Christopher Nolan's epic adaptation of Homer's "The Odyssey" has officially conquered the box office, projecting an impressive $84.5 million in its second domestic weekend. That's just a 32% drop from its massive $124 million debut, pushing its North American total to a projected $283 million and its global haul past $320 million in less than a week.

The film's success is even more striking against the backdrop of a summer plagued by franchise fatigue. While...