Ryan Reynolds had a playful response after Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” claimed a major box office record previously held by “Deadpool & Wolverine.” The actor celebrated the film’s success with a cheeky video and an equally humorous message to its cast and crew.
“The Odyssey” has emerged as a theatrical phenomenon, fueled by strong demand for IMAX screenings and a strong audience reception.
Ryan Reynolds is taking the loss in stride after Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” knocked “Deadpool & Wolverine” off its perch as the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.
Nolan’s epic has reportedly pulled in about $1.34 billion worldwide, edging past the $1.338 billion earned by Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s Marvel blockbuster during its theatrical run. “The Odyssey” is also now the biggest box office hit of Nolan’s career, with screenings still underway.
Reynolds marked the milestone with a cheeky social media post that mashed together footage from both films. The clip cuts between Matt Damon’s Odysseus moving quietly through the woods and Deadpool battling Wolverine inside a Honda Odyssey minivan.
At one point, an exhausted Deadpool declares, “The Odyssey f-cks hard.”
Reynolds then offered his congratulations while keeping the joke going. “Congratulations to the entire cast and crew of The Odyssey for becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time,” he wrote, before adding, “That is one helluva car.”
How ‘The Odyssey’ Has Become A Box Office Juggernaut
A major part of “The Odyssey” phenomenon appears to be Nolan’s ability to turn the movie itself into a theatrical event. The epic became the first feature released entirely shot with IMAX film cameras, and audiences responded immediately.
Its opening weekend generated $52 million from IMAX alone, accounting for 20% of its worldwide debut. By August 10, that figure had climbed to $289 million, making it the biggest IMAX release ever.
Demand was especially fierce for the coveted 70mm presentation, available at only 41 IMAX locations worldwide. Those screenings produced weeks of sellouts, while nearly $40 million in future IMAX tickets had already been sold by early August.
Universal has also credited Nolan’s reputation for helping drive the turnout. Distribution chief Jim Orr said the filmmaker has built audience trust by repeatedly delivering movies worth seeing in theaters.
Strong reviews, an A CinemaScore, a 97% Rotten Tomatoes audience score, repeat viewings, and a cast packed with major stars have only added to the momentum.
Christopher Nolan’s Box Office Record Speaks For Itself
As impressive as his latest run is, however, this is not Nolan’s first experience in the billion-dollar territory. His “The Dark Knight” became a global phenomenon with just over $1 billion, while 2012’s “The Dark Knight Rises” pushed that figure to roughly $1.085 billion.
Nolan’s biggest successes have not been limited to Batman, either. “Inception” amassed nearly $840 million worldwide, and “Interstellar” brought in more than $642 million. Even the World War II drama “Dunkirk” finished with about $528 million.
Then came “Oppenheimer.” Helped by the “Barbenheimer” craze, the R-rated historical drama collected about $983 million worldwide, an eye-catching result for a three-hour film centered on the physicist behind the atomic bomb. “Tenet,” released amid the pandemic in 2020, managed more than $366 million globally.
Taken together, Nolan’s films have now grossed more than $7 billion worldwide.
Ryan Reynolds’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Had Its Own Historic Box Office Run
Long before giving up its crown, “Deadpool & Wolverine” had rewritten the record books for R-rated movies. The Marvel blockbuster opened to $211 million domestically in July 2024, becoming the first R-rated film ever to crack $200 million in a North American opening weekend. It was also the biggest July debut on record and the sixth-largest domestic opening at the time.
The film was just as formidable overseas. Its global opening eventually reached $445.4 million, setting another record for an R-rated release. Its biggest milestone came weeks later when it overtook 2019’s “Joker,” which had previously held the worldwide record with about $1.036 billion.
By January 2025, Guinness World Records put “Deadpool & Wolverine” at $1,338,071,348 worldwide.
Ryan Reynolds Has Made Friendly Trolling Part Of His Brand
Reynolds has become known over the years for his ability to inject humor into nearly any situation. The actor once gave Lively a birthday tribute that barely showed her at all. For her 30th in 2017, he posted a photo of the couple with more than half of her face cropped out, pairing it with the message, “Happy Birthday to my amazing wife.”
Hugh Jackman has been another frequent target. Their mock feud has spanned birthdays, holidays, fake insults, and social media stunts for years, long before “Deadpool & Wolverine” finally reunited them on screen.
Reynolds has also kept the bit going with Rob McElhenney. According to Variety, the Wrexham co-owners reportedly trade joke videos throughout the day, and Reynolds once made an entire music video showing people how to pronounce McElhenney’s surname.
