The Odyssey returns Dec. 11, just $69M behind Disney’s Zootopia 2

Universal is putting Christopher Nolan’s epic back in about 1,000 U.S. and Canadian theaters on Dec. 11, including IMAX 70mm. At $1.801 billion worldwide, it sits No. 11 all time, about $69 million behind Disney’s Zootopia 2.

Odysseus took 10 years to get home. Christopher Nolan’s version keeps finding its way back to theaters.

Universal will return The Odyssey to about 1,000 theaters in the U.S. and Canada for a limited time starting Friday, Dec. 11, including IMAX and IMAX 70mm screens, TheWrap reported Thursday, Nov. 5. DiscussingFilm called it a return “for awards season” on X.

That puts it in theaters one weekend before Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three, which both open Dec. 18.

The movie has made $1,801,168,284 worldwide on a $250 million budget, according to The Numbers. That’s No. 11 on the all-time worldwide chart.

No. 10 is Disney’s Zootopia 2, at $1,870,309,291. Our math puts the gap at about $69 million. A few more weeks on giant screens can’t hurt.

When does The Odyssey return to theaters?

Dec. 11, in about 1,000 theaters across North America. Universal hasn’t said how long the run will last. Collider reported that depends on how many people show up.

This is the movie’s second encore. The Odyssey opened July 17 and held onto premium screens through Sept. 30, Total Film reported. Its first IMAX and 70mm return ran Oct. 9 to 31.

Where can you see The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm?

Not many places. Axios counted just 26 U.S. theaters that could show it in IMAX 70mm when it opened, including five in the Los Angeles area. TheWrap put the global count at 41 locations.

Universal hasn’t said which IMAX 70mm screens get the Dec. 11 run, so check your local IMAX listings before you plan a road trip.

How much has The Odyssey made at the box office?

• Worldwide: $1.801 billion

• Domestic: $625.6 million

• International: $1.176 billion

• IMAX alone: a record $550 million, TheWrap reported

TheWrap said it’s Universal’s highest-grossing movie ever, passing Jurassic World’s $1.67 billion. It also passed Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine as the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. Sorry, Wade.

It’s also Nolan’s biggest movie, even after adjusting The Dark Knight Rises for inflation, TheWrap said.

IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond called it “a historic cinematic achievement crafted entirely with Imax technology” as IMAX reported earnings Thursday, TheWrap reported. The Odyssey made up about 77% of IMAX’s record $712 million global box office for the third quarter.

Can you watch The Odyssey at home?

Yes, soon. It hits digital and 4K Ultra HD on Nov. 17, Nerdist reported. Total Film said premium video on demand and DVD land the same day.

That means you can own it more than three weeks before it comes back to theaters. Universal is betting fans would rather see Odysseus on a screen several stories tall.

Is The Odyssey OK for kids?

It’s rated R and runs 173 minutes, Collider noted. That’s a lot of ancient Greece for little ones.

Matt Damon plays Odysseus, with Anne Hathaway as Penelope. Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, John Leguizamo, Himesh Patel and Samantha Morton co-star.

Families who want Greek heroes with a G rating have Disney’s Hercules on Disney+. Back in July, we looked at how Disney almost made an animated Odyssey before it made Hercules instead.

For a December family movie night in theaters, Avengers: Doomsday opens a week after The Odyssey’s return.

Is The Odyssey an Oscar contender?

TheWrap expects it to compete for Best Picture and Best Director, among about a dozen categories.

It named Damon, Holland, Hathaway, Leguizamo and Pattinson as possible acting contenders. Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema could land his third nomination, TheWrap said. The Odyssey was the first movie shot entirely with IMAX cameras.

Universal’s whole 2026 slate is having a moment, too. With The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Michael, its movies have passed $5 billion worldwide this year, TheWrap reported.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• TheWrap (Nov. 5, 2026), the Dec. 11 return, theater count, formats, records, awards outlook and Universal’s 2026 total

• The Numbers (Nov. 5, 2026), the worldwide, domestic and international grosses, budget and all-time chart

• DiscussingFilm on X (Nov. 5, 2026), the tip and “awards season” framing, as quoted by Comic Basics

• Collider (Nov. 5, 2026), the open-ended run, rating and runtime

• Total Film (Nov. 5, 2026), the earlier runs and home release formats, citing Deadline

• TheWrap (Nov. 5, 2026), IMAX earnings and Rich Gelfond’s quote

• Nerdist (Aug. 21, 2026), the Nov. 17 digital and 4K date

• TheWrap (Oct. 6, 2026), the October IMAX and 70mm return

• Axios (July 23, 2026), the count of U.S. IMAX 70mm theaters

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