First Rotten Tomatoes Review for ‘The Odyssey’ Is Here, and It’s Not Glowing

The first Rotten Tomatoes review for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has arrived, and it is not exactly the glowing review many fans were expecting. While early reactions from the film’s promotional screenings have been largely positive, critic Tim Cogshell from Alt Film Guide offered a much more mixed take, calling Nolan’s latest epic “perfectly good” but arguing that the movie’s biggest achievement is not its story, performances, or visuals.

Cogshell gave The Odyssey a Fresh score with a 2.5 rating, but his review makes it clear that he was far from blown away by the film. According to the critic, the one area where Nolan’s ancient Greek adventure truly stands out is its sound design, which he described as the movie’s greatest accomplishment.

“Christopher Nolan’s latest cinematic event is perfectly ‘good.’ And yet, its one truly remarkable achievement is not the drama, the direction, the acting, the cinematography, or the visual effects – but the sound design,” Cogshell wrote.

The critic praised the movie’s massive soundscape, especially during scenes involving mythical creatures and supernatural moments. He highlighted the sounds of the Cyclops, Scylla, and the Sirens as examples of where the film reaches another level.

“The Odyssey’s sound design is nothing short of astounding,” Cogshell said, while adding that outside of this technical achievement, the movie did not leave a strong impression on him.

One of his biggest complaints was the film’s visual style. Despite being shot entirely with IMAX 70mm cameras, Cogshell argued that the movie often feels too dark and lacking in visual variety. He compared it to some of Nolan’s previous films, saying that movies like Dunkirk, Tenet, and Oppenheimer also suffered from a similar issue.

The critic described The Odyssey as “underwhelmingly, monochromatically ‘good’” and questioned whether the massive IMAX format was fully used to its potential.

According to Cogshell, much of the film consists of characters talking in dark environments rather than taking advantage of the scale that audiences expect from a $250 million epic. He acknowledged that the larger-than-life creatures and action sequences benefit from IMAX presentation, but felt those moments were not enough to carry the entire movie.

The review also criticized some of the dialogue choices. Cogshell pointed to Tom Holland’s Telemachus referring to Odysseus and Penelope as “dad” and “mom” as an example of language that felt out of place for the ancient Greek setting.

“These two words are older than one might think, but they are not 3,200 years old, and in the context of The Odyssey’s ancient Greece setting, they sound absurd,” the critic wrote.

When it came to the performances, Cogshell felt most of the cast delivered solid but restrained work. However, he singled out John Leguizamo’s performance as Eumaeus as the standout, saying the actor managed to make an impression despite having limited screen time.

The review is only the first from Rotten Tomatoes, meaning the overall score could shift significantly as more critics publish their opinions. Still, Cogshell’s reaction offers a more cautious perspective compared to the early excitement surrounding Nolan’s adaptation.

The Odyssey has been one of the most anticipated films of 2026, with a huge cast featuring Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, and Samantha Morton. The film follows Odysseus’ dangerous journey home after the Trojan War and adapts Homer’s legendary epic for the big screen.

Whether Cogshell’s concerns become a common criticism or remain an outlier will become clearer as more reviews arrive. For now, Nolan fans have their first reminder that even the biggest cinematic events can divide audiences and critics.

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