A still from "Odyssey" [Universal Pictures]
A still from "Odyssey" [Universal Pictures]

Christopher Nolan's epic "Odyssey" shows no signs of slowing down at the Korean box office, with cumulative admissions set to surpass 8 million just over two months after its opening.

According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticketing network, "Odyssey" drew about 150,000 moviegoers Thursday, capturing a 61.4 percent share of daily box office revenue to hold the top spot. Cumulative admissions now stand at roughly 7.806 million, with the 8 million milestone expected to fall imminently.

The film has not relinquished first place for a single day since opening Aug. 5.

The film follows the turbulent homeward journey of Trojan War hero Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, and has captivated audiences with its striking visuals and sound — the first film in cinema history shot entirely on IMAX film cameras.

A retelling of Homer's classical epic reimagined through a modern lens has drawn widespread praise, as has the cast's strong performances. Demand for IMAX screenings has grown so fierce that scalping has become rampant, prompting CGV to cap ticket purchases at its IMAX auditorium at Yongsan iPark Mall in Seoul, while the Korean Film Council has opened a scalping tip-off center.

"Odyssey" is also outpacing Nolan's previous works. It surpassed the final domestic tally of his last film "Oppenheimer" — which drew 3.23 million admissions — in just 12 days. The film now closely mirrors the early-to-mid trajectory of "Interstellar," Nolan's all-time domestic blockbuster with 10.38 million admissions. "Interstellar" crossed the 8 million mark 25 days after its opening.

Marvel's "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," starring Tom Holland, ranked second with about 8.297 million cumulative admissions, while "Gyeongju Giyaeng," a new release directed by Kim Mi-jo and starring Lee Jung-eun, Gong Hyo-jin, Park So-dam and Lee Yeon, debuted in third place with roughly 25,000 admissions in its opening week.

In advance ticket sales tallied Thursday morning, "Odyssey" led with a 67.9 percent share, far ahead of "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" at 9.6 percent and "Gyeongju Giyaeng" at 4.6 percent.


shee@heraldcorp.com