The Odyssey 2026 Review: Not Every Epic Needs To Be A Masterpiece, and It’s Okay

It’s okay to go into a movie with high expectations and for the film not to meet them eventually. It’s okay to watch a film in a theater for a full cinematic experience, but it does not turn out to be one. It’s okay that the film is made by Christopher Nolan on one of the historic epic poems of centuries but does not hit like a truck as we expected. 

Anyway, it is my opinion here in the form of The Odyssey 2026 review, which I thought was an okay-ish film overall, and I’ll explain why. 

Plot details of The Odyssey (2026)

Based on Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey is about a legendary Greek hero, Odysseus (played by Matt Damon), who embarks on a decade-spanning journey home to his wife. He has to travel back to Ithaca after the Trojan War, overcoming treacherous trials and confronting mythical beings like Sirens, Circe, and Cyclops Polyphemus. 

Watch the trailer here: 

Actors’ performances in The Odyssey (2026)

Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, and Anne Hathaway were remarkable in their performances, while Zendaya, Charlize Theron, and Lupita Nyong’o were forgettable. Though the film’s backbone rests on the chemistry between the trio: Matt Damon’s Odysseus, Anne Hathaway’s Penelope, and Tom Holland’s Telemachus, only a few of them managed to mark their on-screen presence. 

Despite an all-star ensemble, some of the characters were underwritten, hence contributing to their inability to add emotional core to the story, which led the story to become devoid of any resonance in its entirety. 

Hathaway brought quiet resilience and warmth to Penelope, and Pattinson was menacingly imposing, giving his character a distinct presence. Talents like Zendaya, Charlize Theron, and Nyong’o felt wasted, and this uneven character work weakened the film’s relationship development. 

With irrefutable hard work that went into production, the emotional impact is selective instead of all-encompassing. As someone who only knew bits and pieces of these characters and hadn’t read Homer’s original poem, I relied on the film to make me care about these characters. Unfortunately, it rarely did. 

What do critics add to The Odyssey 2026 review?

The high critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes offers a majestic consensus as follows:

“Reinvigorating an ancient adventure with majestic sweep and sterling work by its colossal ensemble, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey imbues myth with primal human feeling.” [Source] 

Fans’ reaction

The same stands true for the fans who gave an even higher rating than that of the critics. They believed that it was a true cinematic epic that was made for the big screen, and the “unrestrained grandeur” was only the work of only one filmmaker, Nolan. 

Is it worth watching?

Just because it’s Christopher Nolan, it doesn’t mean that the film will be a big hit by default. Certainly, the mammoth amounts of hard work that went into the film are undeniable, but the output isn’t impactful. Surely, the film is worth watching, but I wouldn’t go in for a second watch. 

The first half is the narration of the story, back and forth; the second half is where the actual thematic work starts. The larger themes are revealed at the end that tie in all the loose ends. The final act had several dialogues, suggesting Nolan did not want to rely on the audience’s imagination. The characters had to do all the talking.

I was impressed by the background music and the apt use of score that genuinely added to the feel of a sequence. Rather than overpowering the visuals, the music complemented the storytelling, making key moments feel more immersive and memorable. 

I also liked the idea of Nolan’s protagonists who aren’t typical flawless heroes. Just like in Oppenheimer (2023), Nolan’s heroes are extraordinary individuals burdened by the consequences of their own brilliance, and the same was observed in the final scenes of this film. His victory left behind a trail of destruction with an accompanying psychological toll. 

I respect the creative freedom, the film’s ambition and depth, the struggle behind the large 6x6m mechanical puppet that portrayed Cyclops Polyphemus, the physical production of the wooden boats that were to be used on actual Mediterranean seas, the inclusion of historical sites and real Greek caves, and the practical illumination for the fall of Troy and other indoor sequences.

However, all these facts do not override the reality that the emotional impact of the story was missing. I did not feel anything when Odysseus came back home. I did not feel awestruck by the costumes, which I thought could not surpass those of Game of Thrones or the film 300 (2006). 

It is understood that the film had to compress a vast part of mythology within a limited time duration; it led the story to feel less distinctly Homeric. It does not necessarily justify that the spectacle would assert the ambition and craftsmanship, as a compelling dramatic payoff was missing. Overall, despite a phenomenal technical execution, the film wasn’t deeply moving for me.  

Since I don’t agree with the high ratings of critics and audience on Rotten Tomatoes, I would like to strengthen my case by presenting examples of two completely contrasting films that both left a lasting impression on me, regardless of their own weaknesses. Return to Silent Hill (2026) was despised by the fans, but for someone like me who hasn’t played the game once, the film was able to transmit the game’s haunting vibes to a complete outsider, and that became the film’s biggest strength in my eyes. On the other hand, The Furious (2025), with a very basic storyline, absolutely floored me with its realistic action sequences, free of CGI, and the strong character work that went into the story.   

What we liked

• Matt Damon’s, Anne Hathaway’s, and Robert Pattinson’s standout performances
• The background scores 
• Nolan’s exploration of guilt, legacy, and the psychological burden of heroism adds thematic depth
• Stunning technical craftsmanship 

What could be better

• The emotional core doesn’t fully land
• Several supporting characters were underwritten and underutilized
• The ensemble lacks meaningful relationship development
• Compressing Homer’s epic into a film format makes the mythology feel rushed
• The spectacle and technical ambition don’t always translate into a satisfying dramatic payoff
• Emotional resonance is missing

Here is a detailed breakdown of our rating for The Odyssey (2026):

Story/plot	7/10
Characters and acting	7/10
Direction and pacing	7.5/10
Visuals and cinematography	8.5/10
Soundtrack/score	8.5/10
Themes and message	6/10
Emotional impact	3/10
Creativity and originality	3/10
Rewatchability	2/10

Our rating: 6/10

Is The Odyssey (2026) available for streaming?

Universal Pictures is currently distributing The Odyssey (2026) (R-rated) in theaters and is not available to stream as yet. 

Genre: Action epic, adventure, fantasy, history

IMDb rating: 8.4

Rotten Tomatoes: 95 percent on Tomatometer (critics’ score) and 97 percent on Popcornmeter (audience score)

Cast: Tom Holland, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Jon Bernthal

Director: Christopher Nolan

Writers: Homer, Christopher Nolan

Producers: Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas

Release date: July 17, 2026

Movie runtime: 2 hours 52 minutes