Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey has made cinema history, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. The film has earned $1.35 billion (£990 million) at the worldwide box office, surpassing the previous record holder, Deadpool & Wolverine, which stands at $1.34 billion.
An R-rating from the Motion Picture Association (MPA) requires moviegoers under the age of 17 to be accompanied by an adult. Because this restriction usually limits audience size and box office potential, achieving over a billion dollars is a rare milestone for adult-oriented films. The MPA gave The Odyssey an R-rating for violence and language. Internationally, the film received a 15 rating in the UK for strong violence and an M rating in Australia for mature themes.
Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, Tom Holland as Telemachus, and Anne Hathaway as Penelope, the film is now the most commercially successful project of Nolan’s career. It has passed his previous record holder, the 2012 superhero film The Dark Knight Rises, which earned $1.082 billion globally.
Although Deadpool & Wolverine remains ahead at the North American box office with $637 million compared to The Odyssey’s $516 million, Nolan’s film has drawn massive crowds overseas. The UK and Ireland generated $92.7 million, followed by France with $69.3 million, Italy with $55.6 million, and China with $36.3 million.
The Odyssey joins a small group of highly successful R-rated blockbusters, including Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker ($1.1 billion) and Nolan’s previous Oscar-winning historical drama Oppenheimer ($983 million). Ticket sales for The Odyssey could rise even further as it continues its theatrical run alongside Marvel's Spider-Man: Brand New Day.