Universal Hits $5B as Nolan's Odyssey Tops $1.5B

Universal has become the first studio to cross $5 billion in worldwide grosses this year, according to screenrant.com. It marks the third time the studio has reached that mark in a single year, following 2015 and 2017.

The milestone is driven by The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan's 2026 adaptation of Homer's epic poem, which he wrote and directed. In its 11th weekend, the film has grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Universal release ever and the biggest movie of Nolan's career, both unadjusted and adjusted for inflation.

The Odyssey is also the highest-grossing movie in IMAX theaters by a large margin and the first movie shot entirely on IMAX film cameras. It ranks as the 11th highest-grossing movie of all time worldwide. Matt Damon leads as Odysseus, with a cast including Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Eliot Page, John Leguizamo, and Samantha Morton.

Other 2026 Winners

Universal's year has been bolstered by other strong performers. The Michael Jackson biopic Michael grossed $1.021 billion worldwide, ranking as Universal's 10th highest-grossing movie ever. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie followed with $1.012 billion, placing 11th on that list.

The low-budget horror title Obsession grossed $519 million against a budget of less than $1 million, making it the year's highest-grossing horror movie. Minions & Monsters debuted in 2026 and underperformed, and the studio's slate did not include new installments from the Jurassic Park, Fifty Shades of Grey, or Fast and Furious franchises.

Upcoming releases include Other Mommy on October 9, Sense & Sensibility on October 16, Focker-in-Law on November 25, Violent Night 2 on December 4, and Werwulf on December 25. DreamWorks will also release Forgotten Island.