r/movies • u/LiteraryBoner Jackie Chan box set, know what I'm sayin? • 10h ago

Official Discussion Official Discussion - The Odyssey (2026) [SPOILERS] Spoiler

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The Odyssey (2026)

Summary

After the Trojan War, Odysseus faces a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca, meeting creatures like the Cyclops Polyphemus, Sirens, and Calypso along the way.

Director Christopher Nolan

Writer Christopher Nolan

Cast

  • Matt Damon as Odysseus
  • Tom Holland as Telemachus
  • Anne Hathaway
  • Zendaya
  • Lupita Nyong'o
  • Robert Pattinson
  • Charlize Theron
  • Benny Safdie
  • Jon Bernthal
  • John Leguizamo
  • Elliot Page
  • Himesh Patel
  • Samantha Morton

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

Metacritic: 88

VOD / Release Theatrical release

Trailer Official Trailer

1.8k Upvotes

86% Upvoted

3.0k comments sorted by

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234

u/carolinemahtildes 10h ago

There were a couple moments early on where I found myself wondering, "how much do I like this," and I did have some issues with the pacing, but I think it gets stronger as it goes on and by the end I was already looking at showtimes to see when I could see it again.

He's probably going to get zero attention for this because he's not one of the bigger names but Himesh Patel is absolutely fantastic in this. I also found myself wishing for more Benny Safdie (though I know that wouldn't make sense with the story).

Odysseus's speech to Penelope about what happened in Troy and the realization of the form Athena took made me cry, I thought that entire sequence was so well done.

81

u/glennghoul 9h ago

I had the same experience. The first half+ was like “it’s good, I’m enjoying it… but…?” then it was like a switch was flipped and I just sat in stunned awe.

11

u/palpablebubble 9h ago

The film wrapped up nicely but that feeling stuck with me unfortunately.

Very enjoyable and lots of a great scenes but for me just not as tight as his other films and left me wanting more here and there.

Still one of the best of the year lol.

7

u/behv 8h ago

I saw standard 70mm and I started off going "ooooo this is REALLY pretty film" despite being sober and that blended into locking in during the Dunkirk boat Trojan horse scene

Which btw, Nolan totally prepared for this with literally every other movie he's shot be it filming techniques, writing his signature non linear stories, or thematic morals hasn't he?

3

u/rammo123 6h ago

It was the body horror in Circe's cottage. Everything changed to full masterpiece mode after that.

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u/BluRayja 4h ago

This was the EXACT moment the movie went from "ehhh" to "ooooooh"

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u/Chab00ki 3h ago

Agreed

49

u/BloatedGlobe 9h ago

Himesh Patel might have been my favorite actor to watch in this film. I didn't know his name before now, but damn, he was great.

15

u/BadSwampDady 9h ago

His performance in Station Eleven lives in my head rent free.

13

u/LooseCannonFuzzyface 8h ago

I could see him being Nolan's next Cillian. A reliable support player who keeps getting cast before getting a leading role and then knocking it out of the park

5

u/hesnothere 8h ago

Nolan has this thing where he keeps hiring actors I struggle to warm to — Himesh Patel, Elliot Page, Benny Safdie — but this film solidified to me that I should just shut up and trust the man. Incredible performances all around.

5

u/chaoticallywholesome 6h ago

Watch the movie "Yesterday," the premise sounds cheesy but it's actually a really wholesome movie.

Made me fall in love with The Beatles all over again. And his acting is phenomenal!

•

u/Chab00ki 3h ago

Fr I just posted the same before I saw your comment. He is great in that film! Plus the film is great on its own.

2

u/howtospellorange 7h ago

I loved his small role in Tenet, I always called him "vegetarian meal guy"

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u/Chab00ki 3h ago

He was so good in Yesterday. He stars in it so if you liked him here you should go watch it. Its a good film on its own!

14

u/NoDaddyNotTheBelt25 9h ago

Damon and Hathaway feel like locks for Oscar nominations but he definitely deserves a supporting nod. He was critical to Damon’s character during their journey. Just a terrific showing from him.

•

u/HockeyKelly5 1h ago

I think a lot of these actors/actresses should definitely get some type of nomination. Pattinson obviously did great and I hope his performance in the new Dune will be just as incredible

6

u/iwishiwasacoolkid 9h ago

Same, at first I thought the pacing was a bit odd. But there was a point and I don’t know when, but I was completely immersed and locked in only snapping out of it when “The Odyssey” showed up at the end.

2

u/hepsy-b 9h ago

for me it was during the trojan horse sneaking out sequence. despite knowing how it would go, i found myself holding my breath and leaning forward in my seat. i feel like i was fully locked in from then on out. somehow, i even forgot i had popcorn and that almost never happens lol

4

u/blac_sheep90 9h ago

He's great in Station Eleven.

4

u/stumper93 9h ago

Mostly me with every Nolan film too, it's like...do I like this? Am I gelling with it well? And then by the end I'm so into it or give me a day or two and I can't stop thinking about it.

5

u/TheEgyptianNinja 6h ago

I would love a Himesh Patel Oscar campaign

3

u/PowahBamb 9h ago

I also felt this way.

I was like this is good but I don’t quite get it yet. I definitely got it by the end, however.. I felt pretty compelled and locked in

3

u/roto_disc 9h ago

Himesh Patel is absolutely fantastic

He and Leguizamo stole the show for me. Everyone else was fine, I guess.

1

u/CarQuery8989 8h ago

I agree. Not understanding the Oscar talk for Damon at all. He was good but hardly award worthy.

•

u/Impressive-Potato 5h ago

Felt the same way about the Martian role he got a nom for

0

u/deathmouse 7h ago

Elliott Page fucking killed it with his limited screentime.

•

u/GECollins 5h ago

Himesh Patel is so hot in this, not seeing him mentioned enough

•

u/baberlay 2h ago

Oh my god yes, Himesh Patel was one of the best parts of the film! He and Damon play off each other so, so well.

•

u/carolinemahtildes 1h ago

Agreed! The film definitely doesn't work as well if you can't feel the relationship and bond between those characters and how they interact.

2

u/Emergency-Bonus-7158 8h ago

I thought Anne Hathaway stole the show

2

u/atclubsilencio 8h ago

Definitely takes some time to find its rhythm in the first hour, but it clicks somewhere in the second, and the entire last act is just enthralling as everything set up starts coming together. The final act plays out flawlessly.

1

u/FlowerRoomLord 6h ago

Can you explain the Athena part to me? I dunno if I missed something for like a minute but I didn't quite get it.

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u/edicivo 1h ago

Athena, who appears to Odysseus throughout the movie, took the form of a priestess/Trojan woman who was brought before Odysseus and beheaded.

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u/FlowerRoomLord 1h ago

Thank you.

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u/carolinemahtildes 1h ago

Athena took the form of her priestess that was murdered in Troy to be a constant reminder of what Odysseus and his men did (particularly because they beheaded a statue of Athena at the same time).

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u/FlowerRoomLord 1h ago

Thank you.

•

u/edicivo 1h ago

I really enjoyed it, but it took until the cyclops segment to hook me.

That said, speaking of "segment," one thing I might say as a criticism is that there was so much hopping around both in scenes and general shots (for ex: like 1 single shot of a drone zooming up to Penelope and Telemachus from the side of the castle) that it sometimes felt like the story was just going from segment to segment than it did a flowing scene to scene structure.

I'd have to think about it more to properly articulate what I mean, but essentially some of it felt like "This happens! Then this happens! Then this!" while we also get shots from all different angles peppered it. It sometimes just felt a bit choppy.

•

u/carolinemahtildes 1h ago

I definitely agree with that, it is very "on the boat, land on island, monster, run, on the boat," at times. That's what I meant by pacing issues, and why I would say I like it a lot but I don't love it.

•

u/Moath 1h ago

I’m sure he’ll get a lot of recognition , his performance was incredible.

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u/carolinemahtildes 1h ago

I don't know, he's not even eligible for Best Ensemble if the cast gets nominated for a SAG. So I'd be surprised.

1

u/notbad4human 6h ago

I didn’t take it as Athena taking the form of Zendaya. I took it as an example of them saying the whole movie how you should never kill a guest because it might be a god in disguise. That was Athena.