The Odyssey, 2026
Written and Directed by Christopher Nolan.
Starring Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Zendaya, Benny Safdie, Jon Bernthal, John Leguizamo, Himesh Patel, Mia Goth, Will Yun Lee, Jimmy Gonzáles, Elliot Page, Bill Irwin, Samantha Morton, Jesse García, Rafi Gavron, Shiloh Fernandez, Corey Hawkins, Nick E. Tarabay, Maurice Compte, Michael Vlamis, Iddo Goldberg, Josh Stewart, Ryan Hurst, Anthony Molinari, Jovan Adepo, Logan Marshall-Green, James Remar, Travis Scott, Douglas Rouillard, Jorge Leon, Andrei Lenart, Kamden Riley, Ryan de Quintal, Jarreth J. Merz, Markie Farnsley, Stephen Murphy, Matt Lasky, Adam Croasdell, Jamie Harris, Niko Nicotera, Elyes Gabel, Sean Avery, Andrew Howard, Ian Casselberry, John Ales, Raimy Lang, Mason Cufari, Kate Fuglei, Mickey Shilowich, and Katerina Antemel.
SYNOPSIS:
After the Trojan War, Odysseus faces a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca, meeting creatures like the Cyclops Polyphemus, Sirens, and Calypso along the way.
Christopher Nolan’s latest film is as epic as the tale he is retelling in his rendition of The Odyssey due in part not just to the scale of the story and its cast but in a much more literal sense with this being the very first production to be shot completely on IMAX film. Nolan captures the grand nature of one of the world’s oldest stories with Matt Damon giving a stellar performance as Odysseus alongside gorgeous cinematography, effects, creature designs and themes that still make The Odyssey relevant today.
The Odyssey of course follows Odysseus on his long voyage home to Ithaca in the wake of the Greeks’ victory in the Trojan War, a feat achieved through Odysseus’ infamous Trojan Horse trick. In typical Nolan fashion, the story bounces between points in time as Odysseus’ journey is relayed alongside the ‘current’ timeline following his wife and son, played by Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland, as they are forced to host dozens of suitors vying for Penelope’s hand in marriage in order to gain Ithaca’s throne. The structure remains compelling throughout the film, which comes in just shy of three hours but never feels too long or bogged down, which is also helped by the strong focus on the characters and their individual journeys.
Damon delivers one of his best performances of his career, giving a nuanced and captivating portrayal of Odysseus. He conveys Odysseus’ intelligence, cleverness and determination, but adds new facets many other adaptations lack as Odysseus faces survivors guilt and remorse for what he’s had to do to survive. It is very balanced and well rounded, even showing Odysseus’ somewhat naivete in believing in some people’s honour while casting aside his own in a few circumstances. It is a very demanding role dramatically and physically, but Damon carries the film incredibly well and shares great chemistry with everyone of the cast he interacts with.
Hathaway and Holland make a fine duo as the mother and son Penelope and Telemachus who await Odysseus’ return even after two decades. Hathaway’s Penelope is strong and vulnerable as she reluctantly hosts her would-be suitors night after night while Holland shows Telemachus’ desperation for any news of his father. The anguish they both give their characters is well felt, but of the two Hathaway is more memorable as Penelope, like Odysseus, has her own shrewd mind she uses against her suitors in the few ways she can. A particular pair of great scenes towards the third act display Hathaway’s emotive performance and the layers she gives Penelope. As for Holland, this is a departure from his more well-known and light-hearted roles like in the MCU Spider-Man films or Uncharted, but he shows more of his depth in Telemachus’ search for answers and the growth in becoming a leader. The two of them carry the emotional weight of the film even more so than Damon does.
Among the ensemble cast (of which there are many, many big name stars and other recognizable faces), all give great performances even if their screentime amounts to less than a few minutes. Robert Pattinson is incredibly sleazy as Antinous, the most persistent of Penelope’s suitors, successfully making you hate the guy within a minute of meeting him. The animosity between him and Holland is great and his few scenes with Hathaway further show his character’s cunning and manipulative side. John Leguizamo, Himesh Patel, Jon Bernthal, Lupita Nyong’o and Charlize Theron are all memorable as well, but Zendaya is a clear standout as the goddess Athena, appearing sporadically to Odysseus as his journey’s guide. The strength and wisdom she embodies is enough to to make you believe she is one of Olympus’ mightiest deities even when she’s not speaking any dialogue, her mere presence highlighting the otherworldly nature of Odysseus’ quest.
As befitting a Nolan film and the first film to be shot entirely in IMAX, The Odyssey‘s visuals are absolutely outstanding. Nolan and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema do wonders with the IMAX cameras, making every location, action sequence and creature as grand as it can be. The colours and lighting emphasize every detail on the screen and van Hoytema plays around a lot with the focus, shifting it expertly to whichever character is speaking or is meant to have the attention drawn without it being jarring or overdone.
The detail extends to the fantastic visual effects which, as per tradition for Nolan, is a blend of practical and computerized VFX. A lot of work went into the creature designs to make them unique among other Odyssey works, specifically with the cyclops whose design is not the traditional one yet is quite monstrous in its own right. The sequence with the giant Laestrygonians is terrifying with their size and the stuntwork involved while Odysseus’ episode with a certain witch is straight out of a body horror film. Ludwig Göransson’s score compliments the film’s eeriness with less bombast than is usually presented in a Nolan film, but still highlights the personalized nature of the story with some of its quieter and sorrowful tones.
From start to finish The Odyssey is a great piece of filmmaking that pushes the boundaries of what it can do through IMAX. The visuals are outstanding, the script is crisp and the cast is stellar with Damon, Hathaway, Holland, Pattinson and Zendaya standing tall among the massive stars. If any movie is deserving this summer of being seen on the big screen, it is no doubt this one.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ricky Church
