Christopher Nolan’s epic 'The Odyssey' eclipses 12 million admissions in South Korea, overtaking 'Exhuma' and 'Train to Busan' on the all-time chart.
An Historic Benchmark: The Odyssey Crosses 12 Million Moviegoers
Director Christopher Nolan has once again rewritten South Korean box office history. His grand-scale historical epic, ‘The Odyssey’ (오디세이), officially surpassed the elusive 12 million cumulative admissions milestone on the morning of October 5, 2026, solidifying its place as the British-American auteur’s highest-grossing release in South Korea to date.
According to official metrics tabulated by the Korean Film Council’s integrated computer network (KOBIS), The Odyssey registered a cumulative audience tally of 12,027,021 ticket buyers as of 12:11 AM on October 5. In doing so, the production enters a pantheon reserved for only the most monumental cultural events in modern Korean exhibition history.
‘The Odyssey’ Korean Box Office Milestones at a Glance
- Official Admissions: 12,027,021 tickets sold (as of October 5, 2026).
- All-Time Position: Climbed to #19 in South Korea's All-Time Box Office (combining domestic and international titles).
- Foreign Film Ranking: Cemented inside the Top 5 Highest-Grossing Foreign Films in Korean cinematic history.
- Major Milestones Overpassed: Avengers: Infinity War (11.23M), Train to Busan (11.57M), and Exhuma (11.91M).
- Longevity Indicator: Maintains the #3 spot in nationwide ticket pre-reservations even two full months after its theatrical debut.
Toppling Modern Giants: From Marvel to 'Exhuma'
The trajectory of Nolan’s adaptation of the classic Homeric myth has been nothing short of extraordinary. The film previously bypassed Marvel Studios’ superhero behemoth Avengers: Infinity War (11,233,176 admissions), securing its position among the five most-watched foreign cinematic imports of all time in South Korea.
Refusing to lose steam, The Odyssey subsequently eclipsed two of South Korea’s most revered modern mega-hits: Yeon Sang-ho’s kinetic zombie thriller Train to Busan (11,573,004 admissions) and Jang Jae-hyun’s occult box office juggernaut Exhuma (11,916,041 admissions). By leapfrogging these beloved domestic blockbusters, The Odyssey now sits proudly at No. 19 on the all-time Korean theatrical leaderboard.
Unshakable Staying Power: Two Months of Enduring Dominance
What distinguishes The Odyssey’s commercial achievement is its exceptional long-tail theatrical endurance. Despite a relentless slate of major domestic autumn releases and international holiday tentpoles hitting cinema complexes, the film continues to draw steady repeat viewership. More than two months into its theatrical rollout, it defiantly occupies the No. 3 spot in overall advance ticket bookings nationwide.
The film’s unprecedented demand for premium formats—including IMAX 70mm, 4DX, and Dolby Cinema—has turned the theatrical run into an essential visual pilgrimage for cinephiles across the country, keeping seat occupancy rates remarkably high through autumn weekends.
A Mythic Triumph Anchored by a Stellar Ensemble
Chronicling the perilous journey of hero Odysseus (commandingly portrayed by Matt Damon) as he fights to return across monstrous seas to his family in Ithaca following the decade-long Trojan War, the film balances monumental practical effects with profound philosophical resonance.
Supported by a world-class ensemble including Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron, Nolan’s immersive storytelling proves that classical myth, when executed with uncompromising cinematic scope, can transcend generational and cultural divides. With the 12 million barrier successfully conquered, the global film industry is watching closely to see just how high The Odyssey will ascend before its historic theatrical journey concludes.