How 'The Odyssey' hit box office milestone in Korea
Actor Matt Damon as Odysseus in a scene from Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" / Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Analog craftsmanship, timely themes, communal theater immersion propel Christopher Nolan's epic in Korea
Director Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” surpassed 10 million tickets sold on Sunday, just 33 days after its release in Korea, defying a slump in theater attendance.
The 172-minute historical epic is the second film to reach the 10-million mark in ticket sales this year in the country, following “The King's Warden,” which recorded 16.92 million tickets sold. It also marks Nolan's second 10-million ticket hit here following the 2014 sci-fi blockbuster “Interstellar,” with 10.38 million tickets sold.
Bolstered by relentless demand, industry analysts predict “The Odyssey” will soon overtake “Interstellar” to become the director's highest-grossing release in Korea, raising questions about how it captured audiences' attention in an era of streaming dominance.
Commitment to analog format drives repeat viewings
The film drew widespread attention even before its release as the first feature to be shot entirely with IMAX cameras. Overcoming extreme equipment weight and noise, Nolan's commitment to analog filmmaking resonated deeply with audiences. Pop culture critic Hwang Jin-mi said "moviegoers were moved by Nolan's serious dedication" to the medium and "responded just as seriously to the film's visual spectacle."
Demand surged for screenings at the IMAX theater at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall, with tickets resold at more than seven to eight times face value. The spectacle also inspired repeat viewings, as fans flocked back to compare standard screenings against premium formats.
Director Christopher Nolan, left, and his crew film "The Odyssey" using an IMAX film camera. Captured from CBS’ YouTube channel
Modern take on classic resonates
Critics also cite the film's modern adaptation of Homer’s 2,800-year-old epic as a key reason for its appeal. Nolan focuses on xenia, the ancient Greek code of hospitality requiring hosts to shelter strangers and guests to treat their hosts with courtesy.
“While audiences are overwhelmed by the grand visual scale, they are also prompted to ask themselves if they are treating others according to the laws of xenia,” pop culture critic Kim Sung-soo said. “This thoughtful exploration of community drew deep empathy from viewers.”
Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, and his crew search an island for food in a scene from "The Odyssey." Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Rather than portraying Odysseus (Matt Damon) purely as the victorious hero of the Trojan War, the film presents a human grappling with the trauma of war. Hwang said that Nolan's intellectual depth weaves in contemporary issues.
“Director Nolan actively and modernly interpreted the original work, weaving in issues of race and feminism, and intellectually curious domestic audiences were captivated by the film's intellectual depth,” she said. “The film portrays Odysseus as a human suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and grappling with existential anguish, critiquing the runaway U.S. President Donald Trump, but it does not stop at criticism; its mature stance urging self-reflection must have resonated with audiences as well.”
Cinematic 'feel-good effect' streaming cannot match
Many critics also noted that the film reminded viewers why they go to movie theaters in the first place. Despite a runtime of nearly three hours and its adaptation of a daunting classic, the film delivers a thrill unique to theaters.
“The visual imagery and sound of ‘The Odyssey’ make viewers feel as if they have been pulled directly into that era,” Kim said. “Experiencing this kind of spectacle together with other viewers is impossible on streaming services.”
A moviegoer books a ticket at a theater in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap
Pop culture critic Kim Hern-sik pointed out viewers' fatigue with purely provocative content from streaming platforms.
“Fatigue with streaming content that is merely provocative without offering genuine human connection likely also played a role,” he said.
“Audiences go to movie theaters for the emotional lift of moviegoing — a ‘feel-good effect.’ While ‘The King's Warden’ dealt with the tragedy of King Danjong, a deposed Joseon monarch, it left an uplifting feeling; ‘The Odyssey’ is similarly a comforting film that layers the director's insight over traditional storytelling.”
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.