According to tickets sales data released by the Korean Film Council on Monday, "The Odyssey," which drew more than 8 million moviegoers in less than a month since its release on Aug. 5, has now surpassed the Hollywood franchise film "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," which opened a week earlier. The two films have drawn cumulative admissions of 8.47 million and 8.45 million, respectively, as of Sunday.
The 172-minute film, with a star-studded cast including actors Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron and Zendaya has remained at the top of the domestic box office for four consecutive weeks since its opening.
The film's popularity has also spread beyond theaters. Short videos and memes featuring characters such as Odysseus, Circe and Argos from Homer's ancient Greek epic have become popular online. Many viewers are also exploring the movie's mythology and hidden details, keeping the buzz around the film steady even weeks after its release.
Expectations are now building that "The Odyssey" could reach the milestone of 10 million admissions. If it does, it would become the second film released this year to reach the milestone, following director Jang Hang-jun's "The King's Warden," released in February, as well as this year's first foreign film to do so.
"The Odyssey" tells the epic journey of Odysseus, the legendary hero of the Trojan War, as he struggles to return home while facing the gods' anger.
AJP Takeaways:
• Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" became the highest-grossing foreign film in South Korea in 2026, drawing 8.47 million admissions as of Aug. 30, 2026, and surpassing "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" with 8.45 million admissions.
• The 172-minute epic has dominated South Korea's box office for four consecutive weeks since its Aug. 5, 2026, release, while its characters, mythology and hidden details have also fueled popular short-form videos and memes online.
• "The Odyssey" is now expected to challenge the 10 million-admission milestone in South Korea. If it reaches the mark, it would become the first foreign film and the second film overall released in South Korea in 2026 to surpass 10 million admissions, following Jang Hang-jun's "The King's Warden."
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