Rabat – Christopher Nolan’s latest epic, “The Odyssey,” has attracted 40,000 admissions across Moroccan cinemas within its first week of release, marking one of the country’s strongest box office openings of the year.
Released on July 15, the $250 million (MAD 2,348,450,250) production has proven especially popular in IMAX-equipped theaters, while also drawing audiences to standard cinemas nationwide.
The film was released simultaneously in Morocco and France and was partly filmed in the Kingdom, with key scenes shot at the White Dune in Dakhla.
The opening week performance puts “The Odyssey” on a strong trajectory compared to “Michael,” the Michael Jackson biopic released in April, which has accumulated around 160,000 admissions over several months in theaters.
According to Moroccan distributor Mohammed Khouna, the film has performed particularly well at Pathé cinemas in Rabat and Casablanca, which recorded 14,000 admissions, while Megarama welcomed around 6,000 viewers.
Khouna noted that IMAX screenings have been especially sought after, with audiences opting for the premium format to experience the film’s large-scale visuals.
Beyond IMAX venues, the film has also attracted moviegoers to traditional cinemas and single-screen theaters across the country.
Globally, “The Odyssey” delivered one of the biggest openings of Christopher Nolan’s career, earning $264.1 million (MAD 2.47 billion Moroccan) worldwide during its opening weekend, further cementing the filmmaker’s reputation as one of Hollywood’s most bankable directors.
A Homeric epic brought to life
Based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic, “The Odyssey” follows Odysseus on his decade-long journey home after the Trojan War.
Along the way, he confronts legendary figures and mythical creatures, including Polyphemus the Cyclops, Aeolus, the Sirens, and the sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis.
The nearly three-hour film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, alongside Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and Charlize Theron as Calypso. The cast also includes Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, and Jon Bernthal.
The production was filmed across Greece, Italy, Iceland, Scotland, and Morocco, with Nolan once again collaborating with cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema and composer Ludwig Göransson, who won an Academy Award for “Oppenheimer.”
Morocco takes center stage
One of the film’s standout locations is Dakhla’s White Dune, which doubles as the mythical island of Ogygia, where Calypso keeps Odysseus captive for seven years.
The Moroccan segment of the production was managed by Zak Productions, showcasing the country’s growing appeal as a destination for major international film productions.
Morocco has increasingly attracted global studios through the Moroccan Cinematographic Center’s cash rebate program, which reimburses up to 30% of eligible local production expenses.
During a presentation for cinema exhibitors, Nolan described filming in Morocco as a “wonderful experience,” highlighting the country’s contribution to the ambitious production.
