Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is preparing for a massive launch in China, where the film will open on more than 20,000 screens across the mainland on August 14. The rollout includes roughly 90% of China’s IMAX screens, giving Nolan’s epic one of the widest theatrical launches in the market.
Ahead of the nationwide opening, presales and preview screenings have already generated RMB 91 million, or about $13.5 million, according to Variety. Maoyan Pro is forecasting an opening-day gross of approximately RMB 70.4 million, or $10.4 million.
Nolan’s Epic Arrives in China After Crossing $1 Billion
The China release comes at an already remarkable point in the film’s theatrical run.
The Odyssey recently surpassed $1 billion at the worldwide box office, making it another major global success for Nolan.
The film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the legendary king of Ithaca attempting to return home after the Trojan War. The ensemble also includes Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o and Charlize Theron.
IMAX Is a Major Part of the Story
China could be particularly important for The Odyssey because of Nolan’s longstanding connection with IMAX.
The movie is the first narrative feature filmed entirely with IMAX cameras, making premium-format screenings a central part of how the film has been marketed and experienced around the world.
That makes the scale of the Chinese IMAX rollout especially notable. Earlier reports said the film was preparing to reach nearly the entire IMAX network in mainland China when it opened there.
From a 3,000-Year-Old Poem to a Global Blockbuster
Nolan’s adaptation is based on Homer’s ancient epic, a story nearly 3,000 years old.
Yet the film has turned that ancient tale into one of the biggest theatrical events of 2026.
Its original global opening brought in approximately $264 million, the largest worldwide debut of Nolan’s career.
Now all eyes are on China.
With more than 20,000 screens, extraordinary access to IMAX theaters and millions of dollars already committed through advance ticket sales, the August 14 launch could add another major chapter to The Odyssey’s already historic box-office journey.
Source: Variety; Variety (@Variety) on X, August 13, 2026.
By NJ RADAR Team
[…] face a smaller potential audience than PG-13 blockbusters. Despite that restriction, “The Odyssey” has developed into one of the biggest theatrical events of […]