Matt Damon leads Nolan’s bold take on Homer’s epic, but the love story at its center is what stayed with me most.

This review contains spoilers for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.

Homer’s The Odyssey has been retold countless times, but Christopher Nolan gives it the scale and intensity people already expect from him. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, whose journey home after the Trojan War turns into years of gods, monsters, loss, and very bad decisions.

The film also jumps across timelines, much like the source material. It moves between Odysseus’ voyage, Penelope waiting in Ithaca, and Telemachus searching for answers about his father. Those familiar with the epic will likely settle into the structure faster, but the story is still easy enough to follow once everything starts connecting.

*Odysseus and his men during their long voyage across dangerous seas, where they face gods, monsters, and the consequences of Odysseus’ choices | All photos from IMDb*

Matt Damon is excellent as Odysseus. He makes him feel powerful and legendary, but never perfect. This version of Odysseus is stubborn, exhausted, reckless, and often responsible for the suffering around him. Damon gives the role enough grit and emotion that you remain invested in him even when his choices are frustrating.

Tom Holland is a good contrast as Telemachus. He is softer, younger, and still trying to understand a father he knows only through stories. His presence gives the film some warmth and balances Damon’s heavier performance.

*Athena, the goddess of wisdom, guides and protects Odysseus throughout his journey home.*

Zendaya is ethereal as Athena. Charlize Theron is striking as Calypso, and her scenes with Odysseus feel like they happen in a different world, peaceful, beautiful, and far from all the chaos. Anne Hathaway gives Penelope a lot of emotion, and you can feel how long she has been waiting for Odysseus to come home. Lupita Nyong’o only has a few scenes as Helen of Troy, but I still wished we saw more of her.

Then there’s Robert Pattinson, who, by the way, is one of my celebrity crushes, but I couldn’t stand him here—in the best way. He makes Antinous so smug and unlikeable that I spent half the movie waiting for someone to put him in his place.

*Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson as Telemachus and Antinous. Telemachus searches for answers about his father, while Antinous leads the suitors trying to take control of Ithaca.*

The journey feels darker and more physical

I was most absorbed by Odysseus’ journey with his men. Their encounters with the Cyclops, Circe, the gods, and the dangers at sea never felt like a simple list of famous moments from Greek mythology. Circe turning the crew into pigs was especially unsettling. In Homer’s epic, she drugs them first and then uses her wand to transform them. Nolan makes the scene feel much more physical, with Circe shaping their faces by hand as their bodies twist and their hands are forced into their mouths. The spilled soup, scraps of food, and panic in the room make it even darker and harder to watch. You could feel the exhaustion building, especially as his men continued to suffer because of the choices made along the way.

The movie is gritty, dark, and often brutal, but it is also surprisingly endearing. Nolan brings his usual scale to the battles, storms, and mythical creatures, but the spectacle never completely takes over the story. The language also feels accessible. It has enough weight for an ancient epic without sounding too difficult for a casual audience (Thank you from me!)

*Odysseus, the king of Ithaca whose journey home after the Trojan War stretches into years of gods, monsters, loss, and difficult choices*

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The love story gives the film its heart

But the part I gravitated toward most was Odysseus and Penelope. Beneath all the war and mythology is a story about someone trying to return to the person he loves, even if Odysseus is far from the perfect husband. In Homer’s epic, he is a liar, a trickster, and unfaithful, spending time with both Circe and Calypso during his journey home. He also makes choices that cost many of his men their lives. Still, the ancient Greeks saw him as a hero because heroes were admired for their courage, intelligence, and extraordinary abilities, not for being morally perfect. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, favors him for exactly that reason, often helping him because she admires his cleverness and skill. (Sorry for geeking out!)

*Anne Hathaway as Penelope, who waits in Ithaca while protecting her home and standing her ground against the suitors hoping to take Odysseus’ place.*

Anne Hathaway’s Penelope is just as compelling to watch. While Odysseus is away, she protects her home, raises Telemachus, and stands her ground against the suitors. Hathaway captures the weight of waiting, which makes their reunion feel well earned.

For all its darkness, The Odyssey has heart. Nolan makes the long journey feel exhausting, dangerous, and personal.

The Odyssey is now showing in theaters worldwide. It opened in Philippine cinemas on July 15, 2026.

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