What's in this guide
The Odyssey movie is Christopher Nolan’s first film since Oppenheimer, and it’s already being called the best-reviewed picture of his career. Here’s the release date, plot, cast, and where you can watch The Odyssey movie right now.
The Odyssey Release Date
The Odyssey opened in theaters on July 17, 2026, shot entirely on IMAX film cameras, a first for any feature film. It earned a franchise-best (for Nolan) $124.5 million opening weekend despite an R rating and a nearly three-hour runtime.
What’s the Plot?
The film adapts Homer’s epic poem, following Odysseus, King of Ithaca, as he tries to make his way home after the Trojan War. Along the way he faces the Cyclops Polyphemus, the sorceress Circe, the Sirens, and the nymph Calypso, while his son Telemachus and wife Penelope wait years for his return, holding off suitors who assume he’s dead. Nolan takes creative liberties with Homer’s sprawling, episodic structure to condense it into a more traditional narrative.
Cast
- Matt Damon as Odysseus
- Tom Holland as Telemachus
- Anne Hathaway as Penelope
- Robert Pattinson as Antinous
- Zendaya as Athena
- Charlize Theron as Calypso
- Lupita Nyong’o, plus Jon Bernthal, Elliot Page, and Mia Goth in supporting roles
Director and Crew
Christopher Nolan writes and directs, working again with longtime cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema and composer Ludwig Göransson. It’s Nolan’s first film since 2023’s Oppenheimer, and reportedly carries a $250 million budget, one of the largest of his career.
Why Critics Are Calling It His Best
The Odyssey has become Christopher Nolan’s highest-rated film ever on Rotten Tomatoes, holding a 95% critics’ score, ahead of The Dark Knight and Memento, both at 94%. Audiences have responded even more strongly, giving it a record 97% score, also the highest of any Nolan release.
A 95% critics’ score makes The Odyssey Christopher Nolan’s highest-rated film ever, surpassing The Dark Knight and Memento.
Where to Watch The Odyssey
The Odyssey is currently a theatrical exclusive, and reports suggest its digital and streaming debut will take longer than most PVOD releases given its scale and box office performance. No official streaming date has been announced yet; we’ll update this post as soon as one is confirmed.
Should You Watch It?
With record-setting scores from both critics and audiences, this is shaping up to be one of the defining theatrical experiences of the year, especially in IMAX. If you have any interest in Nolan’s work or big-screen epics, this is worth seeing before the inevitable spoilers spread.
The Odyssey Movie FAQ
Is The Odyssey movie in theaters now?
Yes. The Odyssey movie opened on July 17, 2026 and is currently a theatrical exclusive, with a strong preference toward IMAX screenings.
When will The Odyssey movie be streaming?
No streaming date has been announced. Given its scale and box office performance, reports suggest its digital debut will take longer than a typical premium video-on-demand release.
How long is The Odyssey movie?
It runs just under three hours and carries an R rating, making it one of Christopher Nolan’s longest and most adult-oriented films.
Is The Odyssey movie Nolan’s best-reviewed film?
Yes. At 95% on Rotten Tomatoes it now sits above both The Dark Knight and Memento, which each hold 94%. Its 97% audience score is also the highest of any Nolan release.
Should I watch The Odyssey movie in IMAX?
If you can, yes. It is the first feature film shot entirely on IMAX film cameras, so the format is not an upsell here so much as the way it was actually made.
The Odyssey movie is the standout of a crowded 2026. For what else is coming, see our breakdowns of Avengers Doomsday and Scream 7.
Is The Odyssey movie suitable for younger viewers?
The Odyssey movie carries an R rating and runs close to three hours, with sustained violence befitting the source material. It is not a family adaptation of the myth, and the certificate is worth taking seriously.
How faithful is The Odyssey movie to Homer?
Reasonably, in spirit. The Odyssey movie keeps the major episodes, the Cyclops, Circe, the Sirens and Calypso, but Nolan restructures Homer's loose episodic poem into a tighter narrative, and compresses the Telemachus material.
