The Odyssey (2026) – Nolan's Epic Journey That Divides Audiences, But I Loved It
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is one of the most talked-about movies of the year. Mostly people discussed it in two ways: die-hard Nolan fans who praise everything he does, and those with lots of negative comments. First, it started with Agamemnon's helmet looking like it was made in modern times—like a Batman helmet. Then came rumors that Achilles was played by Elliot Page. And there was controversy over why Nolan chose Lupita Nyong'o for Helen of Troy, since Homer's Odyssey describes her as a white Greek woman.
I tried to ignore both the praise and the harsh criticism and just watch the film to judge it myself. And I have to say: I really liked it.
My rating? 9 out of 10. Let's break down why.
The Plot: Homer's Epic, Brought to Life
The film follows Odysseus (Matt Damon) , the Greek king of Ithaca, on his long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War. Crossing the Mediterranean Sea with his fellow soldiers, they soon find themselves battling not only the elements, but also deadly obstacles and mythical creatures along the way—Cyclops, Sirens, and the nymph Calypso, among others.
Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, his faithful wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) fends off aggressive suitors who want to take the throne, believing Odysseus is dead. Their son Telemachus (Tom Holland) must also find his place in this dangerous world.
The film follows the core story of Homer's epic closely. I've read Homer's Iliad and Odyssey in Turkish translation from the original Greek texts, and the well-known translator Azra Erhat once said: "While the Iliad tells of man's war against man, the Odyssey gives voice to man's struggle against nature." Nolan's film captures that struggle well—man against nature, and sometimes man against his own nature. All those adventures and struggles really reflect that spirit, and I enjoyed those scenes very much.
The Controversies: What Was All the Noise About?
The Casting Choices
Much of the backlash centered on Nolan's decision to cast Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy and Elliot Page as Sinon, a Greek soldier. Critics, including Elon Musk, accused Nolan of being "anti-white racist" for casting a Black woman as Helen—described by Homer as "white-armed."
Nyong'o responded simply: "This is a mythological story. Our cast is representative of the world." The criticism also included the lack of Greek actors in the film, with some questioning why no one from the Mediterranean region was cast.
But as Professor Susan Deacy, author of The Greek Gods and Their Worlds, told the BBC, the Odyssey is "continually being reimagined, with pretty well every age producing its own Homer."
The Helmet and Costume Complaints
The dark armor worn by Agamemnon (Benny Safdie) was also criticized for resembling Batman's costume, and some said Odysseus's ships looked like Viking vessels. These complaints felt minor to me. Did the helmet look weird? Yes. But was it worth all the outrage? Not really.
The Elliot Page Rumors
Page was rumored to be playing Achilles, but in the film, he actually plays Sinon—Odysseus's cousin, a relatively minor character. Nolan praised Page's performance, saying he brought "something really special" to the role.
What I Loved: The Spirit of Homer's Epic
Despite all the noise, the film stays true to the heart of Homer's poem. Odysseus faces the wrath of Poseidon, encounters the Cyclops, Sirens, and Calypso, and struggles not just with the elements but with his own men—who often defy him, like when they eat the cattle of the sun.
Nolan filmed entirely on IMAX cameras, capturing global landscapes in stunning detail. The cast—Damon, Holland, Pattinson, Hathaway, Theron, and Zendaya —all deliver strong performances.
Critics have praised the film as a "masterpiece" and "colossal piece of cinema." The Telegraph called it the "film of the year." And with a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics, it's currently Nolan's highest-rated film.
What I Didn't Love: The Score and Some Casting Choices
My biggest issue is with the music—actually, the lack of it. Nolan chose not to use an orchestra, instead relying on Bronze Age instruments like bronze gongs, lyres, and the ancient aulos. While historically authentic, the resulting score often felt more like noise than music, and it sometimes pulled me out of the experience.
The casting of Travis Scott as a Greek bard also felt odd. His role is minor, but it's a reminder of Nolan's tendency to make strange casting choices that generate buzz more than serve the story.
The Ratings: Critics and Audiences Agree
IMDb: 8.4/10 (from 125,000 users)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% Critics / 97% Audience
Budget: $250 million
Box Office: $264.1 million global opening weekend, making it Nolan's biggest worldwide opener.
Critics have largely given it 5-star reviews. The audience scores are even higher than the critics, suggesting the film is connecting with general viewers.
Final Verdict: A 9/10 Journey Worth Taking
I really liked this movie. It captures the spirit of Homer's epic while being unmistakably a Christopher Nolan film—grand, ambitious, and visually stunning. The controversies over casting and costumes turned out to be overblown, and the core story shines through.
My rating: 9 out of 10.
Recommendation: If you love Greek mythology, epic cinema, or Nolan's work, this is a must-watch on the biggest screen you can find.
Have you seen The Odyssey? Did the casting and music work for you, or did it pull you out of the experience? Let me know in the comments!
And suggest a movie for my next review! I'm in the mood for another epic adaptation or historical film.
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See also My full list of 2026 movie reviews →