Early reactions to The Odyssey suggest Christopher Nolan may have another critical triumph on his hands. Critics have praised the film’s staggering IMAX presentation, breathtaking practical set pieces, ambitious scale, and emotionally resonant adaptation of Homer’s classic epic. While a handful of reviewers noted that the film’s dense storytelling occasionally keeps it from reaching the very top tier of Nolan’s filmography, the overwhelming consensus is that The Odyssey is a cinematic event that rewards audiences with an unforgettable final act. Many have gone as far as calling it one of Nolan’s greatest achievements and are urging moviegoers to experience it in IMAX 70mm whenever possible.
What Are People Saying About The Odyssey
David Ehrlich was highly impressed by The Odyssey, calling it a fitting thematic follow up to Oppenheimer. While he felt the film was occasionally weighed down by its complexity, he said its emotionally satisfying final act makes the journey worthwhile.
The Odyssey: a surprisingly natural (and less despairing) Oppenheimer follow-up about a man haunted by defying the gods & dooming civilization – this one fights to avenge his own hubris. IMAX obviously immense. too clunky to be S-tier Nolan, but the last act rewards the journey.
— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) July 6, 2026
Perri Nemiroff described the film as a “filmmaking feast,” praising Christopher Nolan’s ability to bring Homer’s epic to the screen with remarkable scale and ambition. She argued that few, if any, filmmakers working today could have delivered the story with this level of spectacle.
THE ODYSSEY is a filmmaking feast. A grand and gripping rendition of Homer’s epic, and one that feels uniquely Christopher Nolan. It’s sincerely hard to imagine any other filmmaker on the planet being able to bring that source material to screen with this much scale, scope and… pic.twitter.com/7jOO5Ch9ZZ
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) July 6, 2026
Matt Neglia highlighted the film’s enormous scope, calling it one of Nolan’s most visually breathtaking accomplishments. He also praised the director’s commitment to practical filmmaking, noting that the use of newly developed IMAX cameras helps elevate the experience even further.
Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of THE ODYSSEY is as epic as movies get with some of the most breathtaking set pieces he’s ever attempted. A colossal achievement of scale, even by Nolan’s standards, its commitment to capturing as much as possible in-camera using new IMAX cameras… pic.twitter.com/UOOHd6lkbT— Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) July 6, 2026
Steven Weintraub came away calling The Odyssey incredible, praising everything from its performances to Nolan’s embrace of the story’s supernatural elements. He strongly recommended seeing the film in IMAX 70mm, describing it as a jaw dropping theatrical experience.
Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ is INCREDIBLE.
I’m really blown away by this film. Everything from the flawless performances to the way Nolan embraces the supernatural is just perfect.
If you can, SEE IT IN @IMAX 70mm. It’s a jaw dropping experience.
It’ll be great… pic.twitter.com/UXEAjF8cKk
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) July 6, 2026
Erik Davis hailed The Odyssey as a crowning achievement for Christopher Nolan, saying it feels like the culmination of the director’s years of pushing IMAX filmmaking forward. He also singled out the production design and action sequences as some of the film’s biggest strengths.
Christopher Nolan’s #TheOdyssey is an absolute triumph and a crowning cinematic achievement from one of the great filmmakers of our time. It feels like everything Nolan has been working toward with IMAX has culminated here. The production design is incredible, the action is… pic.twitter.com/yLxocUEEdn
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) July 6, 2026
The Odyssey Details
Based on Homer’s legendary poem, The Odyssey follows the long and perilous journey of Odysseus as he struggles to return home to Ithaca following the Trojan War. Facing mythical creatures, vengeful gods, impossible temptations, and the consequences of his own decisions, Odysseus must endure years of hardship before reuniting with his family. Christopher Nolan writes and directs the epic, which stars Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside an ensemble cast that includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, Mia Goth, Elliot Page, Himesh Patel, Samantha Morton, Jesse Garcia, Will Yun Lee, Corey Hawkins, and John Leguizamo. The Odyssey sails into theaters worldwide on July 17, 2026.
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