Spider-Man Holds Strong in China as Nolan’s The Odyssey Impresses with IMAX Preview Debut

Sony and Marvel’s ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ maintained its iron grip on the Chinese box office this past weekend, pulling in approximately $27.4 million during the Aug. 7–9 frame. The Tom Holland-led superhero flick shows no signs of slowing down, extending its dominance in one of the world’s most crucial markets.

The film has now surpassed $185 million in China alone after just 12 days, cementing its status as a global juggernaut. With a worldwide total hovering around $1.67 billion, ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ has already staked its claim as one of 2026’s biggest blockbusters.

But the real headline from China’s box office came from an unexpected contender. Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ made a stunning entrance through IMAX-only previews, hauling in $6.9 million before its full theatrical rollout. The ambitious Homer adaptation, which features a star-studded cast including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, and Robert Pattinson alongside Holland, is generating serious buzz heading into its broader release.

The early numbers suggest strong momentum for Nolan’s epic, which has already crossed the $1 billion mark globally and become the director’s highest-grossing film to date.

Both films underscore what’s shaping up to be a banner summer for Hollywood. With ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ sitting at $1.67 billion worldwide and ‘The Odyssey’ climbing toward $1.1 billion, the two projects are demonstrating that audiences worldwide remain hungry for big-budget spectacles. And with China’s box office proving decisive in their success, the stage is set for both films to reach even greater heights.