The Odyssey Review: Christopher Nolan Delivers a Mythic Epic Masterpiece
- 19 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Romey Norton - July 18, 2026
Some filmmakers make movies, and then there’s Christopher Nolan. Nolan has spent the last two decades becoming one of the few directors whose name alone can sell out full cinemas and IMAZ screens. From The Dark Knight trilogy and Inception to Interstellar, Dunkirk, and the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer, Nolan has consistently proven that blockbuster filmmaking can still challenge audiences intellectually while delivering breath-taking spectacle. With The Odyssey, he once again assembles one of the most star-studded casts in modern cinema, bringing together an extraordinary collection of A-list talent to tackle Homer's timeless epic.
Predictably, the internet had its doubts before release. There were the usual online debates surrounding casting choices, historical accuracy, and whether another three-hour Nolan film would be "too complicated." As ever, the conversation disappeared the moment audiences could get into the cinema and see this wonderful, inspiring film for what it is - excellent storytelling.
Watching this film reminded me why cinema matters. At a time when streaming services dominate entertainment and algorithms increasingly dictate what gets made, Nolan continues to champion films designed to be experienced collectively. The Odyssey was shot using IMAX 70mm cameras, a format that captures astonishing levels of detail and immense image resolution. It's more than just a technical gimmick; it transforms landscapes into something almost tangible. Every crashing wave, towering cliffside, and vast horizon possesses an overwhelming scale that simply cannot be replicated on a television. Nolan has long argued that cinemas should offer something impossible to recreate at home, and The Odyssey becomes one of his strongest arguments yet.
The story follows Odysseus' long and arduous journey home following the Trojan War, navigating gods, monsters, impossible temptations, and his own increasingly fragile humanity. Although the source material is thousands of years old, Nolan finds remarkably modern themes within it. Identity, trauma, leadership, family, and perseverance. Rather than modernising the mythology, he trusts the original themes to remain timeless.
Visually, the film is staggering. Utterly awe-inspiring. Paired with an intense and deeply moving score, there were scenes where I was completely engrossed and felt immersed in this world. Nolan and his cinematography team create imagery that frequently borders on the sublime. Practical locations, enormous physical sets, and in-camera effects give the film a texture increasingly absent from modern blockbusters dominated by digital environments. Whether depicting violent storms, mythical creatures, or intimate moments between characters, the filmmaking constantly serves the story.
The ensemble cast rises to the challenge magnificently. With so many recognisable faces, there could easily have been a danger of performances becoming little more than celebrity cameos. Especially when some only take up a small amount of the screentime. Instead, everyone fully inhabits their roles, creating a believable world populated by flawed heroes, grieving families, manipulative gods and broken warriors. It's a reminder that Nolan understands how to use movie stars - not as attractions in themselves, but as performers capable of elevating already exceptional material.
Whilst Matt Damon takes the lead, and carries a lot of weight of this film, the stand out performances are by Robert Pattinson as the evil, ever growing threat of Antinous and Himesh Patel as Eurylochus, the faithful, eager sidekick who instantly gains trust, even if he isn’t as wise as he thinks. Samantha Morton and John Leguizamo deserve a shoutout for their committed and compelling performances that drive the story along.
It's hard not to mention every department because it is a stand-out film. The costume, props, hair and makeup and atmosphere are all so well-thought out and meticulous, it's incredible to see it all come together seamlessly. Everyone involved in making this film should be extremely proud of themselves.
If I have one minor criticism, it's that Nolan occasionally asks audiences to absorb an enormous amount of information in quick succession. Certain sections move so confidently through mythology and character relationships that viewers unfamiliar with Homer's original text may briefly struggle to keep pace. However, the emotional clarity always remains intact, making those moments feel like But maybe that's why Christopher Nolan remains such an important filmmaker. He continues to treat audiences as intelligent participants rather than passive consumers. He believes people will embrace ambitious storytelling if it's presented with conviction, craft, and respect. Judging by The Odyssey, he's absolutely right.
This isn’t a criticism as such, but more of a yearning for more interaction with the mythical creatures and the God’s to really heighten Greek mythology. The film is stripped and simplified compared to the book - understandably - and Nolan had brought it to life too well; I wanted more.
This is the kind of filmmaking that reminds us why cinemas exist. It's immersive, emotionally rich, technically astonishing, and unapologetically ambitious. Christopher Nolan continues to push cinema forward while honouring everything that makes the medium special. The Odyssey is the best film of the year. If films like this stop being made, we'll lose far more than spectacular entertainment. We'll lose the very experiences that make going to the cinema feel magical in the first place.
'The Odyssey released in cinemas July 17 and we highly recommended watching it in IMAX.
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