The Odyssey – Movie Review (4/5)

THE ODYSSEY is the latest movie from Christopher Nolan, who has now turned his attention to a full-blown epic adventure. A mythical action epic, if you will. It’s the perfect genre blend for anyone who loves adventure stories. And I certainly do. Read our review of The Odyssey here and watch it in your local movie theater!

THE ODYSSEY is coming to theaters worldwide, and I cannot recommend it enough. Christopher Nolan’s latest movie delivers on epic monsters, a wildly inventive witch, brutal battle sequences, and unforgettable heroes and villains. It’s exactly the kind of genre mash-up adventure fans dream about.

And yes, I’m absolutely one of them.

Of course, the story itself and the fact that Christopher Nolan is behind the movie are enough to get anyone’s attention. Then you have the ensemble cast, which is overflowing with A-list Hollywood talent. Even the smaller supporting roles are filled with major names.

In this story, sprawling across multiple locations and spanning decades, there are quite a few “smaller” key characters as well. Of course, the movie also has a hefty three-hour runtime.

Keep reading our review of The Odyssey below. The movie opens in US theaters on July 17, 2026.

Nothing Short of an Epic Adventure

As I’ve already established, adventure stories are very much my thing, so The Odyssey is the kind of movie that seems tailor-made for me. Add Christopher Nolan as director, and this incredible cast, and it would have taken quite a spectacular crash for me not to enjoy it.

Thankfully, it easily lived up to my high expectations. Sure, it could have been trimmed just a little, but then again, it also has an enormous story to tell. The kind that truly deserves the “epic” moniker!

Whether your heart beats for space adventures like Star Wars or more grounded, yet equally magical, fantasy worlds like The Lord of the Rings, this is the story that came before them all. Homer’s Odyssey (or at least the version attributed to Homer, even if these tales likely existed long before they were written down) is truly ancient. Literally.

We’re talking about stories that are, at least in part, older than the New Testament itself. These are the myths that inspired many (if not most) of the countless epic adventures that followed. Trying to summarize the plot here would honestly do you more harm than good.

There are too many names, gods, kingdoms, and characters for a quick overview to make much sense.

That alone makes Christopher Nolan’s achievement all the more impressive. He somehow keeps the audience oriented throughout this massive story. Yes, you need to pay attention, but I think it’s perfectly fair to expect that from anyone sitting down to watch a Christopher Nolan movie. Or any movie, for that matter.

And if you do go see The Odyssey (which I absolutely recommend), you’ll be treated to several sequences that could easily have come straight out of a horror movie.

Enjoy the Incredible Cast Bringing Homer’s Odyssey to Life

I’m of the firm conviction that a movie like The Odyssey gives filmmakers plenty of room to be creative with casting. That’s exactly why I loved seeing Elliot Page (The Umbrella Academy) in such a pivotal role. Christopher Nolan has, after all, worked with the actor ever since Inception (2010).

The same goes for the casting of Helen of Troy, played here by the wonderful Lupita Nyong’o (Us, A Quiet Place: Day One). At the end of the day, we’re talking about mythology.

Through generations, many have had no problem portraying Jesus as blond-haired and blue-eyed. Even to this day. On that same token, no one should be overly sensitive about casting choices in other legendary tales of the epic and mythical kind. And that’s all I’ll say on that subject.

Leading the cast are Matt Damon (Oppenheimer), Anne Hathaway (Interstellar), and Tom Holland (The Devil All the Time), who provide the emotional backbone of the story. Supporting them in key roles are Robert Pattinson (Tenet), Zendaya (Euphoria, Dune), John Leguizamo, and Charlize Theron (The Old Guard).

Genre fans, in particular, will also have plenty of familiar faces to enjoy. Among them are Jon Bernthal, Mia Goth (MaXXXine), James Remar (Dexter), Logan Marshall-Green, Ryan Hurst (Sons of Anarchy), Samantha Morton (Alpha from The Walking Dead), Himesh Patel, and Josh Stewart (The Collected).

Watch The Odyssey in Theaters

Christopher Nolan once again wrote the screenplay himself while also directing and producing the movie. As usual, he produced it alongside Emma Thomas through their production company, Syncopy. That’s long been the formula that allows Christopher Nolan to fully realize his creative vision.

Naturally, The Odyssey is based on Homer’s epic poem. As mentioned earlier, scholars still debate whether Homer actually wrote these stories or if he ought to be credited more for compiling existing myths into one monumental tale.

Whatever its true origins, Christopher Nolan has transformed this timeless myth into a breathtaking cinematic epic. So why doesn’t it quite earn a perfect score? For me, it comes down to the runtime. It never feels painfully long, but you do become aware of just how much time has passed.

My editor (and Heaven of Horror co-founder) felt this even more strongly than I did, but I ultimately agree that it’s the one element holding the movie back.

And despite my love for adventure stories, I still think both Inception and Interstellar remain stronger films. Those are movies I cannot stop watching if I happen to come across them playing on good ol’ flow TV, commercials and all. That says quite a lot.

The Odyssey is playing in US theaters from July 17, 2026.

📺 Watch trailer

Details

Director: Christopher Nolan
Script: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Mia Goth, James Remar, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Nick E. Tarabay