In Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey,’ an Ancient Epic Reborn

Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey has arrived in theaters, and critics are calling it a landmark achievement. The film, which opened July 17 in the United States and United Kingdom, has earned a 95% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes from 374 reviews, with a 97% Audience Score from over 5,000 verified ratings. With a $250 million budget and an opening weekend of $82.3 million domestically, the epic has already grossed $264 million worldwide as of July 19.

A Homecoming for Nolan

The film marks a deeply personal project for Nolan, who began writing the script in March 2024 and secured the project with Universal Pictures by October of that year. According to AP News, the director studied several translations of Homer’s epic, primarily Emily Wilson’s 2017 translation, and drew inspiration from Andrei Tarkovsky’s Andrei Rublev, Akira Kurosawa’s Ran, and the films of Ray Harryhausen.

NPR critic Justin Chang described the film as “a homecoming for Christopher Nolan,” noting that “The Odyssey feels like a prism through which his earlier films can be more deeply understood.” The film is Nolan’s first to be shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film, a format that cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema and Nolan have pushed to new extremes.

A Stellar Ensemble

Matt Damon leads the cast as Odysseus, undergoing extensive physical preparation that included a strict diet to reduce his weight to 167 pounds and growing a full beard for a year. The ensemble includes Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Robert Pattinson as the suitor Antinous, Lupita Nyong’o in a dual role as Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra, Samantha Morton as Circe, Zendaya as Athena, and Charlize Theron as Calypso.

Filming took place from February to August 2025 across six countries plus Western Sahara, including Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Iceland, Malta, and the Universal Studios Lot in Los Angeles. The film’s 173-minute runtime moves swiftly, with critics praising Nolan’s decision to keep the gods largely off-screen, grounding the mythological tale in a gritty realism.

Critical Consensus

The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes reads: “Reinvigorating an ancient adventure with majestic sweep and sterling work by its colossal ensemble, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey imbues myth with primal human feeling.” AP critic Jake Coyle awarded the film 3.5 out of 4 stars, calling it “the definitive big-screen adaptation of one of literature’s oldest tales.”

Chang praised the film’s performances, noting that “Damon fully conveys [Odysseus’s regret] in a terse, plain-spoken performance that ranks among his finest work.” The Ringer’s Adam Nayman described the film as “the blockbuster as a dark-hued Trojan horse,” while Christian Science Monitor’s Peter Rainer wrote of “the exhilaration of knowing that such a timeless tale as Homer’s was, indeed, still timeless.”

Controversies and Conversations

Like any major Nolan release, The Odyssey has not been without controversy. The film has sparked debate over its historical accuracy, with critics pointing to anachronistic Corinthian helmets from the Classical period appearing in a Bronze Age setting, and Viking-style longships instead of Greek biremes. Nolan’s casting choices have also drawn attention: Lupita Nyong’o’s role as Helen of Troy prompted accusations from figures like Matt Walsh and Elon Musk, which Nolan defended by noting the purely mythic nature of the tale. The production’s decision to film in Dakhla, Western Sahara — a Moroccan-occupied territory — drew criticism from Sahrawi activists and Spanish filmmakers.

What’s Next

The Odyssey opened against strong competition from Project Hail Mary and Toy Story 5, yet still secured the second-highest opening weekend for an R-rated film in 2026, behind only Deadpool & Wolverine. With a 95% critical score and strong word-of-mouth, the film is positioned for a long theatrical run. For Nolan, who has spent much of his career exploring themes of time, memory, and the struggle to return home, The Odyssey represents both a culmination and a new beginning — an ancient story made urgently, vibrantly new.