Entertainment: Christopher Nolan's big-budget epic The Odyssey has been hit by online piracy within days of its theatrical release, prompting Universal Pictures to launch an aggressive legal crackdown against the unauthorised circulation of the film.
A pirated copy of the film surfaced on X over the weekend and spread rapidly before Universal Pictures initiated takedown measures. Reports said the unauthorised version amassed millions of views before it was removed, while multiple pirated copies also circulated through Telegram channels.
Responding to the leak, Universal Pictures said it had activated legal takedown protocols immediately after becoming aware of the unauthorised distribution. The studio said it was treating copyright violations with utmost seriousness and would pursue all necessary legal measures to protect its content and intellectual property. It is also working with digital platforms to remove pirated links at the earliest.
Despite the online leak, The Odyssey has maintained its dominant theatrical run. The film crossed the $600 million mark worldwide in its second weekend and has now grossed about $640 million globally. More than $350 million of the total has come from international markets, with premium large-format screens contributing a significant share of the revenue.
The film generated $48 million from IMAX screens during the latest weekend. Its $87 million second weekend also surpassed the $82 million domestic opening weekend of Nolan's Oppenheimer, underlining the film's exceptional box office momentum.
Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, The Odyssey follows the king's perilous journey back to Ithaca after the Trojan War. Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland feature in prominent roles.
Based on reports by various portals