Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" is now the highest-grossing international film in the history of the Korean box office. Variety reported exclusively that the Universal release had collected KRW139.2 billion (about $101.5 million) as of Oct. 11, putting it ahead of "Avatar: The Way of Water" when measured in local currency.
Only two domestic titles have earned more. Jang Hang-jun's "The King's Warden" holds the all-time crown this year with KRW153.2 billion ($111.7 million). Lee Byeong-heon's 2019 comedy "Extreme Job" sits narrowly above Nolan's film at KRW139.6 billion ($101.8 million).
A run of firsts for Nolan and Universal
Admissions have reached 12 million, which Variety equates to roughly a quarter of the national population. No other international film has crossed 10 million this year. The film also stayed in first place for seven consecutive weekends, the longest such stretch for an international title there.
It is Nolan's biggest film in the market and the biggest Universal release as well. On premium formats it leads too: Variety said no film released there has sold more tickets across Imax and Dolby Cinema screens, and Imax showings sold out without a break through the fifth week, the longest sellout run on record. The film is in its 10th week on Imax screens, so that total is still climbing.
The film passed 10 million admissions in 33 days, quicker than any non-franchise international title. It was also the first international film with a 15+ rating to hit that mark and the first August opening of any kind to do so. Nolan becomes the first director with two non-franchise international films above 10 million admissions in the market.
Demand before opening day
Interest was strong well ahead of release. According to Variety, the film recorded the year's best advance sales and topped presales for 43 straight days through Sept. 14, the longest streak of 2026's releases. Separately, it had ranked as the top international title at the box office for 40 days running as of Sept. 13, also described as a record.
Promotion and word of mouth
The local publicity push produced several post-pandemic highs, per Variety. The press conference for the visiting delegation drew 209 journalists, the largest crowd for a tour of this kind since the pandemic. A premiere event hosted by exhibitor CGV received 32,411 applications, a ratio of 463 to 1 and the most the chain has ever logged for such an event. The delegation made 11 appearances on television shows and online programs, and the tour's Cine21 Master Talk topped 1 million views, a series high.
Pop figures helped. Variety named BTS member Jungkook, TXT's Soobin and members of Riize among the artists who recommended the film unprompted, driving social media chatter. Variety estimated that content made voluntarily by influencers and YouTubers produced about KRW1.27 billion (roughly $1 million) in earned media value, and books tied to the film sold 30 times as many copies after release.
Nolan also became the first international film director to appear on the country's non-drama buzzworthiness ranking, a list typically occupied by local TV personalities and entertainers. Each new release of Imax tickets, Variety added, strained CGV's servers before selling out again.
Why it matters
The numbers suggest an original, non-franchise film can still behave like an event, especially when premium screens, an organized tour and organic fan endorsements all point the same way. With the film still playing on Imax, its totals may yet move closer to the two domestic films ahead of it.
Reporting sources: Variety, “Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Overtakes ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ as Korea’s Biggest International Film of All Time (EXCLUSIVE)”.