The first reactions to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey have arrived, and critics are practically tripping over themselves to praise it. The movie debuted at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, London, on July 6, eleven days before its worldwide release on July 17, 2026.
Critics took to social media to deliver their verdicts that range from “utterly riveting” to “flawless,” with several calling it the cinematic event of the year. Interestingly, the response comes amid controversies over Nolan’s creative choices, including race-swapped casting of Helen of Troy and an American accent for Greek characters.
| The Odyssey (2026) | Details |
| Directed & Written By | Christopher Nolan |
| Based on | Odyssey by Homer |
| Cast | Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
| Release Date | July 17, 2026 |
Despite the record-breaking dislikes on his latest trailer, the movie, shot entirely on IMAX 70 mm, is all set to make a major buzz at the box office. In Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s epic, Matt Damon plays Odysseus, who battles monsters, gods, and the sea itself on his perilous journey home to Ithaca and his wife, Penelope, after the Trojan War.
Critics Praise Christopher Nolan’s “Flawless Filmmaking” in The Odyssey
The reactions were near-unanimous. Film journalist Simon Thompson praised Christopher Nolan‘s epic with the comment, “Flawless filmmaking, every inch as epic as you’d expect” (via @ShowbizSimon/X). He further named three standout performers from the movie, sharing, “Leading a stellar cast, Matt Damon gives Odysseus everything in a career-best powerhouse performance. Robert Pattinson is outstanding as Antinous and John Leguizamo’s Eumaeus is sublime.”
Variety’s Jazz Tangcay called the movie “an astonishing achievement”, adding that it is a “triumphant, spectacular epic” (via @jazzt/X). Collider’s Perri Nemiroff called the movie “a filmmaking feast” (via @PNemiroff/X). Nemiroff further wrote, “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 heart.”
Erik Davis of Fandango praised Pattinson’s performance, calling it his favorite and sharing, “He’s so conniving, manipulative and endlessly entertaining to watch” (via @ErikDavis/X). About the movie, he wrote, “An absolute triumph and a crowning cinematic achievement from one of the great filmmakers of our time.”
IndieWire’s David Ehrlich called the movie “a surprisingly natural (and less despairing) Oppenheimer follow-up” (via @davidehrlich/X). In a rare criticism of the movie, Ehrlich shared that the movie is “too clunky to be S-tier Nolan,” but added that “the last act rewards the journey.”
What Does the Critical Response Mean for The Odyssey‘s Box Office?
The Odyssey carries a reported $250 million budget, which is among the priciest of Christopher Nolan’s career. As an R-rated film, that makes it one of the most expensive R-rated productions ever, and by Hollywood standards, it would need to gross roughly $500-600 million worldwide just to break even.
Tracking currently points to an $80–100 million domestic opening, narrowly ahead of Oppenheimer‘s $82 million debut and level with 2026’s Project Hail Mary (via The Guardian). It’s not the runaway start some expected, especially after the IMAX tickets sold out a year prior. And it follows months of controversy.
Nolan’s casting of Lupita Nyong’o in the role of Helen of Troy, the modern American-accented dialogue heard in trailers, debate over Greek representation, and a very public pile-on from Elon Musk all dented enthusiasm. The countdown trailer became Nolan’s most disliked ever, topping 500,000 dislikes.
This is exactly where the glowing reactions matter. Strong word of mouth could turn the tide back in favor of Nolan’s epic. Once The Odyssey releases in theatres, it still has the potential to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
What do you think of the early reactions to the movie? Let us know in the comments below!
The Odyssey arrives in theaters on July 17, 2026.
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