Christopher Nolan’s upcoming movie The Odyssey is already creating significant buzz even before its official release. The film recently held its world premiere in London on Monday, July 6, and the first reactions from critics who attended the screening have been overwhelmingly positive. Many are already calling it one of the director’s greatest works and a major cinematic achievement.
The movie is an adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem and follows the story of Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, on his dangerous journey home after the Trojan War. Matt Damon plays the lead role of Odysseus, with Anne Hathaway as his wife Penelope and Tom Holland as his son Telemachus. The cast also includes Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Samantha Morton, and Jon Bernthal.
Critics Praise Nolan’s ‘Absolute Triumph’
Following the London premiere, social media was flooded with reactions from film critics and journalists. The consensus is that Nolan has delivered something truly special.
Erik Davis from Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), calling the film an “absolute triumph”. He wrote:
“Christopher Nolan’s #TheOdyssey is an absolute triumph and a crowning cinematic achievement from one of the great filmmakers of our time. It feels like everything Nolan has been working toward with IMAX has culminated here. The production design is incredible, the action is breathtaking, and the scale is unlike anything he’s done before.”
Davis also pointed out that Nolan embraces horror elements in the movie, which adds a new dimension to his filmmaking. He noted that some of the film’s biggest moments are genuinely unsettling.
Jazz Tangcay from Variety described the movie as an “astonishing achievement” and a “triumphant, spectacular epic”. She also praised the performances, saying that several actors deliver some of the best work of their careers. Tangcay called The Odyssey “a work of art” and complimented Nolan’s handling of the Homer story, as well as the cinematography, costumes, sound, editing, and Ludwig Göransson’s score.
Simon Thompson, a film journalist, called it “flawless filmmaking”. He wrote:
“Flawless filmmaking, every inch as epic as you’d expect. 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.”
Peri Nemiroff from Collider described the film as “a filmmaking feast”. She added:
“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.”
Steven Weintraub from Collider also gave the movie a major endorsement, calling it “INCREDIBLE” and urging audiences to see it in IMAX 70mm. He said he was “really blown away by this film” and that everything from the flawless performances to the way Nolan embraces the supernatural is “just perfect”.
Clayton Davis, Variety’s awards columnist, noted that “Matt Damon leads with grit, while Tom Holland brings the sensitivity and heart”. He added that it is “another hit for Nolan, one his die-hards will digest for decades to come”.
The Hollywood Reporter’s Aaron Couch highlighted a darker side of the film. He wrote that he has been watching Nolan’s movies in theaters since Memento, and after 25 years, The Odyssey gives audiences a first: a fully developed horror sequence directed by Christopher Nolan.
The Independent described the film as Nolan’s biggest to date, noting that it has about three times the number of huge set pieces than any of his previous films.
Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, and Cast Shine Bright
While Nolan’s direction has received widespread praise, the performances have earned equal recognition. Critics believe the ensemble cast delivers some of the strongest work of their careers.
Matt Damon as Odysseus has been singled out as a standout. One reviewer mentioned that “Matt Damon absolutely owns the role of Odysseus. You feel every loss, every mistake, and every victory with him”. Simon Thompson called Damon’s performance a “career-best powerhouse performance”.
Robert Pattinson has become a fan favorite. Erik Davis said Pattinson “absolutely stole the show”. Davis wrote:
“He’s so conniving, manipulative and endlessly entertaining to watch. Pattinson leans all the way into the character’s villainy, and it results in one of my favorite performances of his.”
Pattinson plays the role of Antinous, a suitor vying for Penelope’s hand.
Tom Holland also received praise for his portrayal of Telemachus. Critics noted that his coming-of-age performance signals an exciting new era in his career.
Anne Hathaway as Penelope was described as delivering a powerful and emotional performance. Samantha Morton, who plays the goddess Circe, received special mention. Time Out critic Phil de Semlyen called her performance “extraordinary”. One critic wrote that “People are not ready for how much Samantha Morton owns THE ODYSSEY — her scenes are simply incredible, witchy and wonderful”.
A Technical Milestone for Nolan
The Odyssey marks a significant technical achievement for Christopher Nolan. It is the first narrative feature film to be shot entirely using IMAX cameras. Nolan told Empire magazine that the production used more than two million feet of film during its 91-day shoot.
The film was shot across multiple countries, including Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland, and Iceland. Matt Damon described the experience, saying it “felt like six or seven movies in one” because each location was challenging in a different way.
On the red carpet, Damon shared his gratitude for being part of the project. He said:
“This is at the very top, because just the technical challenges to do this at this scale were beyond anything I’ve ever seen.”
Charlize Theron said Nolan was one of the few directors “brave enough to take on a story like this”. John Leguizamo added that he felt “this was his magnum opus”.
What The Odyssey Is About
The Odyssey is based on Homer’s ancient Greek poem and follows the Greek hero Odysseus on his long, perilous journey home to Ithaca after the fall of Troy. Along the way, he faces numerous dangers and encounters mythical creatures. The story also focuses on his wife Penelope, who waits for him in Ithaca while fending off suitors who want to take the throne.
The movie is produced by Emma Thomas and Nolan for Syncopy, with Thomas Hayslip serving as executive producer. Universal Pictures is handling the distribution.
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Release Date and Where to Watch
The Odyssey is scheduled to release in theaters worldwide on July 17, 2026. The film will be available in IMAX screens. In India, it will release on the same day in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
Universal Studios chose to skip the previews typically held for influencers. Instead, the majority of the initial reactions came from members of the press invited to the gala premiere in London.
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