AceShowbiz - The Odyssey is off to a historic start, raking in $17.6 million from Thursday night preview screenings, Superherohype reports. This haul marks the highest Thursday night preview total of 2026, edging past the previous record of $17.5 million held by Toy Story 5.

Deadline also confirms that this strong preview performance is a sign of a blockbuster opening weekend ahead, with projections estimating domestic earnings between $90 million and $117 million across nearly 4,000 theaters. The film is expected to secure the biggest live-action opening of the year so far, surpassing the $97.2 million debut of Lionsgate’s Michael. Deadline notes that The Odyssey is on track to deliver the highest opening weekend for Matt Damon as a leading man, besting his previous record from The Bourne Ultimatum in 2007. Winteriscoming adds that advance ticket sales have been exceptionally strong, especially for premium formats like IMAX and 70mm screenings, which made up about 58% of the preview revenue.

Odyssey, The is an ambitious retelling of Greek mythology directed by acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan. Featuring an ensemble cast including Matt Damon, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, and Jon Bernthal, the nearly three-hour R-rated film has drawn considerable attention for both its scale and critical reception, holding a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Its estimated $250 million budget and Nolan’s influence from his previous large-scale projects underscore the film’s high stakes in the box office race.

This record-breaking preview signals that R-rated tentpole films, especially those helmed by directors with strong fan bases, continue to defy expectations and perform robustly. With limited immediate competition until the mid-August release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey is poised to cement itself as one of Christopher Nolan’s most successful openings since The Dark Knight Rises in 2012, reinforcing his reputation for delivering both critical and commercial hits.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Superherohype.