305072151-6d20.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-29143102\" alt=\"Undated film still from The Odyssey. Pictured: Jimmy Gonzales as Cepheus, Matt Damon as Odysseus and Himesh Patel as Eurylochus. See PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews. PA Photo. Picture credit should read: Universal Studios\/Melinda Sue Gordon. All Rights Reserved. NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews.\" decoding=\"sync\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>The Odyssey has already proven to be one of Christopher Nolan\u2019s biggest successes (Picture: Universal Studios\/Melinda Sue Gordon)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As his latest blockbuster, <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/15\/odyssey-review-christopher-nolans-epic-will-change-cinema-forever-29142345\/\">The Odyssey<\/a>, continues to spark debate and even fury online, Sir <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/christopher-nolan\/\">Christopher Nolan<\/a> has come out on top.<\/p>\n<p>Released into cinemas this week with a gold-star cast comprising <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/anne-hathaway\/\">Anne Hathaway<\/a>, <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/matt-damon\/\">Matt Damon<\/a>, <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/zendaya\/\">Zendaya<\/a>, <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/tom-holland\/\">Tom Holland<\/a>, and more, the Greek epic has <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/07\/odyssey-hailed-cinematic-triumph-first-reactions-christopher-nolans-epic-29075208\/\">undeniably conquered the box office<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In a record start for the <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/oscars\/\">Oscar<\/a>-winning director, The Odyssey has raked in $264.1million (\u00a3196m) worldwide this weekend, surpassing the $249m (\u00a3185m) opening of 2012\u2019s The Dark Knight Rises, which went on to become Nolan\u2019s highest-grossing film as it exceeded one billion.<\/p>\n<p>And the achievements don\u2019t cease there, as the filmmaker behind some of Hollywood\u2019s most ambitious titles has also secured his largest international opening by pulling in $139.6m (\u00a3104m) overseas.<\/p>\n<p>Such a figure puts it ahead of The Dark Knight Rises and Oppenheimer (2023) after landing in 73 territories and on 25,600 screens.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s more, The Odyssey becomes Nolan\u2019s biggest opener in 48 countries, including France, Italy, Brazil, and India, and sits just behind <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/deadpool\/\">Deadpool<\/a> &amp; Wolverine (2024) as the second-best for an R-rated movie abroad.<\/p>\n<div class=\"video-player\">\n<div class=\"video-player\">\n<div class=\"metro-video-player  \" data-track-module=\"article_video-player-with-related-carousel\">\n<div class=\"vjs-video-container vjs-fixed 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Nolan's mythic action epic The Odyssey releases 17 July 2026.&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;The Odyssey official new trailer&quot;,&quot;videoId&quot;:3646149}\" preload=\"metadata\" playsinline=\"\"><source src=\"https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2026\/05\/05\/476647991947016364\/480x270_MP4_476647991947016364.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"\/><p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbrowser that<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">supports HTML5<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo<\/a><\/p><\/video>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>So, in short, while based on one of the oldest works of literature, The Odyssey is dominating with 2026 cinemagoers.<\/p>\n<p>Having become Universal\u2019s biggest-ever opening in 11 markets, Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, president of distribution, said: \u2018With\u00a0The Odyssey, we had the extraordinary opportunity to unite moviegoers worldwide around a story that has resonated across cultures for centuries. <\/p>\n<p>\u2018Christopher Nolan\u2019s passion, vision and unique cinematic voice consistently drive anticipation and attendance on a truly global scale. He, alongside the force that is Emma Thomas, continues to set the standard for ambitious, event filmmaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The Odyssey\u00a0is that rare kind of movie that brings audiences together across every market in a shared cultural moment.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to such a strong debut, The Odyssey has already broken even, what with a colossal budget of $250m (\u00a3186m). Its marketing costs have been reported at $125m (\u00a393m), making a $375m total before the theatre cut, but after entering record-breaking territory within a mere two days, Nolan has every reason to assume there won\u2019t be any losses here.<\/p>\n<p>The Odyssey, which also stars <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/robert-pattinson\/\">Robert Pattinson<\/a>, <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/lupita-nyongo\/\">Lupita Nyong\u2019o<\/a>, and <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/charlize-theron\/\">Charlize Theron<\/a>, is the first movie to be shot entirely on\u00a0IMAX\u2019s\u00a070mm film\u00a0cameras.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"436\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI304297884-5191.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-29070462\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>With an all-star cast, the fantasy epic conquered the box office in its opening weekend (Picture: Gareth Cattermole\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It\u2019s received glowing feedback in its reviews, with critics lauding its \u2018boldness\u2019 and \u2018charismatic ensemble\u2019, declaring it a \u2018masterpiece\u2019 and the best release of the year thus far.<\/p>\n<p>The Daily Telegraph branded it a \u2018fearsome and trailblazing machine of a movie\u2019, The Independent hailed it as a \u2018blockbuster of literally unprecedented scale\u2019, while The <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/new-york\/\">New York<\/a> Times commended Nolan for \u2018turning a 3,000-year-old poem into a smart, thoughtful film with Old Hollywood allure\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>And in <strong>Metro<\/strong>\u2018s own five-star review, <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/17\/praised-odyssey-elon-musks-deluded-trolls-called-a-crazy-liberal-b-28895183\/\">Tori Brazier was full of compliments<\/a> for the \u2018gripping\u2019 silver screen retelling of a classic story, which, while an adaptation of Homer\u2019s poem about his perilous journey home following the Trojan War, still feels \u2018timeless\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Some omissions are made, as expected, but the film still honours and is faithful to the spirit of Homer\u2019s Odyssey,\u2019 she penned, adding: \u2018Nolan manages to reassert both the humanity and brutality of this story to bring something truly timeless to the big screen.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Release week hasn\u2019t proved without its obstacles for The Odyssey, though, as it has seemingly suffered unprecedented \u2018review-bombing\u2019 online.<\/p>\n<p>Sitting firmly among Nolan\u2019s most acclaimed works, The Odyssey has landed with a 95% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 88 on Metacritic.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tChristopher Nolan\u2019s The Odyssey will change cinema forever\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p><em><strong>Metro<\/strong>\u2018s Film Expert Tori Brazier writes:<\/em><\/p>\n<p>You can\u2019t really give writer-director Nolan the credit for such a rich story, but you can praise him for how he\u2019s telling it: the glimpses at the fantastical, the grounding in reality, the focus on the human reaction.<\/p>\n<p>He also keeps you guessing, even if you know The Odyssey, with how it\u2019s all going to end.<\/p>\n<p>It feels like there will be a \u2018before The Odyssey\u2019 and \u2018after The Odyssey\u2019 line drawn in cinema now, given how this film is going to relaunch interest in Greek mythology from a mainstream audience.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read the full review <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/15\/odyssey-review-christopher-nolans-epic-will-change-cinema-forever-29142345\/\">here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>There, it\u2019s been flooded with perfect reviews, securing five-star rankings galore and 10s on IMDb. Buried within, however, are a disproportionately large share of single-star reviews, with 37% giving it top marks on RT yet a jarring 13.9% slapping it with the lowest possible score.<\/p>\n<p>With practically no middle ground, it\u2019s been speculated that coordinated review bombing is occurring, which also hit Disney\u2019s 2023 live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, following criticism of Halle Bailey\u2019s Ariel casting.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, ahead of release, The Odyssey was met with backlash for its hiring choices.<\/p>\n<p>With Black Panther\u2019s Nyong\u2019o, 43, portraying the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Troy, certain X users (including Elon Musk himself) were up in arms, declaring that Nolan was \u2018p***ing on Homer\u2019s grave\u2019 with such a move.<\/p>\n<p>Some even called Nolan a \u2018coward\u2019 for casting her as \u2018the face that launched 1,000 ships\u2019 over a white woman, while others accused him of being hungry for awards.<\/p>\n<p><a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/05\/22\/lupita-nyongo-responds-racist-backlash-cast-helen-troy-28480419\/\">Responding to the racist criticism<\/a>, Nyong\u2019o reminded audiences that The Odyssey is a work of fiction: \u2018This is a mythological story.\u2019<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"528\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305321135-2e93.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-29155727\" alt=\"New York Premiere of &quot;The Odyssey&quot; Featuring: Lupita Nyong'o Where: New York, New York, United States When: 14 Jul 2026 Credit: Janet Mayer\/INSTARimages.com\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Lupita Nyong\u2019o\u2019s Helen of Troy casting sparked backlash from the likes of Elon Musk (Picture: Janet Mayer\/INSTARimages.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305293903-0ef6.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-29155749\" alt=\"NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 14: Elliot Page attends the New York premiere of \" the=\"\" odyssey=\"\" at=\"\" amc=\"\" lincoln=\"\" square=\"\" theater=\"\" on=\"\" july=\"\" in=\"\" new=\"\" york=\"\" city.=\"\" by=\"\" taylor=\"\" hill=\"\" images=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Nolan himself has been full of praise for Elliot Page, drowning out any transphobic comments (Picture: Taylor Hill\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>She added to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.elle.com\/culture\/movies-tv\/a71283989\/lupita-nyongo-the-odyssey-interview-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Elle<\/a>: \u2018I\u2019m very supportive of Chris\u2019 intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling. Our cast is representative of the world. I\u2019m not spending my time thinking of a defence. The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>The masculinity of Elliot Page was questioned, too, after he came out as a trans man in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>In The Odyssey, Page, 39, plays\u00a0Sinon, a Greek soldier and the son of a servant of Antinous, which ruffled the feathers of transphobic keyboard warriors.<\/p>\n<section class=\"metro-comment-cta\"\/>\n<p>But Nolan has stood firm, calling Page \u2018incredible\u2019 to work with, fiercely hitting back at the trolls.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We worked on\u00a0Inception\u00a0some years ago. I felt with his character in\u00a0The Odyssey, he brings something really special to it,\u2019 the director told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.co.uk\/film\/the-odyssey-interview-christopher-nolan-elliot-page-cyclops-62757\/\">Rolling Stone<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Because, in a way, you\u2019re looking to put a face on certain elements of what Odysseus has done, what that means for the world as a whole. You\u2019re looking to put a face on the tragedy of war. And I think he did an incredible job.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>So, regardless of any internet chatter or review sabotage, Nolan and his cast will keep laughing all the way to the bank.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>The Odyssey is in cinemas now.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/18\/tenet-christopher-nolans-underrated-movie-better-inception-29154167\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">Christopher Nolan\u2019s most underrated movie is much better than Inception<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/18\/matt-damon-shares-one-non-negotiable-rule-wife-never-broken-29168170\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">Matt Damon shares one \u2018non-negotiable\u2019 rule he and his wife have never broken<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/18\/odyssey-badly-needs-a-big-budget-video-game-adaptation-readers-feature-29166540\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">The Odyssey badly needs a big budget video game adaptation \u2013 Reader\u2019s Feature<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\"><a class=\"metro-button share-bar-comments\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Comment now<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-comment\" href=\"#social-comment\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" class=\"metro-button share-bar-preferred-source\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-preferred-source\" href=\"#social-preferred-source\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/section>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Odyssey has already proven to be one of Christopher Nolan\u2019s biggest successes (Picture: Universal Studios\/Melinda Sue Gordon) As his latest blockbuster, The Odyssey, continues to spark debate and even fury online, Sir Christopher Nolan has come out on top. Released into cinemas this week with a gold-star cast comprising Anne Hathaway, Matt Damon, Zendaya,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10981,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_305072151-6d20_1784487241.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1200&h=630&crop=1","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10980","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-gossip"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10980","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10980"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10980\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10981"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10980"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10980"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10980"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}