Homer’s ancient epic poem “The Odyssey” is a foundational text of Western civilization. Christopher Nolan is one of the best film directors working today. Is it any wonder that when the two combine, the result would be a piece of cinema that demands attention? Because that’s what The Odyssey is. It is epic in every sense of the word. And it is stunning in its technical aspects. The Odyssey is one of the best films of the year and a top-tier Nolan film.
Even if you’ve never read “The Odyssey,” you are likely still familiar with the story. Odysseus (Matt Damon), King of Ithaca and a brilliant soldier, comes up with the trick that allows Greece to win the Trojan War. Yeah, the Trojan horse was his idea. But he angers the gods. His journey home takes more than a decade and is filled with harrowing danger and loss. Meanwhile, his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland) fend off a group of suitors vying for Penelope. And the throne, of course.
The Odyssey features one of Christopher Nolan’s best scripts, a large number of outstanding performances, and unforgettable imagery. Every artistic choice in the film helps craft an enthralling narrative. They also help it resonate in today’s world. As a cinematic experience, The Odyssey is one of the best, maybe the best, that 2026 has had to offer so far.
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“You’re a man who needs to control his fate.”
Acting is such a conspicuous piece of a film’s success that I’d like to discuss that first, and that starts with Matt Damon. This is a career-best performance from him. Odysseus is many things, and Damon captures them all. I believed in Odysseus’ intelligence. I believed in his physical capabilities. And I believed in his emotional maturity. That’s because of Damon. To choose one example out of many, his portrayal of hearing the siren’s song is visceral. Damon has to lead this cast just like Odysseus leads his men. He does that effortlessly.
Besides that, Damon generates terrific chemistry with all of his scene partners. Especially Hathaway. I found myself wishing they had played love interests before; their chemistry is that strong. They create one of the best movie ships of this year. No exaggeration. One of the best.
The viewer yearns for their reunion throughout the film, and the anticipation for the moment Penelope and Odysseus see each other again couldn’t be higher. Hathaway’s performance is also as award-worthy as Damon’s. The Queen of Genovia has now become the Queen of Ithaca. She also benefits from the fact that Penelope is probably Nolan’s best female character so far.
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“Do you think life goes back to the way it was?”
That’s not the only good thing about the script. Not by a long shot. Because the source material is so familiar, the story could’ve felt like they were just checking off a list of the famous set-pieces. Nolan avoids that. He delivers all the sequences we expect, but he is thoughtful about them. And sometimes unexpected.
The cyclops scene and the scene where Circe transforms Odysseus’ men into pigs both lean heavily into horror. It works spectacularly well. Horror is my least favorite genre, but I still recognized the effectiveness of that tone for those moments. (Seriously, the Circe sequence might show up in my nightmares.) Nolan has expressed interest in directing a horror film. These scenes prove he would excel at that, too.
Besides that, Nolan obviously had a deep interest in examining the idea of heroism as he was adapting this story. Odysseus has flaws, but he is also heroic, and not just because he’s the main character. He understands that he’s made mistakes. The film carefully demonstrates that it genuinely matters to him that he makes up for them, and what it’s like trying to do that in a world where gods and monsters are real.
With Telemachus, his arc is about learning what heroism is for himself. Holland plays this perfectly. His performance, like Damon and Hathaway, is probably his best so far. I like that he makes it feel like Telemachus still has growth ahead of him.
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“Gods don’t speak in ways we understand.”
Another thing Nolan consistently provides as a director is excellent visuals. The stunning locations and special effects here are only part of the artistry. Hoyte van Hoytema incorporates those things into incredible imagery, and he creates some of the best cinematography this year.
Some of the design in this film in general is also wonderful. For example, the cyclops has an almost alien look to it, while Scylla, the sea monster, is also designed in a way that feels fresh. Composer Ludwig Goransson contributes a superb score. He’s truly a generational talent, and I believe he’s the natural successor to John Williams.
Also, I don’t want anyone to be put off by the length of this film. It may be almost 3 hours long, but it moves along at an engaging pace without feeling rushed. The scope of Odysseus’ adventure warrants the time. That applies to both his physical and interior journey. And the emotional payoff of the resolution is more than worth it.
I think the word masterpiece gets overused, but at the very least, The Odyssey comes close to justifying the term. Cinema in 2026 means Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
5 stars out of 5
The Odyssey is now playing in theaters.
