Everything You Need to Watch Before Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Sets Sail
Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey‘ is finally almost here, and if the early buzz is anything to go by, audiences are in for one of the biggest cinematic events of the year. The film adapts Homer’s ancient epic poem, following Matt Damon’s Odysseus on his perilous journey home after the Trojan War, and it has already been described by critics as a staggering technical achievement shot entirely on IMAX film cameras.
With the movie opening in theaters on July 17, following preview screenings the night before, there’s still time to build the perfect watchlist. Whether you want mythological adventure, Nolan’s own filmography, or something that captures the same sense of scale, these fifteen titles will get you ready for Ithaca
‘The Return’ (2024)
Uberto Pasolini’s quieter take on Homer’s story focuses entirely on Odysseus’s homecoming, skipping the Cyclops and Sirens for something more grounded. Ralph Fiennes stars as a haunted, PTSD stricken Odysseus opposite Juliette Binoche as Penelope, and the film builds toward the legendary bow and axes finale with real patience. Critics have called it the go to film for getting into the emotional headspace of Nolan’s hero before the credits even roll.
‘Troy’ (2004)
Wolfgang Petersen’s swords and sandals epic technically adapts ‘The Iliad’ rather than ‘The Odyssey’, but it functions as an unofficial prequel, ending right where Nolan’s film is expected to begin. Brad Pitt leads as Achilles alongside Sean Bean’s Odysseus, and the film includes the full Trojan Horse sequence that connects directly to the new movie’s opening.
‘Jason and the Argonauts’ (1963)
This Ray Harryhausen stop motion classic follows Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece and remains one of the earliest big screen interpretations of Greek myth. It shares ‘The Odyssey’ spirit of gods, monsters, and long sea voyages, and its practical effects still hold up as genuinely inventive.
‘Hercules’ (1997)
Disney’s animated take on the demigod trades historical accuracy for pure charm, following Hercules as he tries to earn his place on Mount Olympus. It’s a much lighter entry point into Greek mythology, but its songs and performances remain a beloved piece of the Disney Renaissance
‘300’ (2006)
Zack Snyder’s stylized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae blends fantasy and history in a way that mirrors some of the mythic exaggeration found in Homer’s poem. Its heightened visuals and larger than life battle sequences make it a natural companion piece for anyone craving spectacle.
‘Gladiator’ (2000)
Ridley Scott’s Roman epic isn’t mythological, but its themes of vengeance, honor, and a long road home echo Odysseus’s own journey. Russell Crowe’s performance as Maximus set the tone for a generation of historical blockbusters that ‘The Odyssey’ is now stepping into.
‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962)
David Lean’s sweeping desert epic is widely considered the film Nolan studied most closely while preparing his own movie, thanks to its real location shooting and enormous visual ambition. Peter O’Toole’s performance as T.E. Lawrence remains one of the most complex leading turns of the era, and the film’s scale set a bar that few epics have matched since.
‘The Green Knight’ (2021)
Dev Patel stars as Sir Gawain in this dreamlike adaptation of the medieval poem, tackling themes of courage and mortality that feel right at home alongside Homer’s hero. Its slow, hypnotic pacing offers a different but equally rewarding kind of mythic storytelling.
‘Hero’ (2002)
Zhang Yimou’s martial arts epic brings vivid color and breathtaking choreography to its own tale of legend and sacrifice. For anyone worried Nolan’s film might lean too muted visually, this is a vibrant palate cleanser full of striking imagery.
‘Memento’ (2000)
The film that put Christopher Nolan on the map remains one of the sharpest psychological thrillers ever made, told in reverse chronological order as Leonard Shelby hunts for his wife’s killer. It’s a reminder of how Nolan has always been drawn to fractured, non-linear storytelling.
‘Dunkirk’ (2017)
Told across three separate timelines that converge by the film’s end, ‘Dunkirk’ captures the desperation of soldiers trying to get home, a theme that runs directly through ‘The Odyssey’ as well. Its structural ambition offers a preview of the kind of narrative confidence Nolan brings to large scale filmmaking.
‘Oppenheimer’ (2023)
Nolan’s most recent film before ‘The Odyssey’ won seven Academy Awards, including best picture and best director, and marked a major critical and commercial triumph for the filmmaker. Reportedly, Nolan has said he made ‘The Odyssey’ partly to escape the heaviness of making ‘Oppenheimer’, which makes revisiting it a fascinating contrast before diving into his new mythic adventure
‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ (2000)
The Coen brothers’ Depression era comedy is loosely based on Homer’s poem, following three escaped convicts on a journey filled with characters that echo the Cyclops and the Sirens. Its wit and one of cinema’s best soundtracks make it a surprisingly perfect palate cleanser before Nolan’s much more serious take.
‘Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World’ (2003)
This nautical adventure captures the brutal reality of life at sea in a way that feels sympathetic to what Odysseus’s crew would have endured on their own decade long voyage. It’s not set in the same era, but the sense of duty, danger, and endless ocean carries the same weight.
‘The Name of the Rose’ (1986)
Sean Connery stars in this atmospheric mystery about a friar investigating deaths in a medieval monastery, offering one of the more literary and meditative picks on this list. It’s a slower burn than the rest, but its themes of hidden knowledge and moral complexity fit nicely alongside Homer’s layered storytelling.
With fifteen films spanning six decades of epic filmmaking, there’s more than enough to fill the days leading up to ‘The Odyssey’. Which of these will you be revisiting before Odysseus finally makes it home, and is there one you think deserves a spot on this list instead?
