The Odyssey Social Reactions Are In and Critics Praise Nolan’s Follow-Up to ‘Oppenheimer’

Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of The Odyssey has arrived, and the early viewers are already calling it the director’s most ambitious achievements to date.

Following the film’s world premiere, critics are praising its massive scale, emotional storytelling, and technical craftsmanship, with many highlighting its use of IMAX cameras and standout performances from its ensemble cast.

Critics Call The Odyssey “Breathtaking” and “Epic”

The Mary Sue’s Rachel Leishman described the adaption as a worthy companion to Homer’s classic, writing “The Odyssey is as epic as its source material with that level of Christopher Nolan spark that makes it something special.”

She continued, calling the film “a story of love and loss” that is breathtaking, bold, and perfection.”

Leishman also praised Nolan’s vision, describing the movie as “a filmmaking feast” and saying it would be difficult to imagine another filmmaker bringing Homer’s epic to the screen “with this much scale, scope and heart.”

Praised as “One That Feels Uniquely Christopher Nolan”

Collider’s Perri Nemiroff wrote that the film “is a filmmaking feast. A grand and gripping rendition of Homer’s epic, and one that feels uniquely Christopher Nolan. It’s sincerely hard to imagine any other filmmaker on the planet being able to bring that source material to screen with this much scale, scope and heart.”

Simon Thompson said that Nolan’s film “is flawless filmmaking, every inch as epic as you’d expect. Leading a stellar cast, Matt Damon gives Odysseus everything in a career-best powerhouse performance. Robert Pattinson is outstanding as Antinous and John Leguizamo’s Eumaeus is sublime.”

Critics Are Praising the Performances and IMAX Spectacle

Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture also praised Nolan’s adaption, calling it “as epic as movies get” and highlighting some of the director’s most breathtaking action sequences to date.

Neglia singled out Matt Damon’s portrayal of Odysseus, writing that the actor brings “enormous power” to the legendary hero. He also praised Anne Hathaway’s emotional performances as Penelope and said Tom Holland’s turn as Telemachus signals “an exciting new era in his evolving career as a leading man.”

Beyond the performances, Neglia applauded the film’s technical achievements, particularly its commitment to capturing much of the production in-camera using new IMAX technology. He also highlighted Ludwig Göransson’s score and the film’s immersive sound design.

Not Every Reaction Was Unreserved

While the overwhelming response has been positive, not every critic considered The Odyssey among Nolan’s very best films.

David Ehrlich described it as “A surprisingly natural (and less despairing) Oppenheimer follow-up” centered on a man grappling with the consequences of his own hubris.

Although he praised the IMAX presentation and said the final act “rewards the journey,” Ehrlich also felt the film was “too clunky to be S-tier Nolan.”

Based on the Homer’s ancient Greek epic, The Odyssey stars Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Himesh Patel, John Leguzamo, and Samantha Morton. Full reviews remain under embargo, but the first wave of reactions suggests Nolan has created another ambitious spectacle that many critics believe audiences should experience on the biggest screen possible.

(feature image: Syncopy Inc., in co-production with Universal Pictures and Wildside

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]