Greek PM calls Christopher Nolan to congratulate him on The Odyssey success

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke with filmmaker Christopher Nolan on Monday to congratulate him on the blockbuster success of The Odyssey and to thank him for strengthening international interest in ancient Greek civilization. Officials confirmed that much of the filming took place in Greece.

In a statement released Tuesday, Mitsotakis’ office said the prime minister expressed satisfaction during the conference call that large parts of the production were shot on Greek soil. He also congratulated Nolan on his interpretation of Homer’s nearly 3,000-year-old epic.

“[Mitsotakis] thanked [Nolan] for the film’s contribution to strengthening international interest in ancient Greek civilisation, adding that such productions bridge Greece’s rich cultural heritage with contemporary creative art,” the statement read.

Box office success: $639.6 million worldwide

The Odyssey opened to more than $260 million globally and has now earned an estimated $639.6 million worldwide, including $128.3 million from international markets. In its second weekend the film took $87 million — Christopher Nolan’s strongest second-weekend performance to date.

Greek viewers, traditionally sensitive to how the country’s cultural heritage is portrayed abroad, have generally responded positively to Nolan’s version of the Homeric story. The strong domestic reception has been noted by the government as further evidence of the film’s cultural impact.

While specific locations have not been fully detailed in the official statement, the fact that substantial portions of The Odyssey were filmed in Greece has been highlighted by both the prime minister’s office and industry observers as a major boost for the country’s film production sector and tourism appeal.

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