Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey' grosses $1.1 billion despite conservative casting criticism

Christopher Nolan's adaptation of Homer's 'Odyssey' opened on July 17 and has now accumulated $1.1 billion in global box-office receipts, showing no sign of the conservative criticism that preceded its debut. The ensemble includes Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Matt Damon and Robert Pattinson, while the casting of trans actor Elliot Page as the warrior Sinon and Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy sparked remarks from DailyWire personalities Ben Shapiro and Matt Walsh, as well as a tweet from Elon Musk.

Critics argued the choices misrepresented historical characters, yet the film enjoys a 94 % approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and strong audience turnout. Its financial performance stands in stark contrast to other recent releases, such as Disney's 'The Little Mermaid' remake and the 2025 'Snow White' live-action film, which suffered losses after similar casting debates. Supporters on shows like 'The View' suggested viewers simply skip movies they dislike rather than protest casting. Analysts attribute the box-office success to the film's high-octane action, visual spectacle and the relatively minor size of the most contentious roles.