--- title: IMAX Soars to $47 Million Global Weekend as Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey Delivers Strong Debut in China publisher: "IMAX" description: "Universal Pictures’ Mythic Action Epic Bows with $19.3 Million   across IMAX Previews and Opening Weekend — 53% of the Film’s Chinese Box Office to Date NEW YORK --(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 17, 2026-- On the heels of a record-shattering four consecutive weekends of $50 million -plus at the global box" canonical: "https://www.imax.com/pr/imax-soars-47-million-global-weekend-christopher-nolans-odyssey" date: 2026-08-17 last_updated: 2026-08-17 --- IMAX Soars to $47 Million Global Weekend as Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey Delivers Strong Debut in China ========================================================================================================== Mon, Aug 17, 2026 **_Universal Pictures’ Mythic Action Epic Bows with $19.3 Million_ _across IMAX Previews and Opening Weekend — 53% of the Film’s Chinese Box Office to Date_** NEW YORK\--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 17, 2026-- On the heels of a record-shattering four consecutive weekends of $50 million\-plus at the global box office, IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) continued its historic summer with $47 million in worldwide receipts — powered by a $13 million opening weekend for Christopher Nolan’s _The Odyssey_ in China. With a record-setting $6.3 million in IMAX sneak preview grosses already banked, Universal Pictures’ mythic action epic earned a total of $19.3 million in its IMAX China debut — good for a massive 53% of the film’s overall gross in the market on just 1% of total screens. The figures marked the biggest IMAX debut and market share ever for a Christopher Nolan film in China. “The Odyssey continues to be an IMAX box office phenomenon without precedent. We came just shy of our fifth consecutive weekend of $50 million\-plus at the global box office; prior to 2026, we’ve never had more than one $50 million weekend in an entire year,” said Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX. “With its strong debut, _The Odyssey_ has the potential to emerge as a cultural phenomenon in China as it has around the world, and we believe we have a lot of room yet to run in this market and across our global footprint.” The weekend results lifted _The Odyssey_ to $346.4 million grossed worldwide in IMAX — extending its formidable lead as the highest grossing IMAX release of all time — with IMAX screens accounting for 26% of the film’s global box office to date. Outside China, _The Odyssey_ delivered another $16 million internationally and $8 million in North America_. The Odyssey_ will continue its run on IMAX screens throughout the world through at least mid-September. With the strong debut of _The Odyssey_, IMAX China has already delivered its highest-grossing August ever, putting the Company on track for one of its highest grossing summer seasons ever in China. IMAX screens accounted for a record 94% of The Odyssey sneak previews in China, with virtually every IMAX screening at or near capacity. _The Odyssey_ — for which IMAX developed a next-generation film camera and state-of-the-art technology enabling sync sound — is the first theatrical release shot entirely with IMAX Film Cameras. Christopher Nolan and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema collaborated with IMAX to develop The Keighley, a next-generation IMAX Film Camera, along with a new sound blimp compatible with multiple IMAX Film Cameras, which together shot a total of 2.1 million feet of IMAX film in the making of _The Odyssey_. The Company’s $47 million global weekend was further buoyed by Sony Pictures’ _Spider-Man: Brand New Day_, which delivered $4.8 million in North America and select international markets for an overall total of $53 million to date in IMAX. Additionally, Muye Wen’s _Once Upon a Time in the Middle East_ debuted in China to $2.1 million in IMAX box office. **About IMAX Corporation** IMAX (NYSE: IMAX) is a global leader in entertainment technology, delivering immersive cinematic experiences through proprietary software, architecture, and projection systems. Filmmakers, studios, and artists worldwide use IMAX to connect with audiences at scale, making its network one of the most powerful platforms for blockbuster events and entertainment. Headquartered in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles, IMAX operates 1,876 systems across 91 countries and territories as of June 30, 2026. IMAX China Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, trades on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under stock code “1970.” IMAX and related marks are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. For more information, visit [**www.imax.com**](https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imax.com&esheet=54590478&newsitemid=20260817148459&lan=en-US&anchor=www.imax.com&index=1&md5=312be455f5cb7e29bbb128113d0e46dd). ![](https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=bwnews&sty=20260817148459r1&sid=acqr8&distro=nx&lang=en) View source version on businesswire.com: [https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260817148459/en/](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260817148459/en/) For additional information please contact: **Investors:** Jennifer Horsley [jhorsley@imax.com](mailto:jhorsley@imax.com) **Media:** [comms@imax.com](mailto:comms@imax.com) Source: IMAX