Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey”

By Annabelle Chen ’28 & AJ Coleman ’28

The current second-largest box-office release of 2026 is “The Odyssey,” directed by Christopher Nolan. The first movie to be shot on IMAX 70mm film, this nearly-three-hour film, featuring a star-studded cast, adapts Homer’s epic The Odyssey, composed around the late eighth century BCE.

In a review published by the London Review of Books, Emily Wilson, acclaimed classicist and translator of The Odyssey (whose translation Nolan himself read in order to direct his movie), described the film as a “family-friendly audiovisual spectacle, like an elaborate Fourth of July fireworks display—and with about the same level of narrative and emotional depth.” Jiner Huang ’28 agreed, citing how overwhelming the film was on account of its loudness and brightness, while Mr. Julian Spiro, an English teacher, noted that it was “awesome, in the classic sense of the word.” Similarly, Ime Ebong ’28 noted that he enjoyed the overall filming choices and performances of the actors.

Milton’s Classics department held various perspectives on the film. Ms. Jeanna Cook felt that as a classics teacher, she had a responsibility to investigate and critique the film rather than view it as entertainment. Mr. Jesse Sawyer recommended the movie on account of The Odyssey’s long history: “Whenever someone chooses to engage with Homer’s Odyssey, [their] participating in that larger tradition always excites me—regardless of whether or not I agree with their particular retelling or re-imagining.” Ms. Alex Mina, despite personally not enjoying the film, said that “there were a lot of people who enjoyed it and I wouldn’t want to take that away from them.”

Others who have read the epic stressed the importance of considering the film as an adaptation. English teacher Ms. Jessica Bond remarked that she “did not enjoy it as an adaptation, but enjoyed critiquing it as an adaptation,” while Caira Rahim ‘28 said that “while it was a really good story in general, you have to keep in mind it is an adaptation, not another book.” Rahim added that she was irked by the omissions made from the epic for the movie, noting lost details such as Odysseus’ proclamation of himself as “Nobody” when leaving Polyphemus’ island. While such particulars may not have been completely relevant to Nolan’s understanding of the epic—Cook acknowledged Nolan’s personal approach to The Odyssey as highlighting what messages it can teach us now, including what it means to be on the cusp of a dark age—the minor characters and details help ground the epic in humanity, even as it portrays events on an awesome scale.

Personally, I did not enjoy “The Odyssey.” As a classics student, I was disappointed by its betrayal of core characters and themes such as Odysseus’ cleverness and pride; I also disliked cinematic details such as the set design and the subpar scriptwriting. If I had to narrow my criticisms down to one fault, it would be Nolan’s overwhelming explicitness yet inability to provide cohesive commentary on any of the topics “The Odyssey” addresses. As Emily Wilson writes, “Nolan lets the fragments of an incomplete set of big ideas spin around in the epic whirlpool.” It is clear that “The Odyssey” is a critique of modern times, but in taking such a perspective, Nolan misses not only the punch he was trying to deliver but also faithfulness to the original epic.

Even so, “The Odyssey” is notable for its implications for the classics in the present day. The movie’s acclaim has brought attention to the field of classics that many classicists and humanities students are grateful for: Wilson ends her scathing review with a note of appreciation, citing the adaptation as a positive in times of declining literacy and decreasing acknowledgement of the usefulness of the humanities. Many people are engaging with the film and with the epic, debating the aspects that have been changed, omitted, or added. Additionally, the heavy influence of modernity upon Nolan’s film means it is rich with commentary on the current state of the world and how themes like loyalty and relationships change over time. As firmly situated as it is within modernity, it is impossible not to consider its implications for the present.

“The Odyssey” will be released to streaming platforms on November 17th.