How ‘The Odyssey’ Hit a 10 Million Box Office Milestone in Korea
SEOUL, South Korea — Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has sailed past a major box-office milestone in South Korea, crossing 10 million admissions just 33 days after its August 5 release.
The film reached the landmark at around 4 p.m. Sunday, September 6, according to distributor Universal Pictures Korea, making it the second movie released in South Korea this year to surpass 10 million admissions.
The achievement is particularly significant in a Korean market where 10 million admissions is widely regarded as a benchmark for blockbuster success.
Nolan scores his second 10-million hit in Korea
“The Odyssey” is now Christopher Nolan’s second film to surpass 10 million admissions in South Korea, following his 2014 science-fiction epic “Interstellar,” which eventually recorded about 10.38 million admissions.
“The Odyssey” reached the benchmark substantially faster, hitting 10 million in 33 days compared with “Interstellar’s” much longer theatrical run. Korean reports noted that the new film reached the milestone 14 days faster than Nolan’s earlier 10-million-admission title.
The result places Nolan among a relatively small group of directors whose films have repeatedly achieved the 10-million mark in the Korean market.
A rare achievement for a Hollywood film
The milestone is even more notable because imported films have historically found it difficult to reach Korea’s 10-million-admission threshold.
“The Odyssey” is the first foreign film in four years to cross the mark, following “Avatar: The Way of Water.” It is also the 10th foreign movie to reach 10 million admissions in South Korea.
Overall, “The Odyssey” became the 35th film released in Korea to reach 10 million admissions, according to Korean reports.
For 2026, however, it remains behind Korean blockbuster “The King’s Warden,” which had already reached approximately 16.92 million admissions.
The Nolan effect started from opening day
The film's Korean success was apparent almost immediately.
On its August 5 opening day, “The Odyssey” attracted 291,359 moviegoers, accounting for 44.8 percent of that day's ticket sales, according to Korean Film Council data reported by Yonhap News Agency.
It subsequently took the top position on the Korean weekend box office, recording more than 1.87 million cumulative admissions after its first weekend.
The movie maintained that momentum for weeks, eventually reaching the 10-million mark while continuing to dominate the Korean box office.
IMAX helped drive the phenomenon
Another major part of the film's Korean performance has been its premium-format appeal.
“The Odyssey” was filmed entirely using IMAX film cameras, making large-format screenings an important part of its theatrical presentation.
By September 5, more than 1.1 million South Korean moviegoers had watched the film in IMAX, surpassing the country's previous IMAX admissions record of approximately 929,000 set by “Avatar: The Way of Water.”
That strong demand for premium screenings has contributed to the perception of “The Odyssey” as a major theatrical experience rather than simply another Hollywood release.
More than a box-office story
The film's impact in Korea has also extended beyond ticket sales.
According to regional reporting, the popularity of Nolan's adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic has sparked increased interest in Greek mythology, classical literature and related cultural exhibitions.
That cultural curiosity adds another dimension to the movie's performance: audiences are not only turning out in large numbers but are also engaging with the ancient story that inspired the film.
Global success adds to the Korean milestone
The Korean achievement comes as “The Odyssey” continues to perform strongly internationally.
Deadline reported that the film has surpassed $1 billion in international box-office revenue, while other reports have placed its worldwide gross at roughly $1.6 billion.
The film has therefore become a major commercial success for Nolan, with South Korea emerging as one of its strongest overseas markets.
Why Korea matters for Nolan
South Korea has developed into a particularly important market for Christopher Nolan.
“Interstellar” became a phenomenon there after its 2014 release, eventually passing 10 million admissions. More than a decade later, “The Odyssey” has demonstrated that the director retains an unusually strong connection with Korean moviegoers.
The latest milestone also highlights the continuing appeal of large-scale theatrical filmmaking at a time when cinemas around the world have been working to rebuild audiences.
For “The Odyssey,” the voyage through Korean theaters has already produced a historic result.
Ten million admissions later, Nolan has done something few Hollywood filmmakers can claim: he has turned two different films into 10-million-admission events in South Korea. And with the film still generating strong interest, its Korean box-office journey may not be over yet.