Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is enjoying a sensational run at the global box office.
The epic has grossed around $640 million worldwide, including an impressive $145 million from IMAX screens alone, highlighting the growing demand for large-scale cinematic spectacles.
The film has also been a major success in India, collecting nearly Rs 150 crore in just 11 days and becoming Christopher Nolan’s highest-grossing film in the country.
The success of The Odyssey, which draws from Greek mythology, is believed to be encouraging filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli, whose upcoming globe-trotting adventure Varanasi is rooted in Indian mythology, with portions inspired by the Ramayana.
The strong international response to mythology-based storytelling has strengthened hopes that Varanasi can also connect with audiences across global markets.
However, Rajamouli’s ambitious project is not without challenges.
Despite reportedly securing an IMAX release, which could ensure a wide rollout across premium screens worldwide, Varanasi is yet to finalise its much-awaited OTT deal.
Industry circles are closely watching the negotiations, as the digital rights are expected to command a record price.
The film is also likely to face stiff international competition from major Hollywood releases, including Godzilla x Kong: Supernova, which could affect its access to premium screens in some territories.
Adding to the production challenges, the team is said to have dropped plans to shoot key sequences in Antarctica, reportedly due to budget constraints.
With Rajamouli’s reputation for delivering visually spectacular blockbusters, expectations for Varanasi remain sky-high.
While The Odyssey has demonstrated the global appetite for mythological epics, Rajamouli’s film will need to overcome several production and business hurdles before it can aim for similar worldwide success.
