The Odyssey first reactions: Raves for Christopher Nolan’s ‘jaw-dropping,’ ‘staggering,’ ‘must-se...

Starring an ensemble cast of Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, and Zendaya, “The Odyssey” arrives in theaters July 17. The Odyssey first reactions: Raves for Christopher Nolan’s ‘jawdropping,’ ‘staggering,’ ‘mustsee’ epic Starring an ensemble cast of Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, and Zendaya, “The Odyssey” arrives in theaters July 17. By Kathleen Perricone July 7, 2026 1:04 a.m. ET Leave a Comment :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/MattDamonZendayaTHEODYSSEY0504266c6207657404494caf47c96c4e8f51e6.

Starring an ensemble cast of Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, and Zendaya, “The Odyssey” arrives in theaters July 17.

*The Odyssey *first reactions: Raves for Christopher Nolan’s ‘jaw-dropping,’ ‘staggering,’ ‘must-see’ epic

Starring an ensemble cast of Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, and Zendaya, “The Odyssey” arrives in theaters July 17.

By Kathleen Perricone

July 7, 2026 1:04 a.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Matt Damon and Zendaya in ‘The Odyssey’ from Christopher Nolan. Credit:

Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Studios

- First reactions of Christopher Nolan’s *The Odyssey* are flooding social media — and they are overwhelmingly favorable.

- Film press have deemed the epic fantasy “jaw-dropping,” “staggering,” and “the must-see cinematic event of the summer.”

- *The Odyssey*, which stars an ensemble cast of Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, and more, hits theaters on July 17.

Has Christopher Nolan bested himself with *The Odyssey*? Those who have seen his 13th feature film enthusiastically agree.

The action-fantasy blockbuster, an adaptation of Homer’s epic poem, stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek hero who must battle mythical creatures on his journey home from the Trojan War, and an ensemble cast that includes Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Samantha Morton, and Charlize Theron.

Ahead of its July 17 release, *The Odyssey* premiered in London on Monday, and members of the film press who got to screen it at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square rushed to social media to share their immediate — and overwhelmingly favorable — reactions.

Producer Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan (center) with ‘The Odyssey’ cast at the July 6 London premiere.

Gareth Cattermole/Getty

*Variety*’s Jazz Tangcay applauded Nolan’s “astonishing achievement,” particularly the film’s “breathtaking” battle scenes. As for the cast, which includes Oscar winners Damon, Hathaway, and Nyong’o, their performances are not only “genuinely grand,” Tangcay raves, but, for some, “truly the best” of their entire careers.

Erik Davis from Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes also praised “excellent” Damon and “incredible” Hathaway for her portrayal of Odysseus’ wife Penelope.

'The Odyssey' cast: Meet the star-studded ensemble of Christopher Nolan's journey to ancient Greece

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“But Robert Pattinson absolutely stole the show for me,” Davis wrote on X. “He’s so conniving, manipulative and endlessly entertaining to watch. Pattinson leans all the way into the character’s villainy, and it results in one of my favorite performances of his.”

*The Odyssey*, declared Davis, is simply “the must-see cinematic event of the summer — and quite possibly the year.”

*Collider*’s Steven Weintraub was “blown away” by *The Odyssey*, especially the way Nolan “embraces the supernatural.” The first film to be shot entirely in IMAX, the premium theatrical format is the best option, adds Weintraub, for “a jaw dropping experience.”

*The Hollywood Reporter*’s film editor Aaron Couch also noted a “first” for the Academy Award-winning director: “a fleshed out horror sequence.”

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Backed by a “soul-rattling score” and “spectacular set pieces,” *The Odyssey* is “staggering” until the final act “that’s as good as anything Nolan’s done,” DigitalSpy movie editor Ian Sandwell marveled. It was a similar sentiment from IndieWire’s David Ehrlich, who posted on X “the last act rewards the journey.”

*Time Out*’s Phil de Semlyen loved *The Odyssey* so much, he saw it twice and “took so much away both times: a chilling vision of brutalized men seeing themselves in the eyes of women, a study of leadership and an old-school sweeping adventure tale. Even the Cyclops got me in the feels. There’s even a few laughs, too.”

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Published: July 7, 2026 at 08:38AM on Source: MANUEL MAG

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