Universal Pictures is bringing Christopher Nolan’s mythological epic The Odyssey back to more than 1,000 theaters across the United States and Canada beginning December 11, 2026. The limited holiday-season engagement will span all exhibition formats, including standard digital screens, Imax, and the highly sought-after Imax 70mm film projection, according to Variety.

The theatrical return follows a historic summer box office run that saw the three-hour historical drama gross $1.8 billion worldwide since its July 17 debut. By putting the film back into multiplexes and premium large-format auditoriums in mid-December, Universal is giving moviegoers another chance to experience the spectacle on the biggest screens possible while positioning the critically acclaimed blockbuster directly in the spotlight as the Academy Awards voting season intensifies.

A Historic $1.8 Billion Box Office Milestone

Produced by Nolan and Emma Thomas through their Syncopy banner, The Odyssey has rewritten the record books for both its studio and its director. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film has collected $626 million at the domestic box office and $1.175 billion internationally, establishing a global cumulative total of $1.8 billion.

In September, Universal announced that the movie had officially surpassed 2015’s Jurassic World globally to become the studio's highest-grossing release of all time.

For Nolan, the mythological adaptation marks the highest-grossing picture of his career, easily eclipsing the unadjusted $1.08 billion global total of his 2012 superhero finale, The Dark Knight Rises, as noted by TheWrap. It also achieved the biggest domestic opening weekend ever for a filmmaker whose prior movie won the Best Director Oscar. Despite its nearly three-hour runtime and adult-oriented narrative, The Odyssey claimed the title of the highest-grossing R-rated film in cinematic history, overtaking Marvel Studios' Deadpool & Wolverine.

Overseas, the feature continues to play in theaters and recently passed Furious 7 to become Universal’s top international earner ever. Domestically, it ranks as Universal's second-biggest North American earner behind Jurassic World (which grossed $652 million, or $653.4 million depending on studio tracking, per Deadline) and holds the No. 15 spot on the all-time domestic chart.

Globally, it stands as the second-biggest movie of 2026 behind Sony’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day. While The Hollywood Reporter places the film at No. 11 on the all-time global chart just behind Zootopia 2 ($1.87 billion), Deadline notes it ranks as the 10th highest-grossing MPA film worldwide. Fueled by The Odyssey alongside titles like The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Michael, Universal became the first studio in 2026 to cross $5 billion in global receipts, including $3 billion from international territories.

Imax 70mm Dominance and Technical Achievements

A massive share of the film's commercial power stems from audiences seeking out premium large-format screenings. The Odyssey made production history as the first narrative feature film shot entirely with Imax film cameras by cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema. That technical specification translated directly into ticket sales, with audiences packing specialized venues throughout the summer and early autumn.

According to corporate financial disclosures from IMAX, the blockbuster generated more than $550 million worldwide in Imax auditoriums alone—representing roughly 30 percent of the movie's entire global box office haul.

That figure makes The Odyssey the highest-grossing release in Imax history, propelling the exhibition company to a $712 million global box office haul during the third quarter of 2026 and helping drive more than 100 new Imax system signings year-to-date. The picture also set the record for the biggest domestic opening weekend in the 15-perf/70mm film format, demonstrating sustained audience appetite for celluloid projection.

Release Timing, Home Video, and Oscar Momentum

The December 11 theatrical re-issue follows an unconventional multi-platform rollout strategy. Rather than waiting to release the film on home entertainment platforms until after its theatrical life concludes, Universal scheduled the two-hour-and-52-minute epic to debut on Premium Video on Demand (PVOD), digital platforms, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, and DVD on November 17, according to Cosmic Book News.

Putting the movie back onto 1,000 theatrical screens less than a month after its home video debut underscores the studio's belief that physical media availability will not dampen demand for the theatrical Imax experience.

This is not the first time Universal has brought the film back for an encore; a limited Imax and Imax 70mm engagement took place in early October. However, the December 11 window is strategically timed for two major industry events. First, it secures valuable premium screens the weekend before the heavily anticipated holiday openings of Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three. Second, it refreshes the epic in the minds of guild members and Academy voters.

Based on Homer’s ancient Greek poem, the film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca fighting to return home and reclaim his throne following the decade-long Trojan War.

The ensemble cast features Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, and Jon Bernthal. Trade analysts expect the picture to contend across a dozen Academy Award categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Editing, Sound, Original Score, Casting, and multiple acting categories.

What Moviegoers Need to Know

For fans of Nolan's work, the winter calendar offers more than one opportunity to see his catalog on celluloid. In addition to the December return of The Odyssey, Nolan's 2006 thriller The Prestige is scheduled to return to Imax and 70mm film theaters on January 29, 2027, in celebration of its 20th anniversary.

Which theaters will screen the December engagement in Imax 70mm, and when do tickets go on sale?

While Universal confirmed that the December 11 re-release will span more than 1,000 theaters across the U.S. and Canada in all formats, the studio has not yet published a specific market-by-market breakdown of participating Imax 70mm venues or announced an official on-sale date for tickets.

Moviegoers should monitor local theater listings and the official Imax website for venue confirmations.

How long will the December theatrical re-release last?

Universal describes the December 11 engagement as a limited-time run. While an exact end date has not been disclosed, its hold on premium large-format auditoriums will likely face tight capacity constraints once Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three arrive in theaters the following weekend.

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