Nolan's "The Odyssey" tops "Deadpool & Wolverine" as biggest R-rated hit

Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" has become the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, crossing USD 1.352 billion at the worldwide box office.

The film, an adaptation of Homer's epic poem, surpassed "Deadpool & Wolverine," which had held the record with USD 1.338 billion since 2024, according to Variety.

"The Odyssey," the first movie shot entirely on IMAX cameras, released in theaters July 17 and has continued to dominate the box office despite competition from another summer release, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day."

The film has earned USD 516 million domestically and USD 835 million internationally, a rare feat for an R-rated drama set in the ancient past. It is only the third R-rated movie, after "Deadpool & Wolverine" and "Joker," to cross USD 1 billion in revenue.

"The Odyssey" is also the biggest hit of Nolan's career, surpassing his 2012 film "The Dark Knight Rises," which earned USD 1.08 billion.

The film has sparked renewed public interest in Greek mythology since its release. It stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Ithacan king on a decade-long journey home after the Trojan War, with Anne Hathaway as his wife Penelope and Tom Holland as their son Telemachus, fending off suitors vying for the throne in his absence. The ensemble cast includes Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Elliot Page, Jon Bernthal and John Leguizamo.