Nolan's “Odyssey” passes 12 million admissions in South Korea, 19th all-time
In short
Christopher Nolan's “Odyssey” passed 12 million cumulative admissions in South Korea, with figures released on Oct 5 putting the total at about 12.027 million, according to the KOBIS ticketing network and distributor Universal Pictures. That moved it past “Exhuma” and “Train to Busan” to 19th on Korea's all-time box office list and fifth among foreign releases. The film, released Aug 5, reached 10 million admissions in 33 days, Nolan's second film to do so after “Interstellar”.
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Christopher Nolan's film “Odyssey” passed 12 million cumulative admissions in South Korea, according to figures released on Oct 5. The KOBIS integrated ticketing network, cited by Chosun Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo, put cumulative admissions at 12,027,021 as of 00:11 that day. Distributor Universal Pictures, cited by Yonhap, Asia Economy and Maeil Business, put the total at about 12.027 million. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
The total carried the film past “Exhuma” (11.91 million) and “Train to Busan” (11.57 million) into 19th place on Korea's all-time box office list, according to Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo. Among foreign releases it ranks fifth, behind titles including “Avatar” (13.62 million) and “Avengers: Endgame” (13.97 million), Yonhap reported. Chosun Ilbo also noted that it passed “Avengers: Infinity War”, which finished with 11.23 million admissions. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
“Odyssey” was released on Aug 5 and passed 10 million admissions 33 days later, on Sept 6. Hankook Ilbo, Yonhap and Asia Economy all describe it as Nolan's second 10-million film in Korea after “Interstellar” (2014), with Hankook Ilbo adding that it is the first foreign 10-million film in four years, since “Avatar: The Way of Water”. Chosun Ilbo reported that the 12 million mark came 62 days after release. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
The film is based on Homer's epic and follows Odysseus's journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War, a voyage Hankook Ilbo describes as lasting 10 years. Yonhap, Asia Economy and Maeil Business report that it was shot entirely with IMAX film cameras, the first feature film to be made that way, which they link to heavy booking competition for special-format screens when it opened. Matt Damon plays Odysseus, with Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o and Charlize Theron in the cast. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Two months after release the film was still selling tickets. Yonhap and Asia Economy reported it ranked third in overall advance ticket sales as of the morning of Oct 5, and Hankook Ilbo said it recorded the longest consecutive run at No. 1 of any foreign film released this year. Maeil Business, describing Universal Pictures as belonging to Comcast, wrote that additional revenue from the long run could support earnings and that competition for screens between special-format demand and new releases in general theatres is the key to how long the run continues. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Why it matters
The film is now the fifth-highest-grossing foreign release in Korean box-office history and, per Hankook Ilbo and Yonhap, the only foreign film to pass 10 million admissions in Korea this year. Maeil Business writes that continued long-run ticket sales could add revenue for distributor Universal Pictures. Local business outlets say how long the run continues depends on how screens are allocated between special-format screenings and new releases in general theatres.
Key facts
- Cumulative admissions for “Odyssey” stood at 12,027,021 in the KOBIS tally taken at 00:11 on Oct 5, while distributor Universal Pictures put the figure at about 12.027 million. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The total passed “Exhuma” (11.91 million) and “Train to Busan” (11.57 million), placing it 19th among all films released in Korea. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Among foreign releases it ranks fifth all-time in Korea, behind titles including “Avatar” (13.62 million) and “Avengers: Endgame” (13.97 million), per Yonhap. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Released on Aug 5, the film reached 10 million admissions in 33 days — Nolan's second 10-million film after “Interstellar” (2014) and the first foreign release of the year to reach that mark. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- It was shot entirely with IMAX film cameras, the first feature film made that way, which Yonhap and Asia Economy cite behind demand for special-format screenings. [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Matt Damon plays Odysseus, with Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o and Charlize Theron also appearing. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- As of the morning of Oct 5 the film ranked third in overall advance ticket sales, Yonhap and Asia Economy reported. [ 5 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- “Odyssey” passed 12 million cumulative admissions in South Korea, with the total reported at roughly 12.027 million. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The film ranks 19th on Korea's all-time box office list, ahead of “Exhuma” and “Train to Busan”. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- It ranks fifth among foreign films released in Korea. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The film was released on Aug 5 and passed 10 million admissions 33 days later, making it Nolan's second 10-million film after “Interstellar”. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- It was shot entirely on IMAX film cameras, a first for a feature film. [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The distributor is Universal Pictures. [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Still unclear
- How far the film's run will extend and whether special-format screening demand will hold. Maeil Business says screen allocation between special-format and general screenings is the key to the run continuing, but no documents give forward figures or a final target.
- Chosun Ilbo reported the 12 million mark came on the film's 62nd day of release. No other document gives the number of days to 12 million; others state only the Aug 5 release date and the 33-day mark for 10 million admissions, so this is a single-source figure.
- Document 2's article text concerns a DMZ landmine investigation, unrelated to the film's box office. The document's headline and body do not match and the documents give no explanation, so only its headline information about the film could be used.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- KOBIS tally used by Chosun Ilbo showed cumulative admissions of 12,027,021. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports the 12 million milestone and notes the film passed “Avengers: Infinity War” to enter the top five foreign releases. [ 1 ]
- A second Chosun Ilbo report says the mark came on the film's 62nd day of release. [ 3 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reports the film passed “Train to Busan” and “Exhuma” for 19th place all-time. [ 4 ]
- Yonhap reports the distributor's figure and that the film stood third in advance ticket sales that morning. [ 5 ]
- Asia Economy reports the distributor's figure of 12.027 million admissions. [ 6 ]
- Maeil Business reports the milestone and notes expected long-run revenue for the distributor. [ 7 ]