The Odyssey (2026) Review

[00:00:00]So, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. I dare say this might be my favorite Nolan film because uh Christopher Nolan, like a lot of storytellers, he does have an appreciation for Homer's The Odyssey, and he does more than uh give it a fresh coat of blockbuster allure with his adaptation. The importance of storytelling and how it molds us is never lost amid the impressive IMAX cinematography and visual effects.

[00:00:24]Rather than merely retell what so many have for centuries, Nolan takes this foundational lattice for grand stories and makes it more of his own with a thoughtful and exciting approach. And that thoughtfulness in the script is rather refreshing for a movie that boasts a maneating Cyclops and intense scenes of war. What makes this work so well is how Nolan carries over his nonlinear multi-perspective narrative format from Oppenheimer, painting a complete picture by jumping around where it is thematically important. He frames the protagonist of Odysius, played by Matt Damon, as someone worn and weary, struggling to recall the many years of combat and despair that came before. The king of Ithaca led a triumphant campaign against Troy with the Trojan horse deception. With many singing his praises, he appears as a cunning strategist. But what happened to his crew? And why has he not yet returned to Ithaca? His kingdom could really use a king with his despairing wife Penelopey, played by Anne Hathaway, and his son Tamilicus, played by Tom Holland, losing hope with the cruel and eager suitor Antinuis, played by Robert Patson, aiming to marry his way onto the throne.

[00:01:35]A bitter Tmicus takes it upon himself to learn about and seek out his missing father. What he discovers is a history of victories and messes, revealing a complex portrait of a man who defies the gods and suffers as he reaches the limits of his ambitions and leadership.

[00:01:52]Now, there are plenty of familiar elements from the classic story, but they're told in a way that invites deeper contemplation on Odysius's uh dark voyage. An encounter with a massive Cyclops is presented with more terrifying horror than fantastical awe.

[00:02:09]It's a haunting sight, not merely because this monster devours the Greek soldiers and spits out their helmets like pits like the pits of olives. The Cyclops looks more human than otherworldly with a gangly frame and an eerie human face featuring a vertically set eye. Nolan isn't afraid to make even the most magical moments more grimy to enhance the failure and humiliation of Odysius. The film embraces body horror in the scene uh where the witch Cersei played by uh Samantha Morton transforms the soldiers into swine, literally molding their bodies into the animal of her choice. And that devotion to making this dangerous adventure seem more real and gritty is what grounds a film that could have gotten lost in the grandiose battles of dozens of warriors and the pulsepounding earthshaking score by Ludwig Goransson. Consider the Trojan horse segment which is portrayed as a draining experience of many men drowning and dying when hidden within this tribute. Odysius and his devoted men like Menaus, played by Joe Bernthal, endure a horrific experience of being forced alongside dead bodies while waiting to strike. It is one of the many bitter losses for this king charging into battle where there is plenty more death in his future, even previewed amid a trip to Hades. The favoring of brutal realism in a story of monsters, magic, and communication with the dead ensures that the more fantastical moments come off more illuminating than ordinary. The sparing use of Zenia as the onlooking Athena has a more profound effect in the few times that she appears before Odysius, offering wise words when needed and sympathetic tears when she witnesses how far this man will fall. That natural staging also carries into the many uh smaller performances as well. Characters will speak of their ambitions for power and adherence to Zeus's law, but they'll also berate with such flowery dismissals as [ __ ] off. And I'm sure there'll be some debate and nitpickery about whether the abundant cast might not deliver the perceived cadence of this Greek myth.

[00:04:18]But they do give genuine performances that emphasize the text's emotion rather than letting the theatrics crowd them out. Matt Damon works well for the role of Odysius as an older man who has seen the worst of mankind, which has taken a toll on his mind and body. His ability to return home and cleanse the throne of those hungry to take advantage of his absence becomes more of a personal journey for accepting his failures than merely finding the best route. That said, when he does return, Nolan doesn't skimp on making that showdown a thrilling note to end the movie on, running dangerously close to becoming a cathartic revenge fantasy, uh, with satisfying punchlines and stabbings of plenty. This direction enhances even the smallest roles. Elliot Page doesn't have much screen time as as seen none, uh, but he delivers a powerful storm of bitter words against Odysius and Hades.

[00:05:14]The anger never subsides amid the filthy makeup and the many dead soldiers surrounding him in that scene. Lupita Niongo as Helen of Troy does far more than let her face tell her story, revealing murderous vengeance behind closed doors and somber admissions. John Leguisamo's umeas has a lot of charm in how he quietly spits upon the many suitors of the queen more pigish than the swine that he cares for. And that's only scratching the surface of how many more powerful performers are given more depth than mere players in this intricate picture. Although there is plenty of despair in the movie, there's also great thrill in this death-filled epic. Once more, Nolan's nonlinear style comes to the rescue by tightly editing so many key events to their most powerful beats. The Trojan War is diced up throughout, progressively revealed when most suitable and from different accounts. Menaaus might stress the sacrifice and strategy that led to the taking of Troy, but Odysius recalls the inhumanity that came with the slaughter once the gates were open. The loss of Odysius's men weighs heavily on his soul as the quest home continues with great concern from the questioning Urillicus, played by Himesh Patel. The thought placed into this character's perception of a crumbling civilization makes the more bloodpopping moments of slaughtering giants and tremendous storms at sea all the more engrossing.

[00:06:38]Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is the ideal epic as eyepopping in its spectacle as it is thoughtful in its portrayal of complex characters. While sharing the same storytelling and editing as Oppenheimer, the film also harbors the same interest in exploring the deepest flaws of men who accomplished towering achievements that offered little comfort to their souls. A lesser director might have favored a more swashbuckling action adventure or a muted recitation. Nolan proves that you can approach even the most ancient retellings if you have something to say and a vision to make the story your own.

[00:07:12]And for that fearless devotion, there's little doubt in my mind that this is one of Nolan's best movies.