The Odyssey Rotten Tomatoes Scores Debut, Christopher Nolan Delivers Another Banger

Christopher Nolan dropped another masterclass. At least, that’s what critics are saying so far, as The Odyssey reviews are here.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the Critics Score for The Odyssey sits at a 98% Fresh rating. That’s from 132 reviews at the time of writing. So, almost universal consensus that we’ve got a banger on our hands. 

A lot of the Internet discourse around this film has swirled as casting decisions have been debated to the ground, and other culture war topics have taken up most of the oxygen. But when critics got their hands on the actual film, the final product seemed to pass the smell test pretty easily.

In entertainment circa 2026, there really aren’t too many sure things. However, a brand-new Christopher Nolan movie with an overwhelmingly positive critics’ rating and these kinds of presale ticket numbers means this weekend is going to be a busy one at your local theater.

The Odyssey Reviews Applaud Nolan’s Craft

Given the fact that half of Hollywood seems to be in this picture. Names like Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, and Lupita Nyong’o are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to a stacked cast.

Well, it’s fun to luxuriate in all of that talent being assembled on one set; there’s more at play with The Odyssey, according to these reviews. A lot of the different outlets hail this new outing from Nolan as nothing short of epic.

Empire’s review argues this is “ Filmmaking at a magnitude few modern directors could ever realistically imagine, demand, or execute.” And RogerEbert.com takes note that the master technician is operating at full steam. “All the fine points of production are always in service of the characters’ feelings…” 

Anyone who’s a big fan of Nolan is probably going to be pleased with their trip into myth on July 17.

What To Make Of These Sky-High Review Scores?

Well, the first thing we can take from these sky-high review scores is that the Nolan pedigree is still in effect. People loved Oppenheimer a couple of years ago, and that seems to be carrying forward through the director’s work.

When we have a creator with as long a track record as Christopher Nolan, fans start to do a lot of the marketing and promotional work for you. It also helps to have a viral popcorn bucket in these moments. No, seriously, go look at that IMAX one, it’s great.

But, beyond those initial feelings, crafting a story that draws people in is a hard thing for a lot of filmmakers to master at the box office these days. There’s a reason that Nolan is in such rarefied air compared to some of his contemporaries.

It sounds like the director’s choice to use an ancient story to link to our current moment really hit home. In addition, you’ve got the idea that a movie can be enjoyed on multiple levels.

If you’re not down for a “history” lesson, you can still settle into the groove of an action blockbuster. This is good because The Odyssey is a myth, a story for entertainment. It is loosely based on historical figures that gained momentum through pop culture

At the end of the day, The Odyssey seems like it’s going to be another Best Picture contender from a director with a strong track record of crowd-pleasing films. Maybe it shouldn’t come as a shock that Rotten Tomatoes-approved critics adored this new film.

(Photo Credit: Warner Bros.)

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