First Reactions to Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Are In Critics Praise This Summer’s Epic

Christopher Nolan’s latest film, ‘The Odyssey,’ has premiered for members of the press, and the initial reactions are overwhelmingly positive. Critics are hailing the movie as one of Nolan’s greatest achievements, with early viewers commending its grand scale, emotional depth, and technical prowess.

The film, inspired by Homer’s renowned Greek epic, features Matt Damon as Odysseus, the legendary king striving to return home after the Trojan War. The impressive cast also includes Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, and Jon Bernthal.

One of the standout early reactions came from Collider’s Perri Nemiroff, who described the film as “a filmmaking feast.” She added, “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.”

Several critics emphasized the film’s spectacular action sequences while also appreciating its emotional moments. Discussing Film managing editor Andrew J. Salazar referred to the movie as “a staggering achievement,” highlighting its breathtaking and even terrifying scenes inspired by Greek mythology. He praised Nolan’s contemporary interpretation of the classic tale.

Film journalist Simon Thompson was equally impressed, stating, “Flawless filmmaking, every inch as epic as you’d expect.” He also praised the performances, noting that Matt Damon delivers a career-best portrayal of Odysseus. He highlighted Robert Pattinson’s Antinous and John Leguizamo’s Eumaeus as exceptional performances.

Fandango’s Erik Davis echoed similar sentiments after viewing the film, calling ‘The Odyssey’ “an absolute triumph and a crowning cinematic achievement from one of the great filmmakers of our time.” He particularly praised Robert Pattinson, stating that the actor is “so conniving, manipulative and endlessly entertaining to watch,” adding that it ranks among his favorite performances from Pattinson.

Not every reaction was entirely positive. IndieWire’s David Ehrlich felt the film had its flaws, noting it could be clunky at times. However, he still believed the ending justified the journey, stating that “the last act rewards the journey.”

Many critics encouraged audiences to experience the film in IMAX. Collider editor Steven Weintraub mentioned he had already seen the film twice and appreciated it even more during his second viewing. He wrote, “I’m really blown away by this film,” and recommended fans watch it in IMAX 70mm, calling it “a jaw dropping experience.”

‘The Odyssey’ is already making waves before its official release. It is the first narrative feature film to be shot entirely with IMAX cameras. Nolan previously shared with Empire that over two million feet of film were utilized during production, which spanned 91 days.

In discussing the adaptation of Homer’s tale, Nolan explained his motivation for bringing the ancient story to contemporary audiences. He stated, “As a filmmaker, you’re looking for gaps in cinematic culture, things that haven’t been done before,” expressing his desire to create a large-scale mythological film that utilizes the realism and production values that modern IMAX filmmaking can offer.

Universal Pictures is set to release ‘The Odyssey’ in theaters on July 17. Based on the initial reactions, critics believe Nolan has crafted another ambitious epic that has the potential to become one of the year’s biggest films.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!