'The Odyssey' opens with $264.1 million globally, besting 'Oppenheimer' debut

Key Points:

• Christopher Nolan’s "The Odyssey" debuted with an estimated $124.5 million in domestic ticket sales and $139.6 million internationally, marking his best opening since 2012’s "The Dark Knight Rises" and surpassing "Oppenheimer."
• The film, a $250 million Universal production and one of the most expensive R-rated movies ever, was heavily promoted with a $125 million marketing budget and benefited from high demand for IMAX 70 mm screenings, which contributed significantly to ticket sales.
• "The Odyssey" attracted a broad audience demographic, with 59% male viewers, and received critical acclaim with a 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating and an "A" CinemaScore from audiences, despite some controversy over casting choices.
• IMAX reported record-breaking sales driven by the film, dedicating screens exclusively to "The Odyssey" for three weeks, and presales for the second weekend ranked among their top 10, indicating sustained interest.
• The film faces no immediate box office competition and is expected to have a strong, extended run, with the next major challenge coming from "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" on July 31.