The Odyssey REVIEW | This is the kind of movie that reminds you why going to the theater still matters.
Written and directed by Christopher Nolan and based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic The Odyssey, the film stars Matt Damon as “Odysseus,” the King of Ithaca, who spends years trying to find his way home after the Trojan War. Along the way, he faces mythical creatures, powerful gods, impossible odds, and constant temptation while his wife, Anne Hathaway as “Penelope,” and his son, Tom Holland as “Telemachus,” wait for his return. The impressive ensemble also includes Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, and John Leguizamo.
The first act took a little time for me to settle into. Between the mythology, the world-building, and the number of characters being introduced, you really have to pay attention to keep track of everything happening. If you aren’t familiar with The Odyssey, this is where the film may feel a little overwhelming. Once everything starts to come together in the second and third acts, the payoff is absolutely worth it.
Nolan embraces the scope of Homer’s epic without losing sight of what keeps you invested. Beneath the battles, monsters, and larger-than-life moments is a man who simply wants to make it home to his family. That emotional thread kept me invested even when the mythology became more complex or another key character entered the picture.
Matt Damon does a fantastic job leading the film as Odysseus. He brings the confidence and resilience you’d expect from a legendary hero, while also showing the emotional and physical toll of everything he has endured. It never feels like he’s playing a mythological icon. He feels like a man who has been pushed to his limits and refuses to give up.
Anne Hathaway brings warmth, intelligence, and quiet strength to Penelope, while Tom Holland gives Telemachus a determination that makes you root for him from the beginning. It’s truly an all-star cast, but no one ever feels wasted. Every performance serves the story.
My favorite performance was John Leguizamo as “Eumaeus.” He brings so much heart, loyalty, and sincerity to the role that I found myself looking forward to every scene he was in. He never tries to steal the spotlight, yet somehow leaves one of the biggest impressions. But let’s be real, it wouldn’t be Nolan film if every performance wasn’t top-notch.
Visually, The Odyssey is breathtaking. Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema captures the oceans, landscapes, creatures, and practical sets with incredible beauty and detail. Every frame feels carefully composed, and the ocean becomes a character all its own. It’s beautiful one moment and absolutely terrifying the next.
The practical locations and massive sets give the film a sense of authenticity that’s becoming increasingly rare. Whether it’s the ships cutting through rough waters or the towering environments surrounding the characters, everything feels tangible and lived in, making the more fantastical moments even easier to believe.
Nolan shot the entire film using IMAX film cameras, and van Hoytema makes every inch of that format count. The images are stunning, and the sound design only adds to the experience. If you’re lucky enough to have an IMAX 70mm theater nearby, it’s absolutely worth making the trip. While The Odyssey is available in standard theaters and other premium formats, this is one of those movies that genuinely benefits from the biggest screen possible.
The Odyssey asks for your patience early on, but it rewards that patience with an unforgettable experience. Nolan doesn’t simplify Homer’s epic. He embraces its mythology, its emotion, and its spectacle while reminding us that, at its heart, this is a story about perseverance, hope, and finding your way home.
Some movies are made for your living room. This isn’t one of them. The Odyssey is an experience that deserves to be seen on the biggest screen you can find, and it’s one I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
The Odyssey is now playing in theaters.
07/18/26 S10:E58 Broadcast Package
