Greek mythology is a contender for the most well-known and influential mythology in the world. Originating as oral poems passed down through the ages, they have captured the human imagination for thousands of years thanks to their wide variety of gods, monsters, and heroes, all of whom have a dash of tragedy that makes their struggles feel more human. Even if you’ve never heard one of their myths in its entirety, monsters like the multiheaded Hydra and the one-eyed Cyclops have become staples in the fantasy genre, to say nothing about famous sayings like “flying too close to the sun,” which comes from the tragic tale of Icarus.
Christopher Nolan‘s The Odyssey has got people thinking about Greek Mythology again. Fortunately, there is a plethora of films based on these ancient tales, and each one offers something new and unique in its retelling.
1
‘Immortals’ (2011)
Having lost faith in the gods after the death of his family, King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) rallies his armies and seeks out the Epirus Bow, a magic weapon that can be used to release the Titans and bring about the end of the Olympians. Despite the threat he poses, Zeus (Luke Evans) forbids the gods from directly aiding mortals, wanting them to have free will. However, he does take the form of an old man (Sir John Hurt) to train a demigod warrior named Theseus (Henry Cavill), who comes to despise Hyperion when he attacks his village.
Immortals is pure 2010s action-slop, but if you’re in the mood for cinematic junk food, it’s a lot of fun. Between the slo-mo action sequences inspired by 300, over-the-top gore and violence, and hilariously fake-looking costumes, the film manages to hold one’s attention, if only because you want to see how silly things can get by the end. Still, there are some things that do work, such as the performances by Cavill and Evans, who manage to tap into the complex emotions of their characters.
2
‘Métamorphoses’ (2014)
A young woman named Europe (Amira Akili) decides to skip class one day. She bumps into a charismatic man named Jupiter (Sébastien Hirel), who convinces her to travel with him. What follows is a magical odyssey that sees Europe bear witness to interactions between ancient gods and mortals, all linked by themes of transformation.
Métamorphoses is based on the Metamorphoses by Ovid, and while it was written from a Roman perspective and uses the Roman names for the gods, a majority of the stories within it come from Ancient Greece. This adaptation is a very trippy film, and the longer you watch it, the more it feels like you’ve stepped into a lucid dream. The result is an unsettling, confusing, and magical atmosphere that conveys a sense of having entered a world that may appear like our own, but plays by its own unknowable rules that can lead to harsh punishments if broken.
3
‘Ulysses’ (1954)
Penelope (Silvana Mangano), Queen of Ithaca, finds herself hounded by a mob of suitors who demand that, since her husband Ulysses (Kirk Douglas) never returned home from the Trojan War, she remarry and give Ithaca a king, despite having a grown son, Telemachus (Franco Interlenghi). Unbeknownst to them, Ulysses washes ashore on the island of Phaeacia, suffering from amnesia. He is taken in by King Alcinous (Jacques Dumesnil) and wins the affection of Princess Nausicaa (Rossana Podestà), but just as they are to be married, the memory of the events that led him there comes back.
Ulysses is a condensed telling of the Odyssey that goes for the strange choice of using a mix of Greek and Roman names for the characters. Once you get past that indecisiveness, it’s a pretty good adaptation with impressive sets for the time and strong performances. Douglas is by far the stand-out, as he manages to tap into Ulysses’ signature wit, intelligence, and pride, while mixing in his own natural charisma, resulting in a protagonist who is everything you could hope for in a Greek hero.
4
‘Hercules’ (1997)
When the God of the Underworld, Hades (James Woods), learns that the newly born Hercules (Josh Keaton and Tate Donovan) is the only thing that will prevent him from conquering Olympus, he sends his minions Pain (Bobcat Goldthwait) and Panic (Matt Frewer) to kidnap the baby, turn him mortal, and kill him. However, they are interrupted before he drinks the last drop, meaning that Hercules retains the strength of a god. This causes him to feel ostracized during his adolescence, but, upon speaking to his father, Zeus (Rip Torn), he learns that he can become a god again by becoming a true hero.
Hercules plays very fast and loose with the mythology that inspired it, combining elements from superhero and sports movies, while also spoofing celebrity endorsement deals. It’s a veritable ad lib of a film to be sure, but it’s still entertaining thanks to beautiful Disney animation, catchy songs, a good sense of humor, and likable characters. Hades also ranks as one of Disney’s best villains thanks to his interesting design and Woods’ iconic performance.
5
‘Iphigenia’ (1977)
After Helen, wife of King Menelaus of Sparta (Costas Karras), is abducted by Paris of Troy, his older brother, King Agamemnon of Mycenae (Kostas Kazakos), rallies all of Greece into an army to get her back. Unfortunately, Agamemnon angers the goddess Artemis when his men kill one of her sacred deer, and she denies the Greeks the wind they need to set sail. High Priest Calchas (Dimitris Aronis) consults the Oracle and learns that Artemis will only be sated if Agamemnon offers his eldest daughter, Iphigenia (Tatiana Papamoschou), in sacrifice.
Iphigenia was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and, thanks to being a Greek production, feels all the more authentic as an adaptation. The film is far less action-oriented compared to other Greek epics, instead relying on powerful emotional moments as the characters debate, anguish, and rage against this impossible situation. This results in some fantastic performances from everyone involved, but special note has to go to Kazakos for how he conveys Agamemnon’s broken spirit, and Papamoschou, who was only 13 when the film was made.
6
‘Jason and the Argonauts’ (1963)
Enraged that Pelias (Douglas Wilmer) defiled one of her temples when he killed the daughter of King Aristo during his coup, the goddess Hera (Honor Blackman) spirits away Aristo’s son, Jason (Todd Armstrong), and warns Pelias that a man wearing one sandal will be his downfall. Years later, an adult Jason intends to overthrow Pelias, but also unknowingly saves Pelias from drowning, losing a sandal in the process. Realizing who he is, Pelias encourages the young hero to go on a quest to find the legendary Golden Fleece, hoping he will be killed along the way.
Jason and the Argonauts is a fantastic adventure film that captures the epic nature of Greek mythology. This is thanks in large part to the phenomenal stop-motion animation by the legendary Ray Harryhausen, which not only brings the mythical creatures to life, but makes them move in such a way that feels both a part of the world yet distinctly not of it. No other moment captures this better than the iconic skeleton fight; Harryhausen’s team not only made it seem like the skeletons were there locking swords with Jason and his men, but they also move in more dynamic ways, such as by jumping over obstacles or vaulting over walls.
7
‘Clash of the Titans’ (1981)
Perseus (Harry Hamlin) is the demigod child of Zeus (Laurence Olivier) who grew up on the island of Seriphos until he was teleported off by the goddess Thetis (Dame Maggie Smith) in retribution for Zeus cursing her cruel demigod son, Calibos (Neil McCarthy). Now outside the city of Joppa, Perseus learns that Calibos cursed its princess, Andromeda (Judi Bowker), and helps to break the curse and secure her hand in marriage. However, Thetis announces that Joppa will be destroyed unless Andromeda is sacrificed to a sea monster called the Kraken, forcing Perseus to seek the means of killing it.
Clash of the Titans was the last film to feature Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion creatures, and they rank among his best. The show-stealer this time is the gorgon Medusa, notable for her horrific serpentine design, and for the fantastic atmosphere of dread and anxiety as Perseus and his men must desperately hide from her petrifying gaze. The story between the creatures is satisfactory for what it is, with the star-studded cast giving stellar performances, especially whenever the gods are on the screen.
8
‘Troy’ (2004)
Achilles (Brad Pitt) is the greatest warrior in all of Greece, and he is eager to earn more glory. He gets his chance when Paris of Troy (Orlando Bloom) kidnaps Helen (Diane Kruger), wife of the King of Sparta, Meleneus (Brendan Gleeson), prompting his elder brother, King Agamemnon (Brian Cox), to rally all of Greece for the invasion. The war turns out to be far from easy, however, thanks to the size and strength of Troy’s walls, the leadership skills of Paris’ elder brother, Hector (Eric Bana), and Achilles refusing to fight after Agamemnon claims Briseis (Rose Byrne), a Priestess of Apollo captured by Achilles.
Troy is based on The Odyssey’s prequel story, The Iliad, although it plays very hard and loose with the story, such as removing any instance of the gods interfering with the war. It’s another movie where the best way to enjoy it is to focus on the action sequences, which are enthralling thanks to the choreography and the scope of the battles, especially when the armies clash or legendary heroes duel. That said, it does still have its emotional moments, and the star-studded cast all put out worthy performances for such an epic tale.
9
‘The Return’ (2024)
After years away from home, Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) washes up on the shores of his kingdom, Ithaca. However, he learns that, in his absence, his wife Penelope (Juliette Binoche) is being pressured to remarry by a gathering of impatient suitors, and the life of his son, Telemachus (Charlie Plummer), is in jeopardy. Rather than immediately retaking his throne, Odysseus poses as a beggar to assess the situation and come up with a plan.
The Return makes the rather bold choice to only adapt the second half of The Odyssey, thus omitting the gods, monsters, and the deadly overseas journey. This allows the story to become more grounded and focus on the characters and their inner turmoil. This is best represented through Odysseus’ struggle with PTSD at being the only one of his men to return home from the Trojan War, though Penelope’s impossible choice and Telemachus’ complex relationship with both of his parents are given their necessary dues as well.
10
‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ (2000)
A trio of convicts — Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney), Pete Hogwallop (John Turturro), and Delmar O’Donnell (Tim Blake Nelson) — escape from their chain gang and head off to recover some treasure that Ulysses buried before his arrest. They’re on a time crunch, however, as the area is slated to be flooded and turned into a reservoir. A blind man (Lee Weaver) tells them that they will indeed find their fortune, but not the one they seek, and only after enduring much hardship.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? may be set during the 1930s, but its foundation comes from The Odyssey, and if you know the story, you can quickly see how many of the plot beats match up. The film is a joy from beginning to end, with stellar camaraderie between the three protagonists, a hilarious comedy of errors that all pay off in the end, and even references to real-life figures, like Tommy Johnson (Chris Thomas King), a guitarist who sold his soul to the devil for his talent. Finally, there’s the soundtrack, which is a lovely collection of folk songs that display a wide array of styles and help to elevate the scenes they’re a part of.
