'The Odyssey' Boycott Backfires as Film Soars at Box Office
Despite a vocal online backlash from right-wing groups criticizing Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey for its casting, language, and historical details, the film is heading for a $200 million opening weekend, with resale tickets hitting $1,000.
On its release day, a power outage at a Philadelphia-area cinema forced cancellation of the first IMAX 70mm screening, disappointing fans who had taken time off work. Staff manually logged ticket numbers for refunds as moviegoers grumbled about wasted PTO.
The incident mirrors a broader, organized backlash that has dogged the film since its announcement. A cohort of online right-wing activists, amplified by Elon Musk, has campaigned against The Odyssey over the casting of Black and trans actors, Matt Damon as Odysseus, the American English dialect, and anachronistic ship designs. Some have labeled it a "psyop" against "western culture." Even a 96% Rotten Tomatoes critics' score was dismissed as a "woke conspiracy."
Yet the boycott appears to be failing. Early sales suggest a $200 million global opening weekend — Nolan's best non-Batman debut. Resale tickets are fetching $1,000, and devotees are crossing states and borders to see it on the largest screens. One California woman reportedly delayed her pregnancy to catch the opening weekend IMAX 70mm showing.
The gulf between online outrage and real-world demand reveals an unquenchable appetite for blockbuster spectacle. As one observer notes, the haters chose the wrong target: Nolan's movies are virtually synonymous with box office success.
In a twist, AI studio Fountain 0 has announced a fully AI-generated Odyssey film to capitalize on both the hype and the backlash — perhaps the only consolation for those determined to hate Nolan's version.
