Odyssey Crosses 2 Million Viewers in Korea in 6 Days

Blue-lit theater interior evoking the mood of an ancient epic film screening

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As of August 11, 2026, Christopher Nolan's new film 'Odyssey' has crossed 2 million admissions at South Korean theaters. The film, released on August 5, hit that mark in just six days — faster than it took Nolan's previous film, the atomic-bomb drama that topped 3 million admissions, to reach the same milestone.

2,006,344Odyssey's cumulative admissions as of 6 a.m. on August 10

6 daysTime to reach 2 million admissions after release

1,333,568Odyssey's admissions over its opening weekend (Aug. 7-9)

72.1%Odyssey's seat occupancy rate as of August 9

Key points

'Odyssey' opened on August 5 and passed 2 million cumulative admissions by early morning on August 10 — just six days later.
It's the fourth foreign film to cross the 2-million mark at Korean theaters this year.
More than 1.33 million people saw it during its first three-day weekend, putting it neck-and-neck with a new Marvel release that opened the same week.
It also outsold that rival on seat occupancy rate, posting strong numbers despite running on fewer screens.

According to figures from the Korean Film Council's (KOFIC) integrated box-office network — the government-run system that tracks real-time ticket sales at every theater nationwide — 'Odyssey' blew past the 2-million mark over the weekend. That's six days faster than it took Nolan's previous film, the true-story atomic-bomb drama that eventually drew 3.23 million admissions, to hit the same number, a sign the director's pull with Korean audiences hasn't faded.

The most striking part of the run has been its head-to-head with a new Marvel release that opened around the same time. Early on, the two films were separated by as few as 20,000 admissions, but 'Odyssey' pulled ahead decisively over the weekend. It did so while running on fewer screens than its rival, which made its lead in seat occupancy rate — the share of available seats actually sold — all the more notable to industry watchers.

Korean theaters have been flooded with major foreign releases this year, and 'Odyssey' is already the fourth film to cross 2 million admissions, joining a pack led by the new Marvel movie, with an animated sequel and a space sci-fi title also in the mix. That makes this milestone especially significant — it was earned in one of the most crowded blockbuster seasons Korean theaters have seen in years.

The film follows a hero who, having led the Greeks to victory in the Trojan War, tries to make his way home while facing the wrath of the gods — a big-screen take on the ancient epic. Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland lead the cast, and word of mouth has centered on the film's massive scale and visual craft.

In Korea right nowIn Korea, moviegoers are buzzing about having two blockbusters competing at once, which has given theaters a rare summer boost. The two films drew a combined 3 million-plus admissions over a single three-day weekend, and online communities have been joking about the 'happy dilemma' of deciding which to watch first. Many fans are chasing Nolan's signature immersive visuals on the biggest screen possible, driving fierce competition for seats in IMAX and other premium formats.

FAQ

What is 'Odyssey' about?

It's a modern big-screen adaptation of the ancient epic following Trojan War hero Odysseus as he tries to return home while facing the gods' wrath.

Who stars in the film?

Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland lead the cast.

How does Korea track official box-office numbers?

South Korea's Korean Film Council (KOFIC) runs an integrated ticketing network that logs real-time admissions from theaters nationwide, producing the country's official box-office data.