The Odyssey blew my incredibly high expectations out of the water. Could this be the best movie of the year? Yes. It might even be Christopher Nolan’s best yet.
It’s only July, but I genuinely believe Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is the best movie of 2026 so far. In fact, I think there’s a very real argument that this is Christopher Nolan’s greatest film yet. Considering we’re talking about the director behind Oppenheimer, Interstellar, The Prestige, Inception, Dunkirk, and The Dark Knight trilogy, that’s certainly saying a lot.
I have to admit, I went into The Odyssey with incredibly high expectations. This is Christopher Nolan adapting one of the greatest stories ever told, with one of the most talented ensemble casts assembled in years. On top of that, Greek mythology has always been one of my favorite subjects. I’m Greek myself, so Homer’s epic has always held a special place in my heart. Somehow, despite all those expectations, The Odyssey still managed to exceed them.
Matt Damon was already a fantastic choice to play Odysseus, but I don’t think I was prepared for just how incredible his performance would be. Rather than simply portraying a legendary hero trying to find his way home, he gives us a man haunted by the consequences of his own actions. This version of Odysseus is wrestling with guilt, trauma, and the memories of what happened inside the walls of Troy after the infamous Trojan Horse – all while battling monsters.
That’s what makes Nolan’s adaptation feel so fresh. The mythology is still there, but the emotional core is about humanity. It’s about what happens after victory. It’s about living with the choices you’ve made and asking whether they were worth the cost. Every time the film returns to Odysseus, Matt Damon somehow finds another emotional layer to reveal. His performance is nuanced, vulnerable, and quietly devastating.
As much as I love Matt Damon’s performance, however, Anne Hathaway’s absolutely wrecked me. As a wife and mother myself, I could relate to her quite a bit. She’s spent years believing she may never see her husband again while simultaneously trying to protect her kingdom and raise her son on her own. Talk about having a lot on your shoulders.
Some of her most powerful moments are between her and her son, played by Tom Holland. These monologues of hers were delivered brilliantly.
Anything involving a parent and child already has me halfway to tears. It’s the mom in me; I truly cannot help it. Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland share several conversations that completely broke me. Their relationship feels authentic, loving, and filled with years of unspoken pain. Those scenes are among the best in the entire movie.
Speaking of Tom Holland, you need me to tell you what an amazing actor he is. He has already proven time and again that he’s much more than Spider-Man (not to say he doesn’t nail that role), but The Odyssey further cements him as one of the best actors of his generation. His performance carries so much emotion without ever feeling forced.
Whether he’s sharing scenes with Anne Hathaway or finally interacting with Matt Damon, he brings an honesty that perfectly balances the larger-than-life mythology surrounding him. Every emotional beat lands. Honestly, I already know we’re going to miss him whenever he eventually decides to take time away from acting to focus on his family with Zendaya. I’m incredibly happy for them, but performances like this remind me just how special he is as an actor.
Robert Pattinson continues to amaze me. Every time I think I’ve seen his best performance, he somehow tops himself. Here, he plays a deeply flawed, cowardly character, and he’s absolutely phenomenal. Some of the close-up shots toward the end of the film showcase just how expressive he is. His performance says everything before he even speaks. No spoilers, but he does something truly special here.
One of the biggest surprises of the film for me is John Leguizamo. I’ve always loved him, but I often associate him with comedy. Here, he delivers some incredibly emotional moments that completely caught me off guard. There’s a sequence toward the end involving him that had me crying, followed by another emotional scene that absolutely finished me off. Again, no spoilers, but you will know exactly what I mean when you watch the film.
I somehow missed that Charlize Theron was playing Calypso, so when she appeared on screen, I was surprised and excited. Her scenes with Matt Damon are intimate, emotional, and heartbreaking. If you know the story, you know that her role centers on just the two of them, and she creates an unforgettable dynamic that lingers long after those scenes end.
The entire cast brings their A-game. I could go on and on. John Bernthal is fantastic, Himesh Patel continues to prove he can do just about anything, Zendaya makes every moment she’s on screen count. I could keep naming actors because there isn’t a weak performance anywhere in this movie. Everyone understood the assignment.
At nearly three hours long, you might expect The Odyssey to occasionally drag. I sure did. But it doesn’t.
One of the smartest decisions Christopher Nolan makes is opting not to tell the story chronologically. Instead of simply following Odysseus from Troy through every stop on his journey home, Nolan structures the narrative around memories and stories being told by different characters.
One moment, Tom Holland is hearing about his father’s legendary adventures. The next, we’re transported into that memory to experience it firsthand. This constantly shifting perspective keeps the pacing fresh. Rather than feeling episodic, the story becomes a giant emotional puzzle that’s slowly assembled over the course of the film. It’s brilliant.
Of course, no adaptation of The Odyssey would be complete without the legendary encounters along Odysseus’s journey, and Nolan absolutely delivers. The Cyclops sequence is one of the most terrifying things I’ve seen in years. The creature design is unlike anything I expected, and I genuinely found myself frightened.
And oh my goodness, Circe. Without spoiling anything, Christopher Nolan leans surprisingly hard into horror elements during those scenes. The transformations are unsettling and unforgettable. Every island feels distinct. Every myth feels meaningful. None of it exists simply because audiences expect to see famous moments from Greek mythology. Each encounter serves Odysseus’s emotional journey and reinforces the themes of guilt, sacrifice, and perseverance that run throughout the film.
To absolutely no one’s surprise, the visuals throughout The Odyssey are astonishing. I was fortunate enough to experience the film in IMAX 70mm, and I cannot recommend that format enough. This movie was made for the biggest screen possible. The cinematography captures both the intimate emotional moments and the massive action sequences with equal confidence. Production design, score, costumes, makeup, practical effects, and visual effects all work together seamlessly to create one of the most immersive cinematic experiences I’ve ever had.
Whether the film is building tension during an action sequence or quietly underscoring a heartbreaking conversation, the music elevates every single scene. Everything feels intentional. You can tell every single person involved in this production brought their absolute best. And we, the audience, are reaping the benefits.
Christopher Nolan made an epic (literally) that never loses sight of the people at the center of it. Beneath all the gods, monsters, mythical creatures, and action is an incredibly human story about family, regret, forgiveness, resilience, and the consequences of our actions. That’s why this version of The Odyssey resonated with me so deeply. It’s emotional. It’s intimate. It gives these legendary figures real humanity.
I honestly think this is Christopher Nolan’s best movie. I never imagined I’d rank anything above Interstellar or The Prestige, but The Odyssey somehow combines the emotional power of those films with the scale of Oppenheimer, the ambition of Inception, and the technical brilliance that Nolan has become famous for.
I honestly have no notes. None.
Christopher Nolan has created something truly special with The Odyssey. It’s the kind of film people will be discussing for years – if not decades – to come. I wouldn’t be surprised if future generations point to this as one of the defining epics of modern cinema.
Rating: 10 out of 10
About The Odyssey
Odysseus, king of Ithaca, embarks on a perilous journey to return home after the Trojan War.
The Odyssey comes to theaters on July 17th.
