Box-office highlights
- The ‘Odyssey‘ delivered Ster-Kinekor’s biggest IMAX opening weekend since 2019
- Sold-out screenings were recorded across several of the exhibitor’s nine IMAX cinemas
- The film earned $263.5 million worldwide in its opening weekend, recovering its reported production budget in three days
- Outside Ster-Kinekor, it became 2026’s biggest live-action opening, overtook It’s R-rated debut and outperformed Oppenheimer’s opening weekend
- The record weekend builds momentum ahead of Thuso Mbedu’s South African-shot ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ debuting in IMAX in January 2027
Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey‘ has delivered South Africa’s biggest IMAX cinema weekend in years, giving the local industry another major box-office milestone.
The record-breaking opening at Ster-Kinekor shows audiences are still turning out for premium big-screen experiences, reinforcing that the South African film sector is well and truly alive.
Across the exhibitor’s nine IMAX sites, moviegoers packed cinemas and sold out multiple screenings as Nolan’s latest epic dominated both local and international box-office charts.
The Odyssey delivers Ster-Kinekor’s biggest IMAX opening since 2019
Ster-Kinekor confirmed that ‘The Odyssey‘, filmed entirely with IMAX cameras, recorded the exhibitor’s biggest IMAX opening weekend since 2019.
Chief Marketing Officer Lynne Wylie said the release ranks among the company’s strongest IMAX performers, alongside blockbuster titles including Avengers: ‘Infinity War‘, ‘Avengers: Endgame‘ and ‘The Lion King‘.
The unprecedented turnout reflects renewed confidence in the cinema experience, with sold-out screenings reported across several IMAX sites during the opening weekend.
The Odyssey breaks global box-office records
Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway and Zendaya, ‘The Odyssey‘ adapts Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem, following the king of Ithaca on his perilous 10-year journey home after the Trojan War.
According to Rotten Tomatoes’ weekend box-office analysis, the film earned $263.5 million worldwide during its opening weekend, surpassing its reported $250 million production budget in just three days.
The blockbuster became 2026’s biggest live-action opening, overtook Stephen King’s ‘It‘ to claim the fourth-biggest R-rated opening ever and secured the third-biggest opening of Christopher Nolan’s career, behind only ‘The Dark Knight‘ and ‘The Dark Knight Rises‘.
It also surpassed Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer‘ opening weekend, with the Oscar-winning 2023 film ultimately going on to earn $975 million worldwide.
In North America alone, ‘The Odyssey’ generated $124.5 million, making it the year’s third-biggest opening behind ‘Toy Story 5‘ and ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie‘ despite its R rating.
Internationally, the UK and Ireland led overseas markets, while opening weekend screenings sold out at London’s BFI IMAX as fans queued from midnight to secure seats.
The film has also already outgrossed the combined worldwide earnings of ‘Supergirl’ and ‘Masters of the Universe‘, underlining its remarkable early momentum.
Also read: The Polygamist climbed Netflix’s global chart.
South African cinemas ride the box-office wave
The record-breaking success of ‘The Odyssey’ comes as South Africa prepares for another global cinema milestone.
Arriving in IMAX on January 15, 2027, ‘Children of Blood and Bone‘ was filmed entirely across South Africa and stars acclaimed South African actress Thuso Mbedu as Zélie Adebola.
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the fantasy epic also features the Woman King lead star Viola Davis, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Cynthia Erivo, placing South African talent and locations before a worldwide audience once again.
Together, The Odyssey‘s historic opening and South Africa’s growing role in major international productions point to a bright future for cinemas and filmmaking both locally and around the world.
For more South African entertainment news, film reviews and cinema updates, visit the NOWinSA Film & TV NewsDesk.
