Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has proven to be a massive draw for moviegoers, breaking various records worldwide and in South Africa.
It also broke IMAX records in South Africa while also delivering one of the biggest global box office debuts in recent years. The film, which was shot entirely with IMAX film cameras, has become Ster-Kinekor’s biggest IMAX opening weekend since 2019, highlighting the continued demand for premium cinema experiences.
According to Ster-Kinekor, audiences packed IMAX cinemas across the country over the opening weekend, with numerous screenings selling out. The achievement marks the exhibitor’s strongest IMAX launch since blockbuster releases such as Avengers: Endgame and The Lion King in 2019.
The success wasn’t limited to South Africa. According to figures from Exhibitor Relations, The Odyssey earned an impressive $263.5 million worldwide during its opening weekend, surpassing the film’s reported $250 million production budget in just three days. The remarkable debut immediately places Nolan’s latest epic among the biggest global box office launches in recent memory.
For Ster-Kinekor, the performance is another reminder that audiences continue to turn out for major theatrical events, especially when filmmakers create movies designed specifically for the big screen.
“The Odyssey opening weekend officially ranks as one of the best-performing IMAX titles on opening weekend in Ster-Kinekor’s history,” said Lynne Wylie, Chief Marketing Officer of Ster-Kinekor Theatres.
One of the biggest reasons behind the film’s success is how it was made. Unlike many modern blockbusters that simply receive an IMAX release, The Odyssey was filmed entirely using IMAX film cameras, allowing viewers to experience expanded aspect ratios, exceptional image quality and a greater level of detail than traditional cinema presentations.
The larger image, combined with IMAX’s immersive sound system, gives audiences a presentation much closer to Christopher Nolan’s original vision. It is also one of the reasons many fans have specifically sought out IMAX screenings, with several performances selling out during opening weekend.
Ster-Kinekor believes the film showcases exactly why premium cinema experiences continue to attract audiences despite the rise of streaming platforms.
“With a list of blockbuster titles releasing across IMAX and Ster-Kinekor’s other cinema formats, there really is no better time than now to be watching these incredible movies as the directors made them to be seen – on the big screen with surround sound in the magic of a darkened cinema,” Wylie said.
The record-breaking weekend also sends a strong message about the health of cinemas. While streaming remains popular, event films like The Odyssey continue to demonstrate that audiences are willing to leave home for experiences that simply cannot be replicated in a living room.
With its record-setting South African IMAX debut, enormous worldwide box office performance and overwhelming audience demand, The Odyssey has already established itself as one of the biggest cinematic events of 2026. For anyone still deciding whether to see the film, the numbers make a compelling case that this is one adventure best experienced on the biggest screen possible.
