Christopher Nolan doesn’t make small movies, but even by his own sky-high standards, The Odyssey sounds like something different. The social media embargo has officially lifted, and the first wave of reactions to Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s ancient epic is now flooding in from critics and journalists who caught early screenings. Spoiler: people are losing their minds over it. Below, we’ll walk through everything worth knowing — the standout praise, the cast breakdown, the one mixed take so far, the brewing awards buzz, and yes, a bit of controversy too. If you’re trying to figure out whether The Odyssey is worth the hype before it hits theaters, this is the only guide you’ll need.
What Is The Odyssey About?
For anyone who slept through high school English class, a quick refresher: Homer’s Odyssey follows the Greek hero Odysseus on his grueling, decade-long journey home from the Trojan War, battling monsters, gods, and his own hubris along the way while his wife Penelope and son Telemachus wait for him in Ithaca. Nolan’s adaptation brings that ancient story to modern IMAX screens with an enormous ensemble cast and a reported horror-tinged sequence that’s already turning heads — a first for the director.
Why This Film Matters: Nolan’s Return After Oppenheimer
This is Nolan’s first film since Oppenheimer, the three-hour historical epic that grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide and swept the Oscars, winning Best Picture, Best Director, and five other Academy Awards. Following up a film like that is no small task, but Nolan has reportedly wanted to tackle Greek mythology for years. He previously developed an early version of Troy before Wolfgang Petersen ultimately directed that film, and he’s said he saw a gap in modern cinema for mythological storytelling told with real technical weight and a big studio budget behind it, according to Variety.
The Full Cast: Who Plays Who In The Odyssey
The Odyssey boasts one of the most stacked ensembles of Nolan’s career:
- Matt Damon as Odysseus
- Anne Hathaway as Penelope
- Tom Holland as Telemachus
- Robert Pattinson as Antinous
- Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra
- Charlize Theron as Calypso
- Samantha Morton as Circe
- Zendaya as Athena
- Jon Bernthal as Menelaus
- Bill Irwin as Polyphemus
- Benny Safdie as Agamemnon
- Himesh Patel as Eurylochus
- Mia Goth as Melantho
- Logan Marshall-Green as Melanthius
- John Leguizamo as Eumaeus
That’s a genuinely rare lineup, and multiple critics have pointed out how well the cast handles the material together, calling it a “multicultural, generational” ensemble that anchors the film’s sword-and-sandal scale.
First Reactions: What Critics Are Saying
The Raves
The overwhelming majority of early reactions are glowing. Variety’s Jazz Tangcay described the film as an astonishing achievement, while Collider’s Perri Nemiroff called it a filmmaking feast that only Nolan could have pulled off at this scale, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Total Film’s Matt Maytum praised the film’s elemental scope, and Fandango’s Erik Davis went as far as calling it the must-see cinematic event of the summer.
Standout Performances
Interestingly, most of the specific performance praise has gone to Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, John Leguizamo, and Samantha Morton, whose single scene as Circe is already being called a scene-stealer. As some outlets have noted, there’s been noticeably less early commentary so far on the film’s other major female performers, including Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, and Lupita Nyong’o — something worth watching as more reactions and full reviews roll out.
The One Mixed Take
Not every reaction has been pure celebration. IndieWire’s chief film critic David Ehrlich offered the most tempered response of the bunch, noting the film feels like a surprisingly hopeful follow-up to Oppenheimer but occasionally too clunky to rank among Nolan’s very best work, even while praising its immersive IMAX scale and rewarding final act, per SlashFilm.
The IMAX Difference: How Nolan Shot The Odyssey
One detail that’s generated real buzz on its own: The Odyssey is reportedly the first film shot entirely on IMAX cameras, a technical milestone that multiple reactions have flagged as central to the movie’s immersive feel. Hollywood Reporter film editor Aaron Couch noted that after 25 years of watching Nolan’s films in theaters, this marks the first time the director has delivered a fully fleshed-out horror sequence — a genre shift longtime fans didn’t necessarily see coming.
Is There Any Controversy? Addressing The Casting Backlash
It wouldn’t be a major mythology adaptation without some fan pushback. Certain casting decisions have drawn criticism from audiences who feel the choices stray too far from the source material’s historical and cultural roots, with the film’s final trailer reportedly amassing hundreds of thousands of dislikes online. Industry observers generally agree the backlash is unlikely to derail the film’s box-office performance, given Nolan’s track record, but it’s a storyline worth watching as the release date approaches.
Early Oscar Buzz: Could The Odyssey Sweep Award Season?
Respected Oscar pundit Anne Thompson has already named The Odyssey an early Best Picture front-runner, and she’s predicting Matt Damon could land his first Academy Award nomination for his performance as Odysseus, according to Forbes. Given Nolan’s recent Oscar sweep with Oppenheimer, it’s not a stretch to imagine The Odyssey generating nominations across acting, directing, cinematography, and score categories once the full review cycle plays out.
When Can You See The Odyssey? Release Date And Review Embargo Explained
The Odyssey opens in theaters worldwide on July 17. Universal took an unusual approach with its press rollout, skipping the typical influencer-first screening model in favor of letting professional critics and journalists share the first wave of reactions, with full written reviews following roughly a week later once the official review embargo lifts, as reported by IndieWire. That means the reactions circulating right now are an early — and largely enthusiastic — preview of what’s to come, not the final word.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Odyssey based on the actual Homer epic?
Yes, though early reactions suggest Nolan takes some liberties with the source material while keeping its core themes of pride, exile, and homecoming intact.
Who plays the lead role in The Odyssey?
Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, with Anne Hathaway as Penelope and Tom Holland as Telemachus.
Is The Odyssey rated R?
Yes, the film carries an R rating, continuing Nolan’s recent trend following Oppenheimer.
When do full reviews come out?
The official review embargo lifts several days after the initial reaction wave, ahead of the film’s July 17 release.
Is The Odyssey good?
Early reactions are overwhelmingly positive, though it’s worth noting most of the current commentary comes from journalists and industry figures rather than traditional film critics, whose full reviews are still to come.
The Bigger Picture
The Odyssey is shaping up to be one of the defining cinematic events of the year — not just for Nolan fans, but for anyone who loves ambitious, large-scale filmmaking. Between the IMAX-first production, a career-spanning ensemble cast, and early Oscar chatter, this is a film that’s likely to dominate entertainment conversations well into award season. If you enjoyed our breakdown of Zendaya’s reaction to Nolan’s rare on-set praise, you’ll want to keep an eye on how her performance as Athena is received once full reviews land.
Conclusion
The first reactions to The Odyssey paint the picture of a genuine cinematic event — ambitious, technically groundbreaking, and packed with award-worthy performances. While a handful of mixed notes and casting controversy suggest the film isn’t universally beloved just yet, the sheer scale of praise so far makes it clear that Nolan has delivered another must-see epic. With full reviews landing soon and a theatrical release just around the corner, The Odyssey is one of 2026’s biggest movie moments — and the conversation is only getting started.