Christopher Nolan's much-awaited film of the year, The Odyssey, arrived in theatres on Friday, July 17, and appears to have lived up to the enormous expectations surrounding it. The epic fantasy-action film, led by Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya and Tom Holland, opened to strong reactions from audiences and critics. The early box office numbers also suggest that the film has made a powerful start in India and overseas.According to early estimates reported by Sacnilk.com, The Odyssey earned around Rs 17.40 crore net in India on its opening day. The film was screened across 8,413 shows nationwide. Its estimated gross collection in India stood at approximately Rs 20.76 crore.The opening is significant for a Hollywood film carrying an A certificate in India. The film also benefited from strong interest in premium formats, particularly IMAX screenings, as audiences turned up to experience Nolan's latest epic on the biggest screens possible.The English version emerged as the strongest performer among the language versions. It recorded nearly 70% occupancy across 2,113 shows. The demand for the film was particularly high in premium formats, with English IMAX 2D screenings recording an impressive 73.86% occupancy.You Might Also Like:The Tamil and Telugu versions also recorded a decent response. The Tamil version registered around 22% occupancy across 227 shows, while the Telugu version recorded approximately 25% occupancy from 346 shows.The Odyssey among the biggest Hollywood openersWith an estimated India net collection of Rs 17.40 crore on Day 1, The Odyssey has entered the list of the biggest Hollywood openers in the country. The film currently trails Avatar: Fire and Ash, which reportedly opened at around Rs 18 crore net, and Deadpool & Wolverine, which earned an estimated Rs 21 crore net on its opening day.The film's strong opening is also notable because it is not a traditional superhero or franchise film. Instead, The Odyssey is based on one of the world's most famous ancient epics and relies heavily on Nolan's fame, its massive scale and its star-studded cast to bring audiences to theatres.Matt Damon's biggest opening as a lead actorThe film is also making a major impact in North America. According to early projections reported by Deadline, Universal's The Odyssey is expected to earn around $117 million in its three-day opening, including previews, from 3,919 theatres.If the estimates hold, it will become the biggest opening for Matt Damon as a lead actor, surpassing the opening of The Bourne Ultimatum. It is also expected to be the biggest opening for a live-action film in North America so far this year, according to early trade projections.For Christopher Nolan, the film is reportedly heading towards the third-biggest opening of his career, behind The Dark Knight Rises and The Dark Knight.The Odyssey follows King Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, as he attempts to return to Ithaca after the Trojan War. His journey home stretches across a decade and brings him face-to-face with monsters, mythical forces and impossible challenges. Back home, his wife Penelope, played by Anne Hathaway, and son Telemachus, played by Tom Holland, face their own challenges as they wait for his return.The film also stars Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron and several other actors. Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, The Odyssey is his first feature film after Oppenheimer. Stay tuned to see how it performs over the weekend.