The Odyssey (2026) Review

After the end of the Trojan War, we follow Odysseus as he faces a very dangerous voyage to get back home to Ithaca meeting many different creatures on the way.

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Now I have to start by saying that the build up to the release, given that the trailer was on more than a year before and we’ve had it constantly. Then we get to the release date and are told that IMAX is the only option! Although the actual format suggested, in the UK we only have two or three screens like that. In the north east we only have two IMAX screens and it was rather difficult to even manage to get in, as nearly all screenings in the first week were sold out.

I went to an IMAX screening, as Nolan intended.

The Odyssey isn’t something that I have a huge amount of knowledge around and I think that made it quite interesting heading into the cinema screening. In a lot of ways I actually quite liked that, as it just gave me a rather blank canvas. Especially as I am a huge Nolan fan.

Odysseus is the main character that we are going to follow and see if he can fulfill his promise to return home after the war, it is unclear at times how much time has passed and that is something that comes together towards the end.

Within this journey we are thrown around the sea a lot and into some truly terrible situations with horrendous characters all part of the myths. I think those different aspects (which I will not spoil) were such a surprise given me lack of background knowledge around The Odyssey. The way Nolan puts this on screen will have you wanting to cover your face at times, yes scene with Circe I am talking about you. Was quite frightening the direction it went at that point.

While we see the different characters that Odssesus is battling against we are also shown his wife Penelope back at home along with their son Telemachus who wants answers to whether or not his father is still alive. Penelope is battling against many horrible men, with the worst being Antinous, all trying to stake a claim and be her next husband. The tone of those scenes is truly uncomfortable, and all of the men were disgusting which builds up for a rather satisfying finale.

I can fully appreciate the levels Nolan went to make this visually impressive, the sound quality in the IMAX screen was rather incredible and it was so much that my seat was actually shaking. As well as the way the scenes looked, and it is a very good film but I don’t think it is a film I can say that I loved or fully enjoyed.

The casting for the most part was very good, with Matt Damon being impressive in this leading role and Anne Hathaway can do no wrong in my eyes her range is just the best. Although are we really supposed to believe she is old enough to be Tom Holland’s mother? Another note on Holland was that he seemed a little out of his depth with this one. John Leguizamo was a total scenestealer for me as was Charlize Theron in her small role.