According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticketing computer network on Sunday, "The Odyssey" topped 10 million cumulative admissions that day. After drawing 301,247 viewers on Saturday alone to reach a cumulative 9,768,259 admissions, weekend crowds pushed the film past the 10 million mark.
"The Odyssey" crossed 9 million cumulative admissions on Jan. 31, its 27th day in theaters, then reached 10 million about a week later. Its pace to 9 million matched that of director Jang Hang-jun's "The Man Who Lives With the King." It was the first foreign film to pass 9 million admissions in South Korea in about four years, since "Avatar: The Way of Water" in 2022.
With that, "The Odyssey" became the year's second film to reach 10 million admissions after "The Man Who Lives With the King," and the first foreign film released this year to do so.
It is also a new record for Nolan himself. It is the second time one of his films has surpassed 10 million admissions in South Korea, after "Interstellar," which drew 10.38 million viewers following its 2014 release.
Nolan becomes the fourth foreign director to produce two or more 10-million-admission films in South Korea, following James Cameron with "Avatar" and "Avatar: The Way of Water," the Russo brothers with "Avengers: Age of Ultron," "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame," and Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee with "Frozen" and "Frozen 2."
Unlike those earlier cases, in which the 10-million milestones came from sequels in the same franchise, Nolan is the only foreign director to have two 10-million films from unrelated works, "Interstellar" and "The Odyssey."
Among South Korean directors, five have helmed two or more 10-million films, including unrelated works: Bong Joon-ho ("The Host," "Parasite"), Choi Dong-hoon ("The Thieves," "Assassination"), Yoon Je-kyoon ("Haeundae," "Ode to My Father"), Kim Yong-hwa ("Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds," "Along With the Gods: The Last 49 Days") and Lee Sang-yong ("The Roundup: No Way Out," "The Roundup: Punishment").
"The Odyssey" is based on Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey." It depicts the decade-long journey of Odysseus (Matt Damon), the hero of the Trojan War, back to his home in Ithaca after the war ends.
The film condenses the sprawling narrative of the original text, making the story easy to follow even for viewers unfamiliar with Greek mythology. Its status as the first film in cinema history shot entirely with IMAX cameras, delivering overwhelming visuals, is also cited as a factor in its box-office success.
