'The Odyssey' Gets First Round of Reviews – Critics Are Raving About the Hottest Movie of the Summer

After months of avid anticipation from mainstream audience members, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has officially arrived, launching its first premier screening for a limited lineup of critics.

And if the early reaction is any indication, Nolan's latest epic has been well worth the wait.

With the initial response to the film overwhelmingly positive, many critics called The Odyssey a surefire Oscar contender, praising its scope, creative vision, ensemble cast and altogether breathtaking visuals.

"A filmmaking feast," deemed Collider (via Variety). "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."

"Matt Damon leads with grit, while Tom Holland brings the sensitivity and heart…," agreed Variety. "It's another hit for Nolan, one his die-hards will digest for decades to come."

"Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is flawless filmmaking, every inch as epic as you'd expect," added another critic. "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."

Nolan's sprawling follow-up to the equally well-received Oppenheimer, The Odyssey follows the ancient Greek warrior Odysseus (Damon) as he ventures home from a decade-long stint in the Trojan War. Crossing the sea, he encounters all manner of gods, monsters and other enigmatic figures who hamper his journey, all the while his son (Holland) tries to stop his mother (Anne Hathaway) from taking on a conniving new suitor (Pattinson).

Featuring a massive ensemble cast that includes Damon, Holland, Hathaway, Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Mia Goth, Travis Scott and Elliot Page, The Odyssey arrives in theaters nationwide on July 17, giving viewers plenty of reason to celebrate this summer season.

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This story was originally published July 7, 2026 at 6:32 AM.