AceShowbiz - Odyssey, The is off to a record-breaking start, generating $17.6 million from Thursday night preview screenings, Superherohype reports. This marks the biggest Thursday preview opening of 2026, surpassing the previous high set by Toy Story 5 with $17.5 million. The early surge highlights strong audience anticipation for Christopher Nolan’s latest film.

Deadline adds that the film’s impressive preview haul also contributes to projections of an opening weekend in the $90 million to $100 million range. The movie is expected to earn roughly $117 million over its first three days in the U.S., opening in 3,919 theaters nationwide. It is poised to claim the top live-action domestic opening of 2026, surpassing Lionsgate’s Michael, which debuted at $97.2 million. Furthermore, The Odyssey is forecasted to set a new Universal Pictures record for the highest R-rated opening weekend, beating Fifty Shades of Grey’s $85.1 million.

Christopher Nolan is directing this ambitious action-drama adaptation of Greek mythology, featuring a star-studded cast including Matt Damon, Zendaya, Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway. The film runs close to three hours and carries an R rating, factors that often curb audience size, yet recent trends show R-rated movies by acclaimed filmmakers or major franchises performing strongly. The Odyssey’s $250 million budget and its creative ties to Nolan’s previous blockbuster trilogy, especially The Dark Knight Rises, underscore its scale and high expectations. AceShowbiz previously covered the overwhelming ticket presales and the film’s record-breaking initial sales at the BFI IMAX in the UK, where it more than doubled the previous record held by Dune: Part Two.

This record-setting preview performance signals The Odyssey’s potential to be Christopher Nolan’s biggest U.S. opening since 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises. It also sets the stage for a strong box office run ahead of anticipated competition arriving weeks later. The strong start reflects both the director’s enduring box office draw and the audience’s appetite for high-profile, adult-oriented event films in the summer landscape.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Superherohype.