Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey earns early praise for epic scale and filmmaking craft

Director Christopher Nolan adapts Homer’s ancient mythological poem of heroes, monsters, and gods into a star-studded blockbuster epic.

Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ film provided a beautiful framework of the epic for the modern world with its blockbuster debut. But the original tale by Homer holds untold stories of its own! Those that lie beyond the pages!

A deep-dive interview between filmmaker Christopher Nolan and Chinese doctoral student podcaster Zhongshu about his new film, The Odyssey, has gone viral worldwide, amassing over 20 million views. Building on his Oscar-winning success with Oppenheimer, Nolan has turned his attention to Homer’s Odyssey, a cornerstone of Western literature. His latest film chronicles the Greek hero Odysseus as he embarks on a prolonged journey home to Ithaca following the Trojan War, while his wife and son fend...

Filmmaker Christopher Nolan said his long-awaited first visit to Korea with his new film "The Odyssey" is an opportunity to reaffirm why movie theaters still matter and continue to offer a collective experience and universal human themes that streaming platforms and small screens can never replace. At a press conference held in Seoul, Monday, ahead of the film’s Wednesday release here, Nolan, who said he has “wanted to come to Korea for a very long time,” described cinema as a uniquely shared yet intimate art form. “When you read the original book, it’s experiential. But going to the theater and sharing it with other people is both a personal and a collective experience,” he said. “The way the camera tells you the story is something other mediums can’t provide. I think it’s an experience only theaters, only films, can offer." The film follows the 10-year voyage of the Trojan War hero Odysseus (Matt Damon) as he struggles to return home to Ithaca, confronting inner conflict and moral dilemmas that Nolan believes still resonate today. Asked what message he hopes audiences

Filmmaker Christopher Nolan said his long-awaited first visit to Korea with his new film "The Odyssey" is an opportunity to reaffirm why movie theaters still matter and continue to offer a collective experience and universal human themes that streaming platforms and small screens can never replace. At a press conference held in Seoul, Monday, ahead of the film’s Wednesday release here, Nolan, who said he has “wanted to come to Korea for a very long time,” described cinema as a uniquely shared yet intimate art form. “When you read the original book, it’s experiential. But going to the theater and sharing it with other people is both a personal and a collective experience,” he said. “The way the camera tells you the story is something other mediums can’t provide. I think it’s an experience only theaters, only films, can offer." The film follows the 10-year voyage of the Trojan War hero Odysseus (Matt Damon) as he struggles to return home to Ithaca, confronting inner conflict and moral dilemmas that Nolan believes still resonate today. Asked what message he hopes audiences

Christopher Nolan's impressionistic remix of Homer's epic poem finds the man behind the myth.

Composers from Purcell to Birtwistle have created passionate dramas inspired by ancient Greek stories – and none of them require you to sit through three hours of solemn spectacle without an intervalFor me, the most astonishing thing about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is its barnstorming popularity. I found this cinematic epic for the ages visually bloodless, expressively monotonous and very, very long. Mind you, it is good to know that Nolan thinks that war is, on balance, you know, once you really think about it, probably a bad idea.The music, too, was disappointing. If I were Nolan, I’d have asked Mica Levi to score The Odyssey. Ludwig Göransson could have surely done more to make a soundworld of genuine strangeness, but all he could manage is a falling tritone and then a descending fifth on the two reeds and pipes of a recreated aulos, which he uses as a melancholy leitmotif in all-too-conventional Hollywood fashion. (The aulos is beautifully played by Callum Armstrong on the soundtrack, at least.) The best sounds in the film come in the scene with Samantha Morton’s Circe, in which the crew’s gluttony is horrorshow ASMR: surround-sound mastication that threatens to devour the audience. Continue reading...

The classics professor whose translation of The Odyssey inspired Christopher Nolan’s film version apparently wasn’t happy with the final result.Emily Wilson, a classical studies professor at the University of Pennsylvania, wrote the 2017 translation of the ancient Greek poem that inspired the 2026 blockbuster.The film may have raised Wilson’s profile and boosted sales of her adaptation, but she still gave it a scathing review in the London Review of Books.Despite calling the film “an entertaining way to hide from the high temperatures for a few hours” and noting that her teenagers “had a good time,” Wilson damned the film with faint praise, comparing it to “an elaborate Fourth of July fireworks display – and with about the same level of narrative and emotional depth.”And while conceding that adaptations “needn’t and shouldn’t follow the original with anything like the exactitude of a translation,” Wilson called the film’s vision “too confused” and its characters “too underdeveloped to deliver what it half-promises in terms of big ideas – although it is very good at conveying big bangs and big giants.”The film “lacks many of the elements that make the poem great,” Wilson argued, and “has nothing convincing to say about time, memory, history, war, or about the relationship between one warrior’s glorious return and the lives of his family, adversaries, comrades, friends and neighbours.”It also “lacks psychological, emotional, political, and ethical depth,” she said, calling the narrative structure “gimmicky” and the script “abysmal.”Wilson added: “None of the characters has convincing motivation for their actions or words. There are no sex scenes, and all the food looks horrible.”She did say she was “humbled” that Nolan had cited her version of the first line of the poem, “Tell me about a complicated man,” but admitted she would “be ashamed to have written any part of this script.”Yet despite the scathing critique, Wilson still called the film’s release “an event to celebrate” and praised Nolan for “doing his best to get the general public reading again.”As of Sunday 26 July, the blockbuster had its best second domestic weekend of any Nolan film – beating his previous record holder, The Dark Knight.Film critics have almost unanimously given The Odyssey a glowing reception, with words like “monumental”, “spectacular” and, of course, “epic” being shared in reviews.Meanwhile some have hailed it not just as the best film of the year, but of Nolan’s whole career.Related...The Odyssey Just Smashed Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight RecordThe Joke Behind Ryan Reynolds' New Deadpool Suit Was Hiding In Plain Sight'Sex, Money, And Power': The Victorian Austen Fanboy I Can't Stop Reading

Oscar-winning director’s latest epic, ‘The Odyssey,’ is currently taking theaters by storm

Renowned director Christopher Nolan has returned to the big screen with "The Odyssey," taking on one of humanity's oldest epics and reinterpreting it into an immersive, deeply human drama. Based on Homer's ancient Greek epic poem, the 172-minute film follows Odysseus (Matt Damon) on his grueling 20-year journey back to his homeland of Ithaca after leading the Greeks to victory in the Trojan War. Along the way, Odysseus faces tough challenges from gods and monsters, including the giant Polyphemus, the witch Circe and the sea goddess Calypso. Meanwhile, back in his home of Ithaca, his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) stands up against dangerous men trying to take his throne, while his son Telemachus (Tom Holland) struggles with growing up without a father. Nolan uses his signature nonlinear storytelling to condense the vast 20-year narrative into a tight, compelling structure. Instead of showing Odysseus as an unbeatable mythic hero, the film focuses on the mind of a lonely, tired soldier. He is driven not by victory, but by trauma and a deep longing to find redemption and return home. The dir

That Christopher Nolan would hit a home run with “The Odyssey” was as predictable as Odysseus’s return to Ithaca. What’s maybe a little more surprising is that he has hit a grand slam. The movie earned a staggering $124 million its opening weekend, with its IMAX showings sold out for the rest of the millennium […]

“What was the song of the sirens like?” When it comes to Oscar voters, like Odysseus, the answer is: “All the things you wanted to be.” The Oscar race for 2027 seems to have found its center of gravity, and its front-runner that will be shepherded under the Universal banner. Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” the […]

We are staying on The Odyssey bandwagon as Christopher Nolan’s magnum opus hits cinemas, causing controversy and uproar. While global reviews have been, by and large, highly enthusiastic and positive, reviews from Greece have been more lukewarm, with many critics pointing out that Nolan deviated from the source material. Taking artistic liberties is borderline a […]

Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of “The Odyssey” is a bona fide cultural phenomenon (sorry, trolls!), shattering box office projections with a $264.1 million worldwide gross its opening weekend, earning rave reviews from critics, unleashing a tidal wave of Oscar buzz and causing such a frenzy for Imax 70mm tickets that moviegoers have gone as far […]

Inside all the blink-and-you-miss-it moments, subtle easter eggs and poignant takeaways from Christopher Nolan’s ancient epicThis article contains spoilers for The OdysseyThe Odyssey looks set to be the blockbuster hit of the summer, with global opening weekend grosses of $264m, critical rave reviews including five stars from the Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw, and reports of fans traversing continents to experience Christopher Nolan’s epic tale of gods and monsters in one of the few dozen screens worldwide with the capability to screen Imax in 70mm. It also has the potential to rule the box office for the coming weeks, with few other true blockbusters to be released this summer, with the exception of Spider-Man: Brand New Day (hence the cast’s humiliation ritual of a press tour). Read on for a spoiler-packed breakdown of the epic battles, narrative twists and out-of-nowhere cameos that bring richness to Nolan’s idiosyncratic vision of ancient life. Continue reading...

Christopher Nolan brings Homer's timeless epic to life in a visually stunning adventure that's as emotionally resonant as it is spectacular.

After seeing Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey for the first time early last week, I came away impressed, but somewhat conflicted about two of the film's more fantastical set pieces. While those scenes were beautifully crafted and tremendously acted, there was something a little bit off about the way they hit my eye. I spent days […]

The film has blown away cinemagoers, critics and now the box office. But after such an undertaking, what will director Christopher Nolan do next?

The film has blown away cinemagoers, critics and now the box office. But after such an undertaking, what will director Christopher Nolan do next?

The film has blown away cinemagoers, critics and now the box office. But after such an undertaking, what will director Christopher Nolan do next?

Before its release, some in the country were highly skeptical about the new depiction of a beloved tale. But many who saw it over opening weekend came back with positive reviews.

Director Christopher Nolan investigates the hubris of humanity and the triumph of its intellect in his adaption of Homer's The Odyssey.

For the first time in what seems like forever, there has been a rush to see a new blockbuster on a really big screen, as Christopher Nolan's epic "The Odyssey" arrived in theaters this weekend. Noel Brennan has more.

Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' is a bold, visually stunning and artistically distinct take on Homer's ancient epic, worth seeing despite a few flaw

The massive hype for Christopher Nolan's latest film is paying off at the box office.

"After years of war, no one could stand between my men and home... Not even the gods." For Christopher Nolan's next trick, he will adapt one of the greatest stories ever told. Can he pull it off? Of course he can. But the real question is not about if he pulls it off, it's about how he pulls it off. Of course he brings to life this story of Odysseus' grueling 10 year journey back home across the Mediterranean Sea in the most spectacular way featuring the biggest movie cameras ever built. Nolan's dream of making a movie entirely filmed with IMAX cameras with IMAX-sized film finally comes to fruition 18 years after it began with The Dark Knight in 2008. The Odyssey drfifts into movie theaters around the world, playing not only in IMAX but in every cinematic format currently available - including 35mm & 70mm prints and every other screen size / digital format around. True to his ultimate vision, this is the grandest storytelling on the grandest scale to make the grandest point about humanity's darkness taking over. It is everything cinema should be and can be and it is an exhilarating experience. But is it Nolan's best movie so far? I don't think so – but it's up there. It's flawed and fractured and doesn't quite have […]

Released in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, The Odyssey is playing across more than 2,500 screens in India in multiple premium formats, including IMAX, 4DX, MX4D and EPIQ.

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey was released on July 17

The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan's adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic The Odyssey, hit theatres on Friday, July 17. The film features an ensemble cast including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Samantha Morton, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron. Following early reactions, viewers have lauded Nolan's direction, with many claiming that the filmmaker deserves another Oscar for his ambitious storytelling, breathtaking visuals, and grand cinematic execution.Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Adds 6:30 AM & Midnight Shows In Mumbai; Advance Booking Goes Almost HousefulThe Odyssey X ReviewSocial media users on X (formerly Twitter) have showered praise on the film, with many appreciating Matt Damon's performance and calling it one of the highlights of The Odyssey. The platform has been flooded with positive reactions, with several viewers describing the film as a remarkable cinematic experience. A user wrote, "Just got out of #TheOdyssey. What a tale. What an amazing story. The cast, the scenery, the music.. the way Nolan keeps delivering those stories… bowing down to you, sir. What a chance we have to be alive as the same time as you."Another said, "The Odyssey was phenomenal!! Christopher Nolan is one bad mf and Matt Damon is the truth. When I tell you he deserve an Oscar slim. 10/10."A third user added, "The Odyssey is Nolan’s latest masterpiece. Fantastic pacing, fantastic performances, and cinematography that will fully immerse you in the world." View this post on Instagram A post shared by FPJ Lifestyle (@fpjlifestyle)"The Odyssey is the spectacle everyone expects but also so poignant. It just goes to show that the oldest stories and their themes still ring true and when that's told by a visionary filmmaker and personified by the greatest talent of multiple generations- a masterpiece is born," read another X review.Check it out:The Oscar… I mean the Odyssey ‍… Christopher Nolan take a bow… lovely midnight screening @cineworld thank you— Sam (@samiswhoiam) July 17, 2026 Just got out of #TheOdyssey. What a tale. What an amazing story. The cast, the scenery, the music.. the way Nolan keeps delivering those stories… bowing down to you, sir. What a chance we have to be alive as the same time as you. pic.twitter.com/5KxdfZcHC2— Elley (@thisiselley) July 16, 2026 The oddysey was phenomenal!! Christopher Nolan is one bad mf and Matt Damon is the truth. When I tell you he deserve an Oscar slim. 10/10 — Jerrico Beats (@JerricoBeats) July 17, 2026 CHRISTOPHER NOLAN.THE ODYSSEY. HE'S ABSOLUTELY DONE IT AGAIN. WOW.— BK (@bvks_) July 17, 2026 Christopher Nolan and Matt Damon — T.J (@toyintj) July 17, 2026 #TheOdyssey is the spectacle everyone expects but also so poignant. It just goes to show that the oldest stories and their themes still ring true and when that's told by a visionary filmmaker and personified by the greatest talent of multiple generations- a masterpiece is born.— Dustin (@dustinddh) July 16, 2026 Every generation gets a filmmaker who reminds us why cinema exists. ️Christopher Nolan isn't just a director—he's a storyteller who turns imagination into reality.And today, The Odyssey begins its journey.This isn't just a movie release—it's a celebration of cinema. pic.twitter.com/8KcS46hEGm— Preetham D (@Preetham1226) July 17, 2026 The Odyssey is another absolute win from Christopher Nolan and perhaps one of the greatest movies of the 21st century. It is everything a movie can and maybe should be, with mind blowing visuals, Oscar worthy acting, and very solid writing. pic.twitter.com/5sbPMYYjVu— ejumper09 (@ejumper09) July 16, 2026 One of the greatest Experiences ever had @odysseymovie the visuals are Stunning and #ChristopherNolan is insane in Writing and direction @Mr_RobPattinson his acting is just amazing #TheOdyssey #ChristopherNolan pic.twitter.com/DcEfNilVRB— hemanth (@hemoSsmb) July 17, 2026 **The Odyssey Review: Christopher Nolan Delivers a Stunning New Take on Homer’s Epic**Christopher Nolan transforms *The Odyssey* into a breathtaking cinematic spectacle, blending grand visuals, emotional storytelling, and his signature ambitious filmmaking. His adaptation… pic.twitter.com/DAEQq0YhSW— Layla Hollywood (@Laylahollywood) July 16, 2026 just watched the odyssey… if nolan told me to jump off a cliff i’d do it. travis, tom, anne, matt and rob were all so perfect… cinematography, soundtrack, aura, a story about paying the price for your actions. peak cinema, 10/10 #TheOdyssey pic.twitter.com/9MClaFxvzb— eduardo (@MusashiFanpage) July 16, 2026 The Odyssey is Nolan’s latest masterpiece. Fantastic pacing, fantastic performances, and cinematography that will fully immerse you in the world. 9.5/10 pic.twitter.com/e3NqiDbGGY— Ray (@ItsRay_9) July 17, 2026 Just got out of the Odyssey in IMAX, what an incredible movie!And for my EPIC the Musical friends, who else heard it… — NatureOfGaming (@NatureOfGaming) July 17, 2026 The Odyssey Review: Christopher Nolan Delivers A Visually Stunning Cinematic SpectacleThe Odyssey ReviewThe reviewer at The Free Press Journal rated The Odyssey 3.5 stars out of 5 and said, "Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is a grand, visually stunning movie and has some amazing performances. It is not just a film but a cinematic experience that you should not miss. Also, try to watch the movie on an IMAX screen."

Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' has premiered in IMAX theaters, sparking audience debate. Many fans praise its stunning visuals and Nolan's ambitious direction. However, some viewers criticize the film's pacing and storytelling choices. Dialogue and acting performances also received mixed reactions from moviegoers. Matt Damon's portrayal of Odysseus, however, earned widespread acclaim from many.

Christopher Nolan‘s The Odyssey receives divisive reactions from critics and fans. His latest movie on the Greek epic has been well received by many. However, some criticisms have also poured in. What element of The Odyssey has fans and critics divided? The Odyssey will be out in theaters tomorrow, but reviews from the early screenings […] The post The Odyssey Fans & Critics Debate If This Christopher Nolan Trope Works in Tom Holland Movie appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.

‘A masterpiece in every way’: The Odyssey earns near universal acclaim as full reviews published  The GuardianI didn't love Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' at first. Then I couldn't stop thinking about it.  Business InsiderThe Odyssey: Christopher Nolan film starring Matt Damon and Zendaya receives rave reviews  BBCThe Odyssey, review: An astonishing reimagining that gets to the soul of the story  The TelegraphMary Beard on The Odyssey: It’s great, but where are Homer’s jokes?  The Times

Christopher Nolan’s epic was given five stars by the Guardian, Independent and Telegraph, while the New York Times called it a ‘monumental adaptation’Christopher Nolan’s $250m Imax blockbuster version of Homer’s epic poem the Odyssey looks set to be among the director’s best-received of his career, and could be a frontrunner for next year’s best picture Oscar.The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw was among the vast majority of critics who awarded it five stars, calling it a film “with thrilling ambition, boldness, seriousness, generosity and flair. There are some broad-brush moments in the dialogue, yes, but even these are applied with a muscular flourish.” Continue reading...

Acclaimed British filmmaker might be set to repeat the success of ‘Oppenheimer’ – or surpass it

The Oscar-winning filmmaker’s most expansive blockbuster also proves to be his most revealing, folding three decades of recurring obsessions into the story that may have inspired them all 

Christopher Nolan takes on one of the most well-known tales in history with a near-perfect retelling. 

The acclaimed director’s new film is released in cinemas tomorrow (July 17) The post ‘The Odyssey’ is Christopher Nolan’s best-reviewed film of his career: “Cinema may have peaked with this blockbuster epic” appeared first on NME.

Christopher Nolan has reached a career high with his epic take on Homer's The Odyssey, with five star reviews for the star-studded movie flooding in from around the globe.

Christopher Nolan has reached a career high with his epic take on Homer's The Odyssey, with five star reviews for the star-studded movie flooding in from around the globe.

Matt Damon as Odysseus in Christopher Nolan's new movieConsidering how well Oppenheimer performed among critics, at the box office and, eventually, during awards season, the stakes were high for Christopher Nolan’s follow-up, The Odyssey.An adaptation of Homer’s Ancient Greek epic, much has already been made of the film’s star-studded cast, massive scale and the gruelling shoot that its actors and crew were put through to bring the story to life.Fortunately, if reviews are anything to go by, it was all worth it.Critics have almost unanimously given The Odyssey a glowing reception, with words like “monumental”, “spectacular” and, of course, “epic” being thrown around already, while some are hailing it not just as the best film of the year, but of Nolan’s whole career (indeed, it currently boasts his highest score on the reviews site Rotten Tomatoes).Here’s a taste of what the reviews have said so far…Empire (5/5) “A worthy new translation of an ancient text, and yet another monumental piece of work from one of our boldest filmmakers.”The Guardian (5/5) “[A] breathtaking epic of men, monsters and moral metamorphosis [...] This is a film with thrilling ambition, boldness, seriousness, generosity and flair. There are some broad-brush moments in the dialogue, yes, but even these are applied with a muscular flourish.”Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland in The OdysseyThe Independent (5/5) “Christopher Nolan’s massive, fearless adaptation is his best film to date [...] It deserves to be the film that defines him.”The Times (5/5) “The film is a masterpiece in every way [...] there is a palpable yearning for primal storytelling and a need for art that can inform and instruct as well as entertain. Nolan has done it. This is the artwork.”Metro (5/5) “Make no bones about it: The Odyssey is a remarkable film, and quite a monumental achievement [...] It feels like there will be a ‘before The Odyssey’ and ‘after The Odyssey’ line drawn in cinema now.”The Telegraph (5/5) “Nolan and his collaborators have constructed a strange, fearsome and trailblazing machine of a movie – by some distance, the best of the year so far.”The Standard (5/5) “When the floor of the BFI IMAX quakes and the sound thunders up through the seats and into people’s bodies, it’s no false omen. It’s a pant-shaking signal that for the next three, humdinging hours you’re in for a colossal piece of cinema.”Some critics have called The Odyssey the best film of 2026 – and of Christopher Nolan's entire careerUSA Today (4/4) “There are delights in every aspect of The Odyssey, from production design to costumes [...] that sort of all-around excellence is a staple in Nolan’s filmography, be it in The Dark Knight, Interstellar or Oppenheimer. The Odyssey is truly special even among those, though, making a 3,000-year-old story feel fresh and original again.”Variety“There’s so much to feel here at a sensory level that the film gets away with its slightly aloof, soul-skirting chill; we leave it feeling that we’ve been to hell and back, and exhilaratingly so.”Deadline“Extraordinarily staged and brimming with profundity, The Odyssey is a thunderous, anti-war screed on the persistent damage of patriarchal arrogance.”Den Of Geek (4.5/5) “‘Epic’ does not begin to describe how massive the whole enterprise becomes. And when the time arrives to take it all out on those real Mediterranean waters, the wind could never be higher at the movie’s back.”Esquire“There were moments when the transitions felt too abrupt, and the modern dialogue clunked heavily in places. There are some weird bits, too, not least the way Nolan dresses Agamemnon like a Bronze Age Batman – an in-joke, surely – and the fact that Odysseus sails not in a Greek galley, but a Viking longboat. But as journeys go, The Odyssey is spectacular.”LA Times“Once you endure its opening stretch – an expositional barrage with the pace of an obnoxious cop show – The Odyssey ascends as a monument to movie craft with shuddering ships, rough-hewn landscapes and practical monsters who snatch and grab men at random from above like giant skill cranes.”Little White Lies“Those seeking the impressive colours that Ancient Greece was known for may be put out by this muted palette, but it’s hard to think of a contemporary filmmaker who mounts a spectacle with as much finesse as Nolan.”The Hollywood Reporter“A meditative action movie both immense and intimate, albeit one whose flow is impeded by the inherently episodic nature of the nonlinear source material and some questionable casting choices [...] It’s ironic, given the foundational influence of the text on modern Western storytelling, that there has never been an indisputably great screen version of Homer’s Odyssey, though Nolan, who also penned the adaptation, gets closer than some.”Time“There’s little in The Odyssey that breathes. It churns so dutifully toward its predictable conclusions [...] that you begin to wonder if it wouldn’t be a better use of your time to just stay home and read The Odyssey.“We want and need more movie artistry – and more dedication to the craft, which Nolan, no matter what you think of him, surely espouses. But a movie still needs to add up to something you actually want to watch, not just a testament to a filmmaker’s solemn dedication to the hallowed tradition of filmmaking.”The Odyssey is in cinemas from Friday 17 July.READ MORE:Can't Wait For The Odyssey? Everything We Know About The Christopher Nolan EpicThere's Good News And Bad News For Anyone Worried About The Odyssey's Epic RuntimeAll The Red Carpet Photos You Need To See From The Odyssey's Star-Studded Premiere

There are touches of ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘Memento’ and even his Batman movies in this enormous condensing of the British filmmaker’s fixations, brought to life by a cast of seemingly thousands – but it’s the women (among them Anne Hathaway and Samantha Morton) who steal the show

Christopher Nolan transforms Homer’s timeless epic into a visually staggering, emotionally resonant adventure led by a stellar ensemble. Grand in scale and intimate in emotion, The Odyssey is an immersive cinematic experience that rewards every minute of its three-hour runtime.

Getting home, and turning back the clock, has long been at the root of Christopher Nolan’s films.

The Odyssey Review: While the film is packed with spectacular battles and mythical encounters, what lingers long after the credits roll is something far more intimate.

The Odyssey Review: While the film is packed with spectacular battles and mythical encounters, what lingers long after the credits roll is something far more intimate.

‘The Odyssey’ Rotten Tomatoes Reviews Say Nolan Epic Hits A Homer  ForbesThe Odyssey review – Nolan goes god-tier with breathtaking epic of men, monsters and moral metamorphosis  The GuardianThe Odyssey: Christopher Nolan film starring Matt Damon and Zendaya receives rave reviews  BBC'Full of magic and humanity': Five things you need to know about The Odyssey  BBCThe Odyssey, review: An astonishing reimagining that gets to the soul of the story  The Telegraph

Ever since we first heard that Nolan was tackling Homer's epic poem, some of us have been worrying how long he might take over it.

Ever since we first heard that Nolan was tackling Homer's epic poem, some of us have been worrying how long he might take over it.

Few directors close the divide between the art film and the blockbuster like Christopher Nolan.

Christopher Nolan has never been afraid to think big, but with The Odyssey, he does something even more impressive. He takes one of the oldest stories ever told and makes it feel immediate and deeply human.

Christopher Nolan transforms Homer’s timeless epic into a visually staggering, emotionally resonant adventure led by a stellar ensemble. Grand in scale and intimate in emotion, The Odyssey is an immersive cinematic experience that rewards every minute of its three-hour runtime

Despite edit and pacing issues, Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' is epic in its visuals, sound, and design. The film adds layers of humanity and lessons to the Greek hero.

Featuring a star-studded cast and towering set pieces, this mind-boggling adventure needs to be seen on the big screen The post ‘The Odyssey’ review: cinema may have peaked with Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster epic appeared first on NME.

More than 70 years have passed since Hollywood last attempted a straight-up adaptation of Homer’s “Odyssey,” which is an unfathomable eternity considering both its standing as a foundational epic narrative — the hero’s journey to end, and begin, all hero’s journeys — and the industry’s tendency to recycle any halfway proven story material until it […]

There are touches of ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘Memento’ and even his Batman movies in this enormous condensing of the British filmmaker’s fixations, brought to life by a cast of seemingly thousands – but it’s the women (among them Anne Hathaway and Samantha Morton) who steal the show

Matt Damon’s sensitive and repentant Odysseus might come as a surprise to Homer, likewise some significant omissions concerning the poem’s female charactersPeter Bradshaw’s five star reviewIt would be easy to think that the Odyssey, Homer’s epic poem composed over 2,500 years ago, is all about Odysseus. It’s called the Odyssey, after all. It opens with the invocation to the Muse, “Tell me about a complicated man” – pulling no punches about the poem’s theme. This is, on the surface of things, an epic about a man coming home, a return voyage that spans fluorescent fantasy worlds and yawns across 10 years in the wake of the fall of Troy; a one-hero clash with monsters and princesses, giants and whirlpools, the fight to reclaim his place as king of Ithaca, and as the hero of an epic of his own.But the point about an epic is that it also contains multitudes. There is much that is epic about Christopher Nolan’s latest film. For those familiar with Nolan’s work, that hardly comes as a surprise. It’s a long watch, coming in at just under three hours. It reckons with the breadth of the Odyssean legend, from the sack of Troy all the way to Odysseus’s return, and seamlessly juggles the epic’s multiple timelines and flashbacks. And while the jaw-dropping cinematic effects of a feature film shot with Imax cameras might seem entirely modern, the way Nolan captures the smashing of a ship’s prow into the waves or the crunch of bones in the Cyclops’ jaws have their roots in the dynamic visuality of Homer’s poetry – what ancient commentators called enargeia, the epic’s ability to bring the world to life before your eyes. Continue reading...

Christopher Nolan directs epic fantasy for the first time with "The Odyssey," and the result is masterful.

Doing full justice to the Homeric legend, Christopher Nolan amasses an epic cast to convey the true cost of war with film-making of thrilling ambitionChristopher Nolan reinvents the Homeric legend as a colossal origin-myth story of postwar disillusion, an epic ordeal of anguish witnessed by the dead and presided over by capricious deities who participate on almost equal terms with the humans. It speaks to the generational pain of PTSD; plenty of soldiers come home in person after any war promptly enough, but arriving back to their prewar state emotionally or spiritually can take years or decades and may never happen at all. The invisible odyssey of anguish is punctuated by flashback episodes, hallucinations, confrontations with the arbitrary gods of dysfunction. And all the time the spouses and children cannot move on with their lives.This is a film with thrilling ambition, boldness, seriousness, generosity and flair. There are some broad-brush moments in the dialogue, yes, but even these are applied with a muscular flourish. It has gasp-inducing, Imax-sized landscapes of loneliness shot by cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema – who, incidentally, avoids the sea’s traditional cliched colour – and full-tilt battle sequences and fight scenes accompanied by the throbbing and thrumming of drums. Continue reading...

With a build-up filled with controversy and nit-picking, does Christopher Nolan’s big-budget epic rise above the discourse?

With a build-up filled with controversy and nit-picking, does Christopher Nolan’s big-budget epic rise above the discourse?

The Odyssey review A timeless epic reborn through Christopher Nolans genius

The Odyssey review A timeless epic reborn through Christopher Nolans genius

While some sections drag, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is a massive, awe-inspiring experience with a surprising emotional hook. Here's our review.

With a build-up filled with controversy and nit-picking, does Christopher Nolan’s big-budget epic rise above the discourse?

Nolan just having some dudes on horseback gallop across an ivory beach is a more awe-inspiring image than pretty much anything else you’ll see all year.

Thanks to a career-defining performance by Matt Damon, Christopher Nolan's most biggest film so far is also one of his best.

Christopher Nolan has never been a filmmaker afraid of scale. Whether exploring dreams, space travel, or the invention of the atomic bomb, his films have consistently grappled with ideas and images that feel larger than life. With The Odyssey, he turns his attention to perhaps the greatest epic ever written, adapting Homer’s timeless poem into […] The post The Odyssey Review: Christopher Nolan Movie Is a Once-in-a-Lifetime Cinematic Experience appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.

Speaking at the Indian premiere of ‘The Odyssey‘s Indian in Mumbai, Christopher Nolan reflects on finding destiny in Homer’s immortal epic, adapting a foundational classic, the mysteries of cultural permanence, and remaining faithful to the moviegoer who first fell in love with cinema

There are touches of ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘Memento’ and even his Batman movies in this enormous condensing of the British filmmaker’s fixations, brought to life by a cast of seemingly thousands – but it’s the women (among them Anne Hathaway and Samantha Morton) who steal the show

Early viewers were particularly impressed by Nolan's stunning IMAX visuals, cast performance and emotional storytelling.

Cinephiles are crossing oceans to see the film at its highest possible resolution – and only 41 cinemas in the world are equipped to do itIn Homer’s Odyssey, the hero Odysseus embarks on an epic journey spanning oceans, monsters and gods to return home to his family. In a remarkable parallel, Christopher Nolan’s fans are embarking on epic journeys of their own to see his adaptation of The Odyssey in one of the few surviving Imax 1570 cinemas around the world, the Oscar-winning film-maker’s preferred format.Nolan has long been a champion of Imax 1570 film, the highest-resolution film format in existence, named for the width of the film stock (70mm) and the 15 perforations on each frame. The Odyssey is the first feature film ever shot entirely on 1570 cameras, which are notoriously heavy, loud and require frequent reloading; the film stock had to be changed every three minutes during the Odyssey shoot, with Nolan working with Imax to develop a soundproofing “blimp” to house the 180kg camera to make it quiet enough for him to record dialogue on 1570 for the first time. Continue reading...

During a special fan screening in Mumbai on July 10, Emma Thomas passionately described 'The Odyssey' as captivating, immersive, and profoundly human. Christopher Nolan lightened the mood by playfully stating 'Matt, Tom, and Anne' as his three-word summary. With Indian fans getting an exclusive early glimpse, the team is now energetically engaged in a global promotional tour leading up to the film's premiere on July 17.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is about to surf the wine-dark sea into theaters everywhere, and between its star-studded cast and ecstatic early reviews, it’s likely to be a blockbuster. So if you’ve never read the 2800 year old poem on which it’s based — or you skimmed it in the 10th grade and haven’t thought […]

'The Odyssey' first reactions praise Christopher Nolan’s IMAX epic as casting backlash continues online.

The film is set to release on July 17

The Odyssey first reviews Christopher Nolans epic praised as crowning achievement

The star-studded spectacle hits cinemas on July 17.

Following the film’s premiere, critics are already calling the historical epic a best picture Oscar contender. Here’s what they had to sayThe Odyssey, Christopher Nolan’s three-hour version of Homer’s epic poem, world premiered in London on Monday night, and critics who saw the film there and at early screenings in the US have been sharing their takes on one of the year’s most hotly anticipated films.“Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey is a colossal origin-myth story of postwar disillusion and a loss of innocence witnessed by the dead,” wrote the Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw, ahead of the reviews embargo lifting next Wednesday and next Friday’s worldwide release. Continue reading...

Early viewers praised the film's immersive IMAX experience, supernatural themes and ensemble cast, calling it a must-watch on the biggest screen.

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has been met with huge praise in critics' first reactions after the global premiere in London on Monday.

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has been met with huge praise in critics' first reactions after the global premiere in London on Monday.

Matt Damon takes the lead as Odysseus in Christopher Nolan's The OdysseyWith just over a week to go until Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey completes its epic journey into cinemas, the film held its star-studded premiere on Monday night.A-list cast members including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron and Elliot Page were all present and correct as they joined the Oscar-winning director in London’s Leicester Square for the official first screening of his much-hyped movie.For now, full reviews are still under embargo, but those critics who have seen the film have now begun sharing their abridged thoughts on social media.And we’re happy to report that they’re almost unanimously glowing, with terms like “staggering”, “colossal” and “spectacular” being thrown around.There’s already some debate about where it falls in the echelon of Nolan’s work – one critic has claimed it’s too “clunky” to be considered his best, while others have said it’s a likely contender to match Oppenheimer by winning Best Picture at the Oscars – but the British filmmaker’s latest offering sounds like another must-watch.Oh, and while much has been made of the film’s stacked cast, something perhaps worth noting is just how much love there already is out there for Samantha Morton’s performance in the film.Check out a round-up of early reactions so far below…Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey is a colossal origin-myth story of postwar disillusion and a loss of innocence witnessed by the dead. Review later— Peter Bradshaw (@PeterBradshaw1) July 6, 2026as someone who has always been obsessed with the ancient world but has never had particularly strong feelings about christopher nolan… i am genuinely gobsmacked at how good THE ODYSSEY is— Clarisse Loughrey (@clarisselou) July 6, 2026Believe the hype(rbole): The Odyssey is that film. Dense but accessible, packed with career-best work from the stacked cast – Samantha Morton is extraordinary – it's a dizzying mix of craft and spectacle that's built to last. pic.twitter.com/cwpN4HvG73— Phil de Semlyen (@PhildeSemlyen) July 6, 2026Seen it twice, took so much away both times: a chilling vision of brutalised men seeing themselves in the eyes of women, a study of leadership and an old-school sweeping adventure tale. Even the cyclops got me in the feels. There's even a few laughs, too. Go see. Twice.— Phil de Semlyen (@PhildeSemlyen) July 6, 2026The Odyssey: a surprisingly natural (and less despairing) Oppenheimer follow-up about a man haunted by defying the gods & dooming civilization - this one fights to avenge his own hubris. IMAX obviously immense. too clunky to be S-tier Nolan, but the last act rewards the journey.— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) July 6, 2026THE ODYSSEY is a staggering achievement. It boasts spectacular & even terrifying set pieces that feel like Christopher Nolan fully embracing the horrors of Greek mythology. Yet, how he tastefully recontextualizes the story for the modern day is what has kept my head buzzing (1/2) pic.twitter.com/x1GJbwSOEK— Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626) July 6, 2026In a world where pride, ego, & entitlement continue to fuel wars & endless bloodshed, Nolan uses Odysseus’ ancient tale as a channel to question what it would take for us to truly forgive our past sins. Epic and meditative in equal measure, the ending left me soaring with hope.— Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626) July 6, 2026Breaking my Twitter hiatus to say that, yes, #TheOdyssey has the goods. Christopher Nolan's Ten Commandments, boasting a scope and scale that never intrudes on its intimacy. A grounded (but faithful) take on the epic myth, with some clever revisionist flair. Himesh Patel the MVP! pic.twitter.com/NyZbVYGcyn— Jeremy Mathai (@Somthin_Tookish) July 6, 2026Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is MONUMENTAL on so many levels. Yes, it really does attempt to condense nearly all of Homer inside of 3 hours. But it also tackles with more heart than any Nolan film since Interstellar his greatest muse... 1/3— David Crow (@DCrowsNest) July 6, 2026At heart, beneath the majesty, Nolan reveals himself to be a homebody whose great fear (shame?) is leaving home to do "important" things. Like Oppenheimer, though, Odyssey fixates on consequence--like, this time, leaving and being unable to regain that domesticity bliss… 2/3— David Crow (@DCrowsNest) July 6, 2026Tis emotionally layered, but must admit not the masterpiece of Oppe. It crams so much, including overly cautious fantasy elements & curious real Greek history like the SEA PEOPLE (classic profs just gasped!), that it’s scope outpaces even 70mm IMAX. But is gorgeously outstretched— David Crow (@DCrowsNest) July 6, 2026Must save more for the review, but short version: Anne Hathaway is the sincere anchor of the film and is phenomenal. My faves though are Samantha Morton as Circe and Rob Pattinson chewing scenery. Lupita Nyong'o is great but only briefly in it. Charize/Calypso not in it enough.— David Crow (@DCrowsNest) July 6, 2026THE ODYSSEY is a filmmaking feast. A grand and gripping rendition of Homer’s epic, and one that feels uniquely Christopher Nolan. It’s sincerely hard to imagine any other filmmaker on the planet being able to bring that source material to screen with this much scale, scope and… pic.twitter.com/7jOO5Ch9ZZ— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) July 6, 2026Nolan does a remarkable job weaving the episodes of the story together, and does it all while never skipping a beat. He hits that magical balance of crafting a movie that flies but also leaves you feeling as though you’ve just experienced a significant portion of the characters’…— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) July 6, 2026THE ODYSSEY is staggering. Earthy, ghostly, weighty, touched by humor and grandeur alike. It's pure cinema. Obviously the story is about returning home, but in a larger sense, this is also a return home to the robustly entertaining action movies that cinema was invented to tell.— Joshua Rothkopf (@joshrothkopf) July 6, 2026Also, people are not ready for how much Samantha Morton owns THE ODYSSEY — her scenes are simply incredible, witchy and wonderful.— Joshua Rothkopf (@joshrothkopf) July 6, 2026My high expectations were met at Chris Nolan's stunningly mounted The Odyssey in IMAX 70 mm. Matt Damon could win Best Actor and a bevy of supporting thesps and noms will follow. The BP to beat.— Anne Thompson (@akstanwyck) July 6, 2026Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of THE ODYSSEY is as epic as movies get with some of the most breathtaking set pieces he’s ever attempted. A colossal achievement of scale, even by Nolan’s standards, its commitment to capturing as much as possible in-camera using new IMAX cameras… pic.twitter.com/UOOHd6lkbT— Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) July 6, 2026The entire film is brutal, epic, and cinematic, but when you boil it down, The Odyssey is for men who yearn and women who love to read about them.And sadly, the yearning in 2026 is mostly in novels and screenplays.— 🍅Jacqueline🍅 (@THATJacqueline) July 6, 2026You are not ready for Samantha Morton in The Odyssey 🐦⬛ pic.twitter.com/KDgUsTEXXD— Nick de Semlyen (@NickdeSemlyen) July 6, 2026Anne Hathaway and Samantha Morton are the absolute stand-outs of THE ODYSSEY by the way— erin (@erinonfilm) July 7, 2026The Odyssey is Christopher Nolan’s first film since the success of his historical biopic Oppenheimer, which pulled in hundreds of millions at the box office and scooped seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and acting nods for Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr.Adapted from Homer’s Ancient Greek tome, the film centres around Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, as he makes an epic journey home to his family at the end of the Trojan war, enduring perilous conditions and supernatural encounters along the way.The Odyssey hits cinemas on Friday 17 July. Check out our quick guide to everything you need to know about what promises to be the year’s most talked-about film here.READ MORE:Already Excited For The Odyssey? Everything We Know About The Christopher Nolan EpicThere's Good News And Bad News For Anyone Worried About The Odyssey's Epic RuntimeChristopher Nolan Defends The Odyssey After Historical Accuracy Concerns

The first reactions to The Odyssey are here after the Christopher Nolan feature had its world premiere today in London. It is arguably the most highly anticipated movie of 2026, with 70mm IMAX tickets selling out a year before the release. Nolan recruited some of the biggest stars in Hollywood today to reinterpret one of […] The post The Odyssey’s First Reactions Are All Saying the Same Thing appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.

Christopher Nolan's epic film 'The Odyssey' is generating significant online buzz. Early reviews describe the monumental achievement as one of his finest works. The film's ensemble cast, including Matt Damon and Robert Pattinson, has drawn widespread acclaim. Critics are also praising the IMAX visuals, score, and surprising horror elements. 'The Odyssey' is poised to be a major cinematic event this summer.

While we knew when 70mm IMAX tickets were selling out a year ago that Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey would be a hit, we now have some confirmation that the film itself lives up to the standard we’ve come to expect from the director of Oppenheimer. Early reactions dropped today, and while these are always to […]

The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan's latest epic, has screened for some film critics, and the early reactions are universally positive.

Here's what those who just saw Christopher Nolan's epic are saying about the Universal film.

Social media reactions are in for Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s epic poem "The Odyssey," and critics so far are cheering the writer-director’s 13th film in his illustrious career.

Christoper Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has finally been unveiled to members of the film press, who are calling the Oscar winner’s adaptation of Homer’s epic a “staggering achievement” with “flawless filmmaking.” It appears Nolan has another huge hit on his hands. “A filmmaking feast,” wrote Collider’s Peri Nemiroff. “A grand and gripping rendition of Homer’s epic, […]