The Odyssey First Reviews: Another Christopher Nolan Masterpiece and One of the Best Films of the Year
Critics say Nolan's adaptation is one of the greatest epic fantasies ever made, on par with the great spectacles of the past, but strengthened by powerful, intimate performances.
Christopher Nolan’s epic adaptation of The Odyssey arrives in theaters this weekend, and the first reviews are now online, many of them declaring it one of the best movies of the year. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, a Greek king on a lengthy journey home after fighting in the Trojan War and facing dangerous obstacles along the way. He’s joined by an all-star cast including Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Elliott Page, and John Leguizamo, with all of them receiving praise for their performances.
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Here’s what critics are saying about The Odyssey:
Has Christopher Nolan made another masterpiece?
The Odyssey is Nolan’s crowning achievement. – Mike Ryan, The Hard Pass
Nolan’s Odyssey is a cinematic triumph. – Hoai-Tran Bui, Inverse
Unlike anything Nolan has made before… [It’s] one of the greatest epic fantasy films ever made. – M.N. Miller, InSession Film
The Odyssey may truly be the crowning achievement of 2026. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
It’s a genuine masterclass in filmmaking that’s awe-inducing, breathtaking and impeccably composed, filled with soul-shattering performances and standout craftsmanship. – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction
The Odyssey is an awe‑inspiring, epic filmmaking achievement. It gobsmacked me so hard, I couldn’t leave my IMAX 70MM seat long after the credits rolled. – Rendy Jones, Rendy Reviews
This is a tremendous artistic triumph. – Alan Cerny, VitalThrills.com
A towering piece of craftsmanship. – Kathia Woods, Cup of Soul
The Odyssey is easier to respect than love, a technically staggering journey that never fully sweeps you out to sea. – Nagier Chambers, Big Gold Belt Media
Where does it rank among his movies?
Nolan’s best work to date. It deserves to be the film that defines him. – Clarisse Loughrey, Independent
I’m pretty sure it’s my favorite Christopher Nolan movie. – Mike Ryan, The Hard Pass
Is it my favorite Christopher Nolan film? No, but it is arguably his most impressive: his crowning achievement. – Patrick Beatty, See It or Skip It
This is among his best – alongside The Dark Knight and Interstellar – and one of his most rewatchable. – Rendy Jones, Rendy Reviews
It never quite reaches the heights of his best work…Oppenheimer and Dunkirk remain stronger, tighter achievements. – Kathia Woods, Cup of Soul
It sits below his very best. It is ambitious, beautiful, and solid, but not unforgettable. – Nagier Chambers, Big Gold Belt Media
I don’t think this is Christopher Nolan’s best film, but that’s semantics at this point – this is a towering achievement in cinema no matter how I rank it. – Alan Cerny, VitalThrills.com
Will mainstream audiences enjoy it?
It’s also a crowdpleaser in every sense of the word, a rousing and spectacular feat of blockbuster entertainment. – Hoai-Tran Bui, Inverse
It’s a rare blockbuster that respects its audience, challenges them emotionally, and leaves them in complete awe of what cinema is capable of achieving. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
It’s a rare modern blockbuster that doesn’t feed us lotus flowers. – Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
Nolan fans will walk out satisfied, and everyone else will at least walk out impressed. – Kathia Woods, Cup of Soul
How is it as an adaptation of Homer’s classic?
As a feat of pure adaptation, Nolan has achieved something I admittedly thought was near impossible. His stamp is all over the film, yet it never wavers in its commitment to, and comprehension of, its source text. – Clarisse Loughrey, Independent
What makes Nolan’s The Odyssey special is that he doesn’t treat the text as a work in amber. Rather, it becomes a reflection of contemporary concerns, meant not to comment on the past, but on a present in which political ambition and the zealotry it breeds are a choking smog. – Siddhant Adlakha, JoySauce.com
Nolan, who adapted the script, takes liberties, but they’re in the name of simultaneously expanding and uniting various accounts of Odysseus’ deeds in service of a larger, more elusive goal. – Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
The screenplay, for which author Nolan gives Homer some credit, is chock-full of anachronisms. – Tim Cogshell, Alt Film Guide
Does it play around with structure like other Nolan movies?
This is a Christopher Nolan movie, so of course it’s not told completely in a linear fashion. But I can’t go along with “obvious flashbacks” being in the same league as what he did in Tenet or Dunkirk. – Mike Ryan, The Hard Pass
He weaves together the parallel journeys of father and son, Odysseus and Telemachus, in a manner reminiscent of The Godfather Part II. As the two narratives gradually converge, their eventual reunion feels earned, making the emotional payoff all the more rewarding. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
His film streamlines the Homeric epic and doesn’t play with form and structure in the way that Nolan’s movies are known to do. It may, in fact, be even more linear than the original epic poem. – Hoai-Tran Bui, Inverse
Nolan’s fractured-timeline instincts, usually his greatest asset, work against the episodic nature of Homer’s story. – Kathia Woods, Cup of Soul
Is it hard to follow?
Having such a diverse-looking cast actually helps keep the story in order. – Mike Ryan, The Hard Pass
Shifting storylines also make the film feel more alive. By the thrilling third act, they converge in ways that reveal the shared themes and subtext running beneath Odysseus’s journey. – M.N. Miller, InSession Film
There’s a scene where a character tells a story which itself contains a story, and the presentation is as fluid as our own thoughts. – Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
The way it’s edited – flashing forward and backward on the timeline – might prove challenging for some audiences to read the impactful emotionality. – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction
The straightforward storytelling makes the film accessible, but it also removes some of the conceptual spark many associate with Nolan’s best work. – Nagier Chambers, Big Gold Belt Media
Are there any Nolan-esque twists?
There is no single, seismic twist of the kind often associated with Nolan, but the film’s quieter revelations are subtle, powerful, and unusually profound. – M.N. Miller, InSession Film
How does the movie look?
Gorgeously filmed by cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema…who finds the impossible blue of the sea, the uncanny hugeness of the Trojan horse washed up on a beach, the harrowing shadow of a monster in the dark. – Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
Every frame looks like a painting. Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema works mythical magic within the facets of warm light and deep recesses of darkness. – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction
Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography is outstanding wine — dark seas that swallow the frame, torch-lit halls, and coastlines that look carved by the gods themselves. – Kathia Woods, Cup of Soul
It features landscape shots aplenty, but the technology is used more to highlight isolation than natural beauty. It’s a work of intimate, rankled close-ups magnified for the largest possible canvas, awash in cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema’s flickering flames. – Siddhant Adlakha, JoySauce.com
This may be career-best cinematography from Hoyte van Hoytema, and that is truly saying something. – Alan Cerny, VitalThrills.com
Van Hoytema and Nolan’s decision to shoot some of these sequences in heavy darkness, with no clear sense of geography…doesn’t always make for the best viewing experience. – Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
It’s too dark and monochromatic. – Tim Cogshell, Alt Film Guide
Are there any impressive action sequences?
Nolan creates battle sequences that rattle your bones and build to a wild, frenzied crescendo. – Hoai-Tran Bui, Inverse
The Odyssey’s battle scenes are shot tightly, edited choppily, and come to life mostly in their sound design. – Tim Cogshell, Alt Film Guide
The action is not as powerful as it should be. For a story rooted in ancient vengeance, brutality, and mythic violence, the physical payoff feels too muted. – Nagier Chambers, Big Gold Belt Media
[Nolan] has to finally work with a second unit director because he can’t shoot action. There’s a good seven minutes dedicated to climactic swordplay and weapon-oriented action, and it’s so choppy, poorly staged, and blocked. – Rendy Jones, Rendy Reviews
A final battle scene, in particular, feels needlessly chaotic and unfocused. – Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
Which scenes will wow us the most?
The film is filled with images that leave you wondering how they were even captured, particularly during the Cyclops encounter and the numerous sequences at sea. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
The jaw-dropping Cyclops scenes and Samantha Morton’s remarkable cameo as Circe to the breathtaking song of the Sirens sequence — all [are] destined to be remembered as classic cinematic moments for years to come. – M.N. Miller, InSession Film
How does it compare to other movies of its kind?
It’s not hyperbolic to compare it to the grand epics of Hollywood’s Golden Age. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
Nolan’s dissection of myth and legend looms large over them all in its ideas, purpose, and intent. – Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
In some of the action sequences, there’s a dash of the Ray Harryhausen swords-and-sandals epics that most memorably brought Greek myths to the big screen. – Hoai-Tran Bui, Inverse
[Its] emotional foundation distinguishes the film from many ancient Greek spectacles, allowing audiences to feel the consequences of Odysseus’s journey rather than merely admire its mythic scale. – M.N. Miller, InSession Film
I would never have believed that when it came to a comparison between a Christopher Nolan and a Brad Pitt movie [Troy], I’d find myself writing that the one starring Pitt is better. But it is. – Tim Cogshell, Alt Film Guide
Will we feel the three-hour runtime?
It’s surprisingly fast-paced. – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction
Jennifer Lame’s meticulous editing allows the three-hour runtime to move at a surprisingly brisk pace. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
It feels shorter than its 172-minute runtime, thanks mainly to Nolan and his regular editor Jennifer Lame treating time as as less a line than a map spread out on the screen. – Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
The film’s nearly three-hour runtime is never felt as she’s working at the height of her power. – Rendy Jones, Rendy Reviews
Its lengthy runtime starts to sag somewhere in the middle. – Hoai-Tran Bui, Inverse
How is Matt Damon as Odysseus?
Damon delivers the goods, building depth and dimension into the role of a man haunted by his legacy and law-breaking. He shines in the final act. – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction
Matt Damon gives one of the strongest leading-man performances of his career as Odysseus, channeling the same masculine yet vulnerable qualities that Russell Crowe so brilliantly displayed in Gladiator. – Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
Matt Damon delivers one of the most understated yet quietly commanding performances of his career. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
You would not call this Damon’s best performance… but it may be his most impressive. – M.N. Miller, InSession Film
Matt Damon is incredible here…It’s hard to say if this is the best performance of his career because it feels like he’s just getting started. – Alan Cerny, VitalThrills.com
Although Damon plays Odysseus as an old-fashioned movie hero along the lines of Gary Cooper, there’s more going on in his performance and Nolan’s script than feats of strength and goodness. – Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
It’s not showy work, but it’s the kind of sturdy, grounded performance this material needs to keep three hours of gods and monsters tethered to something human. – Kathia Woods, Cup of Soul
Does Tom Holland feel like a good fit with the rest of the ensemble?
Holland, doing career-best work, effectively charts Telemachus’s maturation. – Clarisse Loughrey, Independent
This is Holland’s most mature performance and likely the best of his career aside from Spider-Man. – Patrick Beatty, See It or Skip It
The revelation here is Tom Holland…If anyone doubted Holland had a career beyond Peter Parker, his performance should settle it. – Kathia Woods, Cup of Soul
While Tom Holland doesn’t quite reach the same dramatic heights as many of his co-stars, he still delivers one of the strongest performances of his career in quite some time. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
Holland’s Telemachus suffers from being just fine; the actor mostly offers a solid foundation off of which the other scenery-chewing actors can bounce off. – Hoai-Tran Bui, Inverse
In one of the most miscast performances of the year and of Nolan’s filmography, Holland isn’t up to the task…and isn’t able to get on the same wavelength as every other actor he shares a screen with. – Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch
Who are some of the other standouts in the cast?
Although he has little to do, particularly in terms of action, Leguizamo manages to stand out. – Tim Cogshell, Alt Film Guide
Leguizamo has never been better… but the real scene-stealers are Zendaya and Page. – M.N. Miller, InSession Film
It’s the women – Hathaway, Morton, Theron, Zendaya, and Nyong’o, who also plays Helen’s sister Clytemnestra – who really dazzle. – Clarisse Loughrey, Independent
The unassailable MVP is Hathaway, who carries a wealth of emotions with her in any given scene. – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction
Anne Hathaway is one of the film’s MVPs…delivering one of the finest performances of her career. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
Samantha Morton is another standout as Circe. She does not need a massive amount of screen time to make an impact. – Nagier Chambers, Big Gold Belt Media
The inarguable standout is Samantha Morton, who is a force of nature as the frightful and frightened Circe. – Hoai-Tran Bui, Inverse
How is Ludwig Göransson’s score?
Ludwig Göransson…turns in another unorthodox and memorable score that brings classical and modern music together into something wholly unique. – Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
Magnificent…[it] may very well be his most ambitious work to date, enhancing every emotional beat and action sequence without ever overpowering the story itself. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
One of the strongest parts of the film comes from its score. – Patrick Beatty, See It or Skip It
Ludwig Göransson’s score may be the film’s greatest achievement. – Nagier Chambers, Big Gold Belt Media
Göransson brings his A-game…In the future, though, I would encourage Göransson and Nolan to stray from that washing-machine spin cycle rhythmic ramp-up that a few pieces here contain. – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction
What are The Odyssey’s biggest chances for Oscars?
You may as well give [Hoyte van Hoytema] the Oscar right now. – Alan Cerny, VitalThrills.com
Not only is [Göransson] a legitimate contender for a fourth Academy Award, but he also has an opportunity to become one of the few composers in history to win back-to-back Oscars. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
Don’t be surprised when [Göransson’s] name gets called up for another Academy Award. – Patrick Beatty, See It or Skip It
The Odyssey’s sound design is nothing short of astounding. – Tim Cogshell, Alt Film Guide
Leguizamo might be due for a ceremonial “you’ve been great for decades in everything” supporting award, but he’d have to get past Robert Pattinson as Antinous. – Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
Are there any noteworthy complaints about the movie?
The film occasionally loses its way a bit, just as Odysseus did. – Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
The pacing moves in uneven waves, sometimes full throttle, sometimes oddly stalled. – Nagier Chambers, Big Gold Belt Media
Not every section is equally effective, which can make the film feel uneven. – M.N. Miller, InSession Film
An uneven narrative structure. Nolan’s emphasis on realism deprives us of the story’s more fantastical elements. – Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
In a source text where women hold genuine narrative power, watching this much talent reduced to divine set dressing feels like a missed opportunity Nolan should have outgrown by now. – Kathia Woods, Cup of Soul
Will we want to watch it more than once?
Like Homer’s epic before it, this feels like the kind of film that audiences will revisit and celebrate for decades to come. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
It will undoubtedly improve upon repeat viewings. – Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction
If any Nolan film were to benefit from a rewatch, it’s The Odyssey, but the first time around is just as compelling. – Siddhant Adlakha, JoySauce.com
Do we need to see it on the big screen?
The Odyssey is a stunning cinematic journey that must be seen in a theater on the biggest screen possible. – Patrick Beatty, See It or Skip It
It is a major cinematic event and absolutely worth seeing in the biggest format possible. – Nagier Chambers, Big Gold Belt Media
To deny yourself the experience of seeing this film, experiencing its impact and power on the biggest IMAX screen you can find, would be a mistake. – Alan Cerny, VitalThrills.com
Christopher Nolan has spent the better part of two decades reminding audiences why the theatrical experience matters, and with The Odyssey, he may have delivered the defining work of that mission. – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel
The Odyssey is in theaters on July 17, 2026. Buy tickets on Fandango.
