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'The Odyssey' Ranks No. 1 in Gross Revenue Among Foreign Films in Korea... Driven by Rising Ticket Prices and Special Screenings Boom

Published : Oct 12, 2026 5:01 PM


The film 'The Odyssey' has claimed the top spot for all-time box office revenue among foreign films released in South Korea.

According to the Korean Film Council's integrated ticket computer network, 'The Odyssey' recorded a cumulative gross revenue of 138,703,681,060 won as of the 10th. This marks the highest revenue ever for a foreign film based on official domestic box office statistics.

This milestone surpasses the record set by 'Avatar: The Way of Water' (approximately 137.9 billion won), which was released in 2022, in about four years. It is even more significant as it outpaces other massive box office hits that once swept Korean theaters, such as 'Avatar' (approx. 125.2 billion won), 'Avengers: Endgame' (approx. 122.4 billion won), and 'Frozen II' (approx. 115.0 billion won).
The Odyssey still (Photo: Getty Images Korea)
The film's cumulative audience count stands at 12,179,163. In terms of attendance alone, it ranks as the fifth highest-grossing foreign film of all time. While its audience ranking is fifth, it reached the number one spot in revenue due to the rising cost of movie tickets and a high proportion of special format screenings, such as IMAX.

'The Odyssey' depicts the journey of Odysseus (played by Matt Damon), a hero who led the ten-year Trojan War to victory, as he sets out to return to his waiting wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland) in a kingdom plagued by invasions and power struggles during the king's absence. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film stars Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, and Zendaya.

(SBS Entertainment News, Reporter Kim Ji-hye)