Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey claims South Korean box office crown

Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" opened atop South Korea's weekend box office, according to data released by the Korean Film Council on Monday. The Hollywood blockbuster added 1,333,437 admissions over the weekend, surpassing "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" to claim the top position.

The film, which released on 7 August, brought its total admissions to 1,874,731 as of Sunday. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" settled in second place with 1,264,531 weekend admissions and a cumulative total of 5,911,933 since its launch.

Nolan's adaptation follows Odysseus (Matt Damon), the Greek king of Ithaca, navigating his perilous homecoming after the Trojan War. The ensemble cast includes Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Charlize Theron and Zendaya. The film's strong momentum carried into early ticket sales; as of 8:14 a.m. on Monday, "The Odyssey" accounted for 63.5 percent of presales, compared to "Spider-Man: Brand New Day"'s 21.2 percent, according to the Korean Film Council data.

Two local releases rounded out the top four: the animated film "Heartsping Of Love 2: The Legend of the Whale Jewel" placed third with 289,451 weekend admissions, while the science-fiction film "Hope" followed with 100,889 admissions.

Nolan's arrival at the Korean box office marks a significant moment for the director's work in Asia's largest film market. The presale data suggests sustained audience interest in the coming weeks, positioning "The Odyssey" for an extended theatrical run as it competes against established franchises.