Conservative political commentator Matt Walsh has strongly criticized Christopher Nolan’s new film The Odyssey, calling it a “woke” mess that fails to capture the spirit of Homer’s ancient epic. His review, posted on X, has sparked a wave of reactions across social media, with many users celebrating his disapproval as a sign that the movie is actually worth watching.
Walsh, who hosts The Matt Walsh Show, did not hold back in his assessment of Nolan’s star-studded adaptation. He wrote that the movie is “just as woke as you fear, if not more so” and described the casting choices as “atrocious”. He also took issue with how Nolan portrayed the legendary Greek hero Odysseus, saying the director turned him into an “anachronistic, whiny, solemn shell of a man plagued by ‘trauma’ and guilt”.
The 40-year-old commentator, who works for The Daily Wire, went further by criticizing the film’s overall quality. He called The Odyssey “disjointed, dull, self-serious” and said the dialogue was some of the worst he had ever heard in a critically acclaimed movie. Walsh also claimed that Nolan failed to transport audiences to the ancient world, writing that viewers feel like they are “watching modern Americans put on a pageant”.
“Nobody would be calling this thing a masterpiece if it were made by a director not named Christopher Nolan.”
Walsh suggested that people who want to see a proper ancient warrior epic should watch Robert Eggers’ The Northman instead, which he called a “masterpiece”.
Social Media Users Clap Back at Walsh’s Review
The internet wasted no time responding to Walsh’s scathing review. One X user captured the mood perfectly with a simple post: “If Matt Walsh hates The Odyssey, it’s good”. That sentiment was echoed by many others who saw Walsh’s criticism as a reason to watch the film.
Several users defended Nolan’s creative choices, pointing out that the movie is meant to be an allegory for modern times rather than a strict historical reenactment. One netizen explained: “That was the point of the movie, Matt. The movie is an allegory of the present; it happens ‘nowhere,’ the characters are not actually Greek. Nolan spells it out in the movie”.
Another user praised the film’s powerful moments, saying the depiction of the sacking of Troy and the guilt that almost broke Odysseus was “f**kin beautiful”. They called *The Odyssey* “the best movie of 2026 and possibly of Nolan’s career”.
Others simply dismissed Walsh’s opinion entirely. One person wrote: “Matt Walsh, who has been wrong about everything, is wrong again”. Another user, who admitted to usually enjoying Walsh’s content, said: “But you’re dead wrong on this one!!! The only way you could possibly come to this conclusion is if you let your prior misconceptions block out your ability to watch it with an open mind”.
The Casting Controversy That Started It All
The backlash against The Odyssey is not new. The film, which was released on July 17, 2026, has faced criticism from conservative circles for months, primarily over its diverse casting choices.
One of the biggest points of contention has been the casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy. In Homer’s epic, Helen is described as having “white arms,” and some critics have argued that casting a Black actress in the role goes against the original text.
Walsh first criticized this decision back in May, writing on X: “Not one person on the planet actually thinks that Lupita Nyong’o is ‘the most beautiful woman in the world’”. He also claimed that Nolan cast Nyong’o because he knew he “would be called racist if he gave ‘the most beautiful woman’ role to a white woman”.
Elon Musk agreed with Walsh’s comments, calling Nolan a “coward” and accusing him of “desecrating” The Odyssey to win Oscars. Musk has been one of the most vocal critics of the film, repeatedly attacking Nolan’s choices on X.
Nolan and Others Respond to the Criticism
Christopher Nolan has addressed the backlash in several interviews. He told The Telegraph that the criticism “comes with the territory” and that conversations happening before people see the film are “always irrelevant” because nobody knows what the film actually is yet.
The director drew on his experience making The Dark Knight trilogy, saying: “What you have to do is honour the original text by interpreting it in the strongest way you personally can”. He added that fans eventually appreciated the sincerity of his approach, even when it differed from their expectations.
Ben Shapiro, Walsh’s colleague at The Daily Wire, actually praised the film. In an 18-minute YouTube review, Shapiro called The Odyssey a “masterpiece” and gave it a score between 8.5 and 9 out of 10. He said Nolan is “the best director working today” and that the movie looks beautiful with incredible and iconic images.
Shapiro also dismissed the race-based casting outrage, explaining that Nolan went out of his way in the script to show that the Trojan War was not really launched over Helen being gorgeous. However, he did criticize the casting of transgender actor Elliot Page as the Greek warrior Sinon, calling it an “absolute puzzler”.
More Criticism from Walsh and Other Conservatives
Walsh continued his criticism in additional posts on X. He claimed that Nolan removed the gods from The Odyssey entirely, with goddesses appearing only as “PTSD hallucinations”. He also mocked the film’s depiction of Ancient Greece, asking: “Why does Ancient Greece have the demographic makeup of Los Angeles circa 2026?”
Other conservative commentators have also weighed in. Right-wing cultural commentator Peachy Keenan criticized the portrayal of Odysseus as vulnerable, calling him a “traumatized, not very clever, self-hating boomer”. Critics have also taken issue with a plot point where Odysseus expresses guilt over the sacking of Troy and shows signs of PTSD, labeling it as “woke”.
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Box Office Success Despite Backlash
Despite the controversy, The Odyssey has performed exceptionally well at the box office. The film earned over $260 million globally during its opening weekend, making it Christopher Nolan’s biggest non-Batman debut ever. Some reports indicate the total reached $264 million.
The movie features a star-studded cast including Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Charlize Theron as Calypso, and Zendaya as Athena. Rapper Travis Scott also has a small role as a bard.
Lupita Nyong’o herself has shrugged off the attacks, giving a pithy response in Elle magazine. The film continues to draw audiences worldwide, proving that the backlash has done little to hurt its commercial success.
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