Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey opened worldwide on July 17, 2026, bringing the ancient Greek epic to cinemas as a large-scale Universal Pictures production. Nolan wrote and directed the film, with Matt Damon as Odysseus and Anne Hathaway as Penelope. The official promotional description calls it a “mythic action epic” filmed around the world using IMAX technology. It presents Odysseus’s return to Ithaca after the Trojan War as a journey spanning 20 years.
The production is reportedly Nolan’s first feature shot entirely with IMAX cameras, using 65mm film. Shooting an entire feature in the large format presents a particular challenge: IMAX cameras are notably loud, making dialogue scenes difficult to record on set. The approach extends the format beyond selected action sequences, with the aim of carrying its large-scale imagery throughout the film. Nolan’s cinematographer is Hoyte van Hoytema.
The story follows Odysseus’s perilous journey home while giving sustained attention to the upheaval his absence leaves in Ithaca. Tom Holland plays Telemachus, whose search for his father unfolds alongside Penelope’s efforts to withstand the suitors. Robert Pattinson appears as Antinous. Moving between the hero’s travels and the struggle to restore the household, the film preserves the poem’s twin concerns: adventure abroad and the fate of the family at home.
Nolan’s version moves between Odysseus’s wanderings, memories of the Trojan War and the tense political situation at his palace. The film features elaborate set pieces, including the construction of the Trojan Horse, and mythological figures such as the Cyclops, played by Bill Irwin, Calypso, played by Charlize Theron, and Athena, played by Zendaya. Corey Hawkins appears as Polybus. The ensemble also includes Lupita Nyong’o. The story’s focus on identity and the consequences of absence gives the spectacle a human dimension, presenting Odysseus as a fallible figure rather than a distant legend.
Damon’s restrained performance anchors the film, while Hathaway’s Penelope is often framed behind screens or at her loom. Holland’s Telemachus takes an active role in the search for his father. Samantha Morton appears as Circe and Jon Bernthal as Menelaus. The Ithaca storyline gives the characters at home room to shape the drama, rather than simply wait for Odysseus’s return.
The film is rated R for violence and language and runs 2 hours and 52 minutes. Its visual design pairs striking imagery with a deliberate sense of scale, balancing mainstream spectacle with a more art-house approach to storytelling. IMAX reportedly dedicated its screens to the film for three weeks. Rich Gelfond, chief executive of IMAX, said the format helped make it “not only a blockbuster, but a global cultural event.” Industry coverage has also described it as the highest-grossing IMAX release to date.
Home-entertainment dates have been reported separately: one schedule lists digital rental and purchase on November 17, 2026, while a Universal Pictures Home Entertainment announcement gives November 18 for digital platforms, 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. The dates reflect differing reported schedules, not a single release date for every format and market.
Credited to Homer and comprising more than 12,000 lines, The Odyssey is among the foundational works of Western literature. Its influence has shaped storytelling across centuries. Nolan’s adaptation draws on the enduring themes of identity and memory, alongside the consequences of human action, bringing the epic’s ancient journey into contemporary cinema.
