The movie that everyone has been talking about for months is finally out. There have been super excited people, and there have been people who felt the movie was controversial. Either way, people could not stop mentioning this film. Movies are expensive these days, and the majority of people seem to prefer to stay at home and wait for movies to hit streaming. When it comes to Christopher Nolan, though, this is simply not the case. The man is known for making event films that must be seen on the biggest of screens possible (such as Oppenheimer, Dunkirk, and Interstellar). So, is The Odyssey worth the hype? I would say yes, very much so.
The Story
Homer’s The Odyssey is one of the oldest stories in human history. This is a movie they said could not be filmed because of the scale and because of how enormous this story is. Nolan did it though. Odysseus (Matt Damon), king of Ithaca, embarks on a perilous journey to return home after the Trojan War. Crossing the Mediterranean Sea with his fellow soldiers, they soon find themselves battling not only the elements, but an array of deadly obstacles and mythical creatures along the way.
There are basically two stories going on at the same time, and they are both woven together beautifully. One is Odysseus trying to find his way back home to his family, and the other is his wife (Anne Hathaway) and son (Tom Holland) back home trying to hold down the fort while everyone around wants to take his place.
The audience is glued to the screen with every frame. The journey of Odysseus going home is so engaging. The movie is almost 3 hours long, but every minute feels needed and important. When the ships are sailing, you feel like you are on them. When the Cyclops appears, it is terrifying. Nolan loves using practical effects, and everything looks amazing.
This movie has just about everything. There are scenes that are scary, scenes full of adventure, scenes that fill you with emotion, and scenes that make you cheer. Truly an epic by definition.
The film manages to have a perfect balance, showcasing giant set pieces while being able to give us a beautiful story of loss and longing for home. For a movie that is surrounded by war, this is truly an anti-war movie. It sends a message that tells us that maybe all this fighting isn’t as important as being with family and loved ones.
The Acting
The acting in this movie is phenomenal. Matt Damon as the lead is strong yet vulnerable. You root for him to return home to his family, and when he makes hard decisions, you understand where he is coming from. Many of the actors gave performances that deserve an Oscar nomination, but if I could only pick one I would say Anne Hathaway for her role as Penelope. She commands every scene that she is in and you just cannot take your eyes off of her.
John Leguizamo gives one of the strongest performances of his career as Eumaeus. Robert Pattinson (Antinous) continues to separate himself from Twilight and keeps proving himself to be one of the most talented actors working today. Everyone from Zendaya (Athena) to Elliot Page (Sinon) does exactly what is needed even with limited screen time. You can tell that the cast just wanted to be a part of Nolan’s vision, and it shows.
Overall
The Odyssey is everything that it promised it would be and more. The movie reminds movie fans why they are fans in the first place. For people who love grand stories that make you feel something, this movie delivers on every aspect. The film is easily one of the best of 2026 and will definitely be receiving some major Oscar nominations by the year’s end. It’s engaging, bold, massive, and a one-of-a-kind film, not to be missed.
