The film "오디세이" sparked a syndrome-level craze across the cultural world and finally surpassed "10 million viewers." Jung Su-jin, president of Universal Pictures Korea, which handled distribution and import, said, "The Odyssey 2026 achieved 10 million because it was loved by all age groups," and "the diverse reviews from discerning Korean audiences seem to have had a positive effect on drawing 10 million people."
According to the Korean box office computerized system, The Odyssey 2026 exceeded a cumulative audience of 10 million on the 33rd day after its release, on the 6th. It is the first foreign film in about four years to reach 10 million since Avatar: The Way of Water, and it is the second film this year to reach 10 million after The King's Warden.
Director Christopher Nolan earned his second 10-million viewer film 12 years after Interstellar (2014), achieving the honor of becoming a "double 10-million director." It is the fourth record following the Russo brothers of the Avengers series, James Cameron of the Avatar series, and Chris Buck of the Frozen series, and it proved he is the "most beloved Hollywood master by Korean audiences" by drawing 10 million viewers with a non-series film without the halo of a previous installment.
To commemorate the "10 million milestone," we heard special remarks from Jung Su-jin, president of Universal Pictures Korea, which handled distribution and import for The Odyssey 2026. This The Odyssey 2026 is also Universal Pictures Korea's highest-grossing film. The previous top record was Les Misérables, released in 2012 (5.94 million).
Jung Su-jin said, "Above all, I sincerely thank Korean audiences who loved The Odyssey 2026. More than the number 10 million itself, it means more to us to see a new foreign film reach 10 million in four years, and to see an original film surpass 10 million and many viewers come to theaters, reminding everyone once again of the power of film and the existence of theaters," adding, "I think it is deeply meaningful that The Odyssey 2026 was loved by a wide range of age groups and thus reaching 10 million has deep significance. From teenagers to middle-aged and older adults, seeing families, friends and couples visit theaters together made me feel once more the power of film to connect people," she said, expressing joy.
Director Christopher Nolan, his wife and producer Emma Thomas, and lead actors Matt Damon and Charlize Theron flew to Korea on a chartered plane on the 1st of last month and completed a four-night, five-day schedule. It was Nolan's first visit to Korea; he appeared on You Quiz, met directors such as Park Chan-wook and critic Lee Dong-jin, and experienced various news and entertainment programs.
The idol-like schedule of the The Odyssey 2026 team drew attention even on the internet, and Jung Su-jin said, "It wasn't our request; they were all truly proactive. (laughs) Director Nolan personally pushed for the Korea visit, actively handled numerous interviews, and signed autographs for all the fans he met everywhere. Seeing that, I felt, 'The director truly cherishes Korea and Korean fans,'" adding, "During one of the hottest weeks of the year he visited many places around Seoul and left with many memories. The director and the actors repeatedly said they were deeply impressed by the welcome and passion of Korean fans. It was a special experience to see up close the sincerity of everyone who prepared the events, the reporters who covered them, the many fans who came in person, and all those who love the film," she recalled.
The Odyssey 2026 drew attention before its release as the first commercial film to shoot all scenes with 70mm IMAX film cameras. Because of this, word spread that you had to see it at Yongsan IMAX (CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall IMAX auditorium) to fully experience the effect, triggering a tremendous "picketing" (ticketing like a bloody war) battle online. Scalped tickets sold for 300,000 won per ticket, and CGV eventually limited purchases to "a maximum of four tickets per day" on its official website, announcing a temporary adjustment to the number of purchasable IMAX tickets at Yongsan I'Park Mall.
Jung Su-jin said, "As with all films, I think The Odyssey 2026 in particular is a movie whose theater viewing enhances immersion and elevates the moviegoing experience. It was impressive that audiences wanted to actively experience it rather than simply consume the film," adding, "This is because The Odyssey 2026 is not only about the story but the visuals and sound themselves are an experience, and as viewing reviews spread, demand such as 'I want to see it again' and 'I want to see it in the best format' continued, resulting in such widespread love. I think the diverse viewing reviews from discerning Korean audiences brought more people to theaters, making the 10 million audience possible."
The Odyssey 2026 already earned $264.1 million in opening-week revenue (about 364 billion won) in its first week, recouping all production costs and leading global box office results alongside Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which opened at the same time. Domestically, however, it has influenced the cultural world broadly—publishing, exhibitions, new media—and surpassed Spider-Man 4 to remain number one at the box office on its 33rd day. It is truly demonstrating overwhelming box office power as Nolan's magic works.
On this, Jung Su-jin said, "I think multiple factors worked together. At the center was, I believe, a story that appeals to all generations and Nolan's sincere directing. First, the original, Homer's Odyssey, is a universal story loved for thousands of years. Themes such as the journey to return home, love for family, and human challenge and growth evoke empathy across eras and borders," adding, "Many Korean audiences grew up exposed to Greco-Roman myths and have high interest in literary and historical backgrounds. Korean audiences enjoy not only entertainment but also the meaning and context of a work. With Nolan's overwhelming directorial power, it was reborn not as a simple myth but as a cinematic experience modern audiences can immerse themselves in. Casting actors who perfectly fit the characters, as well as the directing, may have been another secret to its success."
Regarding why Nolan's films are particularly loved, she said, "I think Nolan is a director who trusts his audience. He sees it as his mission as a director to create the best moments audiences can enjoy, and instead of easily consumable stories, he asks questions and leaves things to ponder for the audience," adding, "Korean audiences are exactly the kind of audience that loves such works. They more actively enjoy interpreting films than other countries and have high cultural curiosity that empathizes with the meanings films hold. The director and the audience pursue directions that match best."
Finally, Jung Su-jin said, "I sincerely thank all the viewers who loved The Odyssey 2026. I hope the love audiences have for The Odyssey 2026 will not end with this film but will continue to many Korean and foreign films set to be released," adding, "While there are various ways to consume films in this era, nothing can replace the experience of sharing time, emotions and space with others in a theater. I ask everyone to join in moviegoing in theaters where people laugh, cry and empathize together," she conveyed sincerely.
Meanwhile, The Odyssey 2026 reached the 10 million milestone in 33 days after its release, becoming the fastest non-series foreign film in history to surpass 10 million viewers.
[photo] OSEN DB, Universal Pictures
[OSEN]