IMAX Corporation (NYSE: IMAX) delivered the strongest month in its 50-plus-year history during July, generating $257 million in global box office revenue, a figure that exceeded its previous monthly record by 47%. Driving the historic performance was Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which has already earned $221 million through IMAX theatres worldwide.
The epic adventure remained a major box office force in its third weekend, bringing in $44.7 million across the IMAX network. The achievement made The Odyssey the quickest film ever to reach $200 million in IMAX box office sales, while also helping IMAX record three straight weekends of more than $50 million in global box office revenue for the first time.
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IMAX has been a significant contributor to the film’s success, accounting for more than 24% of its worldwide theatrical revenue. The film has also become the first title in IMAX history to post multiple weekends with more than $40 million in global IMAX ticket sales.
The film has already secured a place among the company’s biggest successes. The Odyssey is now the highest-grossing IMAX release ever associated with Christopher Nolan and ranks as the third-largest IMAX release of all time. With upcoming openings in key markets such as China, Japan, and South Korea, the film’s strong momentum appears far from over.
Audience interest remains exceptionally high. IMAX reported nearly $60 million in advance ticket sales, with many showings sold out well ahead of their scheduled dates. As a result, The Odyssey is expected to remain on IMAX screens globally through at least September 17.
In North America, the blockbuster generated $22.1 million from 443 IMAX theatres, representing 43% of the film’s domestic box office total. Overseas, it earned $22.6 million from 450 IMAX locations, accounting for 26% of its international gross.
The film has already become the top-grossing IMAX release in 24 territories, including Mexico, Italy, Belgium, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and India.
A key factor behind the film’s premium-screen appeal has been IMAX 70mm Film, widely regarded as the format’s premier presentation. Available in just 41 theatres worldwide, the format generated $5.1 million during the weekend, averaging roughly $673,000 per location. To date, IMAX 70mm screenings have produced $27.6 million globally, representing approximately 12% of the film’s total IMAX revenue.
Many of these locations have extended engagements into mid-September amid continued sellouts and strong demand.
Beyond its financial achievements, The Odyssey also marks a major technological breakthrough. It is the first feature film shot entirely with IMAX Film Cameras, utilizing new technology created specifically for the production.
To make that possible, Christopher Nolan and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema worked alongside IMAX engineers to develop The Keighley, a next-generation IMAX camera system. The collaboration also resulted in a new sound-blimp technology capable of recording synchronized audio while operating multiple IMAX cameras, overcoming long-standing challenges associated with large-format filmmaking.
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