The Odyssey Reviews Arrive Before Nolan Film’s July 17 Release
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Reviews for The Odyssey began arriving on July 15, two days before Christopher Nolan’s film opens in U.S. and UK theaters. Early notices have praised its visual scale, performances and treatment of Homer’s ancient story while also identifying some uneven moments.
The Odyssey release date and runtime
Universal Pictures’ official movie site lists July 17, 2026, as the U.S. theatrical release date. The film opens in Australia on July 16 and in the UK and U.S. on July 17.
The movie runs for 172 minutes, or two hours and 52 minutes, according to The Associated Press. It is rated R in the United States for violence and some language.
What the first reviews say about The Odyssey
Associated Press critic Jake Coyle awarded the film three and a half stars out of four. His review of The Odyssey praised the way Nolan combines Homer’s story with modern large-format filmmaking. The review also noted that parts of the journey can feel uneven despite the strength of its major sequences.
The Guardian’s review highlighted the film’s ambition, large-scale landscapes and treatment of the human cost of war. It found some dialogue broader than other parts of the production but presented the overall film positively.
Those assessments are individual critics’ judgments. Wider audience responses and verified box-office results will become available after the theatrical opening.
Cast and story
Matt Damon leads the film as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca who attempts to return home after the Trojan War. His journey brings him into conflict with storms, mythical creatures and other dangers drawn from Homer’s epic poem.
Anne Hathaway plays Penelope, Odysseus’s wife, while Tom Holland portrays their son, Telemachus. Robert Pattinson appears as Antinous, one of the suitors competing to marry Penelope during Odysseus’s absence.
The ensemble also includes Zendaya as Athena, Charlize Theron as Calypso, Samantha Morton as Circe, Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra, Benny Safdie as Agamemnon, and Jon Bernthal as Menelaus.
Nolan told Reuters that adapting the poem required changes to its structure and setups. He said the production was designed for viewers who know Homer’s work and those encountering the story for the first time.
How The Odyssey uses IMAX
Universal says the entire film was shot with IMAX film cameras. Nolan and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema used the large-format system for the sea voyages, battles, landscapes and mythological sequences.
The production used about 2.1 million feet of IMAX film, according to the Associated Press. Each camera roll allowed roughly two and a half to three minutes of continuous recording before it had to be reloaded.
Only 32 locations in the United States and Canada are scheduled to show the movie in IMAX 70mm. AP reported that several popular screenings in New York and Los Angeles were already close to selling out before release.
What happens next
The Odyssey begins its main theatrical rollout on July 17. Verified opening-weekend ticket sales and broader audience reactions should follow after the first public screenings.
The movie’s initial performance will also show how much demand extends beyond the limited IMAX 70mm locations and into standard theaters and other premium formats.
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