Let me start by saying if you are a die-hard Christopher Nolan fan and love everything he does, this review is not for you! Look, I like Christopher Nolan and have been entertained by some of his movies, but The Odyssey has pretty much everything I dislike about his movies. Sure, there is some good and even some spectacular here, but for the most part, I will be honest with you. This, for me, was a bit of a slog to get through. The thing is, I know I am in the minority here, as many people loved this movie, but all I can do is share my experience with it.
Where to Watch The Odyssey
The Odyssey was released on July 17, 2026. It is availabe for streaming on HBO Max.
The Movie Review: The Challenge of Nolan Fandom
The reason I say that is that it is very hard to have a normal discussion with a die-hard Christopher Nolan fan. If you do not like the movie, it is because “you didn’t get it,” and they are so much smarter than you. Ok, major generalization there I know, but I have had chats with Nolan fans multiple times where they simply cannot comprehend that someone simply did not like one of his movies. I am not a Nolan hater; I have found some of his movies very entertaining.
A Tale of Two Stories: Odysseus and the Throne of Ithaca
The story of The Odyssey is an ancient Greek classic, and our main character is Matt Damon’s Odysseus. There are two main parts to the story. Odysseus and his epic quest to get back to Ithaca, where he is king and has left his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus. The other part of the story is what is happening in Ithaca, where vultures are basically swarming to try and claim the throne for themselves.
Having the two main plots run side by side is a good idea to be fair. The reason that the throne is kind of up for grabs is that it has been 20 years since Odysseus left for battle. Most people think that he is dead, but his wife, son, and one of his most trusted aides all believe that he is alive, and they are waiting for his return. I cannot speak for how close it is to the ancient tale, but if you like ancient Greek stories and get a kick out of things like that, there is certainly more than enough to keep you entertained here.
Spectacle in the Middle: Cyclops, Gods, and Nightmares
For me, the beginning and end of the move felt like they lasted forever. However, the middle part where we see the Cyclops, the rage of Poseidon, and the witch were awesome! This is the kind of stuff that Christopher Nolan does incredibly well. These scenes were a great mixture of epic action and gross stuff too; those pigs are nightmare fuel! When this part of the movie was happening, and it was flowing from one part of Odysseus ‘ quest to get home to the next, it really was thrilling and exciting.
Where the Pacing Drags: Pretentious Dialogue Overload
However, the problem is that this accounted for about an hour of the movie, and as I said, all of this epic and exciting stuff happens right around the middle. The final chapter of this movie, even with the battle at the end, dragged, and I mean dragged hard. It was full of your typical pretentious, overdone Christopher Nolan dialogue that just went on and on, so much to the point where I had no idea what was even being said. The performances are not bad at all, and everyone is giving their all…. But that does not mean I automatically have to like it.
Final Verdict: Spectacular Sights, Slog of a Script
To be fair, I am clearly in the minority here, as this movie has made over a billion dollars and people seem to like it. For me, it is the best and worst of what a Christopher Nolan movie is; the action, the look, and the set pieces are spectacular, but the pretentious dialogue and the characters’ droning on and on sucked a great deal of the fun out of it for me. A good friend of mine who loves Christopher Nolan said I should give it a second chance! Why would I want to sit through two hours of something I did not like to watch an hour of something I did… I am good, thanks. This was not horrible, but it was not for me.
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