First Reactions to Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Are In – See What Critics Are Saying About This Summer’s Most Anticipated Movie

Christopher Nolan’s latest film, “The Odyssey,” has finally been shown to members of the press, and the first reactions are overwhelmingly positive. Many critics are calling the movie one of Nolan’s biggest achievements, with early viewers praising its massive scale, emotional story, and technical filmmaking.

The film is based on Homer’s famous Greek epic and stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the legendary king trying to find his way home after the Trojan War. The cast also includes Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, and Jon Bernthal.

One of the strongest early reactions came from Collider’s Perri Nemiroff, who described the film as “a filmmaking feast.” She added, “A grand and gripping rendition of Homer’s epic, and one that feels uniquely Christopher Nolan. It’s sincerely hard to imagine any other filmmaker on the planet being able to bring that source material to screen with this much scale, scope and heart.”

Several critics highlighted the movie’s huge action scenes while also praising its emotional moments. Discussing Film managing editor Andrew J. Salazar called the movie “a staggering achievement,” saying it features spectacular and even frightening sequences inspired by Greek mythology. He also praised Nolan’s modern take on the classic story.

Film journalist Simon Thompson was equally impressed. He wrote, “Flawless filmmaking, every inch as epic as you’d expect.” Thompson also praised the performances, saying Matt Damon delivers a career-best performance as Odysseus. He singled out Robert Pattinson’s Antinous and John Leguizamo’s Eumaeus as standout performances.

Fandango’s Erik Davis shared similar thoughts after seeing the film. He called “The Odyssey” “an absolute triumph and a crowning cinematic achievement from one of the great filmmakers of our time.” Davis also had special praise for Robert Pattinson, writing that the actor is “so conniving, manipulative and endlessly entertaining to watch,” adding that it is one of his favorite performances from Pattinson.

Not every reaction was completely glowing. IndieWire’s David Ehrlich felt the movie was not perfect, saying it could be clunky at times. However, he still believed the ending made the journey worthwhile, writing that “the last act rewards the journey.”

Many critics also encouraged audiences to experience the movie in IMAX. Collider editor Steven Weintraub said he had already watched the film twice and enjoyed it even more the second time. He wrote, “I’m really blown away by this film,” before recommending fans see it in IMAX 70mm, calling it “a jaw dropping experience.”

“The Odyssey” is already making history before its release. It is the first narrative feature film to be shot entirely with IMAX cameras. Nolan previously told Empire that more than two million feet of film were used during production, which lasted 91 days.

Speaking to Empire about adapting Homer’s story, Nolan explained why he wanted to bring the ancient tale to modern audiences. He said, “As a filmmaker, you’re looking for gaps in cinematic culture, things that haven’t been done before,” adding that he wanted to make a large-scale mythological film with the kind of realism and production values that modern IMAX filmmaking can provide.

Universal Pictures will release “The Odyssey” in theaters on July 17. Based on the first reactions, critics believe Nolan has delivered another ambitious epic that could become one of the biggest movies of the year.

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