by Henry Pham
During my high school year as a freshman, my English class talked about Homer’s The Odyssey. It was a good time studying about that. This latest epic fantasy movie has a plethora of anticipation and enthusiasm, but your favorite film critic is not going to spoil it for anybody. Believe me, many film critics (including myself) definitely need to know better. Please avoid using the bathroom and avoid eating or drinking if you don’t want to miss every second of it.
The Odyssey marks the thirteenth feature film written, produced, and directed by Oscar-winning Christopher Nolan. It is based on Homer’s Greek poem and follows King Odysseus, who sets sail for Ithaca after the Trojan War, eager to reunite with his beloved wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus, who is determined to find his father. However, his perilous journey home is far more treacherous than the battlefield, as he must face deadly monsters and vengeful gods (such as Polyphemus, Sirens, and Calypso) to survive.
Oscar winner Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting) stars as Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca and central figure of Homer’s epic. Damon delivers a commanding and nuanced performance, demonstrating leadership and resilience as his character faces significant challenges. The supporting cast, which includes Oscar winners, nominees, and notable superhero actors, is top-notch and further enhances the film’s appeal. Cast members include Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton, Jon Bernthal, John Leguizamo, and Charlize Theron.
Christopher Nolan was initially considered to direct Troy (2004), but Wolfgang Peterson ultimately led that project before Nolan focused on Batman Begins. The cast reportedly enjoyed working on this film, a testament to Nolan’s ambition and vision. The Odyssey explores themes of leadership, greed, power, and survival. While the film’s 172-minute runtime is substantial, each scene is engaging and well-crafted. Nolan and his team remain faithful to the source material while applying their expertise from previous films Nolan had directed, such as Inception and Interstellar.
The shots are breathtaking, immersive, and massive in scale. The production design, costumes, sound, visual effects, and boat sequences are particularly noteworthy. Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography and Ludwig Göransson’s score are also noteworthy and valuable to Nolan’s filmmaking professionalism. The fight scenes are raw, intense, compelling, and well-choreographed, though some are graphic. As with other epic films (like The Lord of the Ringstrilogy), the fight choreography significantly contributes to the narrative. With all the cinematic materials and resources used, it proves that many stories are meant to be seen (and told) on the big screen, and not on your living room TV, and serves as a love letter to cinema.
Christopher Nolan offers a grand fantasy spectacle with top-notch performances, impressive production designs, breathtaking visuals, and compelling fight choreography in The Odyssey. It is one of the best films I watched in 2026, and it feels like a fever dream just watching this early and remembering my high school days as a student. Whether or not you’re a fan of Christopher Nolan’s films, this movie is a must-watch, especially for students, English teachers, and those who want to study (or rediscover) Homer’s epic. I guarantee this movie deserves some Oscar nominations, (including Best Picture). So I highly suggest preparing yourself for this amazing 172-minute spectacle by Christopher Nolan himself. One more thing, please watch this on IMAX for a greater cinema experience.
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