"The Odyssey" Breaks IMAX Record, FIFA Reports $9 Billion in World Cup Revenue, More Water Main Breaks Reported in Los Angeles, and Spain's Victory Recapped

"The Odyssey" Breaks IMAX Record, FIFA Reports $9 Billion in World Cup Revenue, More Water Main Breaks Reported in Los Angeles, and Spain's Victory Recapped

From Headlines From The Times by LA Times Studios

July 20, 2026 · 6 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the record-breaking success of Christopher Nolan's film 'The Odyssey', FIFA's financial success from the World Cup, and ongoing water main issues in Los Angeles.

Christopher Nolan's nearly three-hour epic "The Odyssey" grossed over $124 million domestically this weekend, proving it was worth the risk for Universal despite being one of the priciest R-rated movies ever made. Shot entirely on IMAX 70-millimeter cameras, the film set a new IMAX record for the largest opening weekend in international markets, excluding China, Japan, and South Korea. Universal Pictures' president of domestic distribution says "it's something that truly has to be experienced on the big screen," and audiences are running to theaters to be part of this cultural moment. Meanwhile, FIFA celebrated its own victory, as Spain lifted the 2026 World Cup trophy, with the organization estimating nearly $9 billion in revenue for the tournament. The expanded format went from 32 to 48 teams with 104 matches instead of 64. This meant increased ticket sales, sponsorships, and broadcast rights – though fans complained the tournament was wildly unaffordable. A major water main break continues to shut down part of Sunset Boulevard after a 110-year-old pipe spilled nearly 17 million gallons of water across West Hollywood. As crews work to repair the damage, additional water pipe…

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