July 20, 2026 · Watch the trailer
Stories of mythic proportions are immortalized for posterity not merely for their scale, but for the truths, morals, and lessons those who hear them can glean to make their own lives better. Epic tales of battles won and tragic losses have been heralded throughout the centuries in a variety of ways, yet it has proven exceptionally difficult for modern storytellers to translate the greatest pieces of classical literature into appropriate cinematic interpretations.
Auteur filmmaker Christopher Nolan, known for his striking visual imagery and commitment to practical storytelling in an increasingly digitized age, has taken on the immense challenge of adapting Homer's tale of one man's quest to return home to his family into one of the decade's most overwhelming cinematic experiences.
"The Odyssey," which follows celebrated war hero Odysseus and his men as they journey home to Ithaca following the fall of Troy, is rightly the stuff of legend and something incredibly worthy of its nearly three-hour epic runtime. The first feature photographed entirely with IMAX film cameras, "The Odyssey" is a bittersweet, poignant, yet characteristically bombastic entry in the filmography of cinema's most divisive filmmaker—a man seemingly unfazed by the daunting challenge of re-immortalizing a mythic legend while humanizing him in unexpected ways.
Reuniting with Nolan for their third collaboration, Matt Damon delivers the finest performance of his career in the central role of Odysseus. A stoic, embattled warrior whose strength and unwavering moral code resonate through every facet of Damon's instinctive performance, Odysseus is nevertheless haunted by a quiet, almost fatalistic grief that lingers like a specter throughout the film. Damon masterfully evokes that emotional undercurrent despite the hardened exterior his character presents to the world.
The way Damon approaches Odysseus' relationships throughout "The Odyssey" reflects the careful balance both he and Nolan seek thematically within the narrative. It gradually becomes clear that Odysseus' journey home is equally an examination of how his fractured psyche came to exist in the first place. The self-assuredness he exudes among his soldiers, his unspoken bonds with leaders such as Agamemnon and Menelaus, and the quiet dignity with which he treats those beneath him all emerge as richly layered textures within Damon's performance.
The only true cracks in Odysseus' armor come when Damon allows his vulnerability to surface through memories of both his past and present, particularly in scenes involving his wife, Penelope, or the ethereal presence of the goddess Athena. Damon never portrays the character as descending into a Don Quixote-like madness. Instead, he grounds Odysseus' suffering in the heartbreak, frustration, and profound loss one might expect from a war veteran living with post-traumatic stress disorder. The way Damon and Nolan slowly reveal these emotional layers—as though unraveling a spool of wool over the course of nearly three hours—is exceptionally nuanced work that many viewers may not fully appreciate on an initial viewing, overwhelmed by the sheer seismic weight of the film itself.
Anne Hathaway's Penelope is perhaps the most fully realized and emotionally evocative female character in Nolan's entire filmography. The considerable authority Hathaway brings to the Queen of Ithaca is only overshadowed by the sheer amount of story "The Odyssey" must encompass.
Tom Holland as Telemachus and John Leguizamo as Eumaeus ground the humanity of the Ithacan storyline, providing audiences with ample perspective and justification for Odysseus' overwhelming desire to return home.
The film's unsung hero—and its rightful second lead—is Himesh Patel as Eurylochus, Odysseus' steadfast second-in-command. Patel perfectly balances Damon's conflicted warrior, and the relatively understated yet deeply realized bond the two men share, forged through war and mutual trauma, helps quantify for audiences the depth of love and respect Odysseus has for his men, fueling his determination to bring them safely home no matter the cost.
The richly textured ensemble consistently elevates the material, with Charlize Theron's Calypso and Samantha Morton's Circe making relatively brief appearances that propel both the story and its emotional undercurrents forward while stealing every scene in which they appear. Some viewers may find Zendaya's deliberately elusive portrayal of the goddess Athena underwhelming or emotionally distant. Yet it increasingly feels as though Nolan intentionally leaves audiences questioning whether Athena is truly communicating with Odysseus or merely represents the manifestation of the arguments he continues to wage within his own fragile psyche.
Nolan's screenplay, rather than being overly faithful to English translations of Homer's ancient Greek text, instead seems far more interested in exploring themes of aging, regret, and the lingering psychological scars of war on both a governmental and societal level, all filtered through the experiences of one man. A more comprehensive telling of "The Odyssey," one that fully explores the psychological depth and nuanced motivations of each character, would likely require a prestige television miniseries rather than a three-hour epic feature.
Although Nolan has rightfully been criticized in the past for underwriting female characters, "The Odyssey" does not seek to sideline or erase its powerful women. Instead, they are framed within the context of Odysseus' voyage, each serving as an essential emotional or philosophical touchstone that helps define both the man and the journey itself.
From a purely technical perspective, "The Odyssey" is a crowning achievement and the culmination of decades of collaborative filmmaking at its finest. Nolan and frequent collaborator, cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, achieve astonishing results through the immense scope afforded by shooting exclusively with IMAX film cameras. The format allows audiences to stand directly in the thick of battle, witness giants and monsters in their full mythic grandeur, while simultaneously conveying the isolation and infinitesimal nature of Odysseus' lonely voyage home.
There are any number of instantly iconic images throughout Nolan's film, from Odysseus' encounters with towering Cyclopes and giant warriors to the arresting landscapes that give Ithaca its grace while transforming the open sea into a vast prison separating a husband from his family. The remarkable diversity of the film's production design, lighting, locations, and practical sets continually refreshes the visual palette, providing constantly engaging environments for Nolan to explore. Audiences will frequently find themselves wondering how he and his collaborators managed to capture imagery of such immense scale through practical filmmaking rather than digital illusion.
Equally mesmerizing is the haunting score from Academy Award-winning composer Ludwig Göransson, who imbues the film with an overwhelming sense of purpose while continually heightening and challenging the audience's emotions despite working without the benefit of a traditional orchestra. Instead, Göransson builds his score around bronze drums, authentic Greek lyres, and other period-appropriate instruments, creating an emotional through line within the film's soundscape that further envelops audiences in the mythic world of "The Odyssey."
As a film already being heralded for its unprecedented achievement as the first feature photographed entirely with IMAX film cameras, there will rightfully be considerable discussion surrounding the ideal format in which to experience "The Odyssey," particularly since its native IMAX 70mm presentation will be available in fewer than 50 theaters worldwide. Fortunately, whether viewed in IMAX or in a traditional theatrical presentation, audiences will still feel the immense wave of emotion and cinematic energy Nolan creates. Regardless of format, "The Odyssey" is a film that deserves to be experienced on the biggest screen possible.
It is difficult to imagine Nolan's thirteenth feature film receiving anything fewer than double-digit Academy Award nominations next spring. Best Picture, Best Director, and numerous technical categories appear to be virtual certainties, while "The Odyssey" could realistically contend for as many as four or five acting nominations, with Damon the most likely candidate alongside worthy supporting performances from Hathaway, Leguizamo, and Morton.
Viewers who have historically struggled to connect with Nolan's filmography, particularly outside of "The Dark Knight" trilogy, may find "The Odyssey" somewhat meandering or overly self-important. However, ardent Nolan admirers and cinephiles alike should make "The Odyssey" an unquestioned priority during this summer movie season.
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