Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is poised to become one of the most important movies of 2026. The epic film has many similarities to superhero movies, but Nolan’s version might be exactly what Hollywood needs.
The Odyssey is based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic. The story chronicles Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, the Greek king of Ithaca, who embarks on a treacherous journey home following the Trojan War. On the way, Odysseus encounters fantastical beings, including Cyclops and sirens, that push him to his limit, all to make it home and reunite with his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway).
In other words, the Odyssey illustrates the hero’s journey and how one person must defy the odds to defeat his enemies, reach his destination, and be with his family. That sounds a lot like a superhero movie, doesn’t it?
Why The Odyssey is more like a superhero movie than you think
Nolan has experience in superhero movies, dating back to his time working on The Dark Knight trilogy. He knows all about the hero’s journey and how to depict the ups and downs a protagonist faces. Nolan understands scale and how to shoot incredible action sequences that set his movies apart. Most importantly, Nolan understands how to eventize a movie and how a star-studded cast and epic story can persuade an audience to come to the theater.
Nolan is applying all of the principles of a superhero movie to The Odyssey. It’s like a superhero movie without the capes. Nolan has previously said there is a parallel between Greek mythology and modern pop culture. According to Nolan, the ancient gods were the “original superheroes,” and Homer’s work was the “Marvel of its day.” With sweeping action sequences shot on Imax cameras, The Odyssey has the look and feel of a tentpole superhero film.
There is an endless debate about superhero fatigue. Is it real, or is it a myth? It’s probably a little bit of both. Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday, two movies coming out in 2026, are probably going to each make at least $1 billion worldwide. On the other hand, DC just experienced a massive flop with Supergirl. The major superheroes, like Superman and Batman, and team-up movies, like The Avengers, are never going away. However, the movies about secondary characters might continue to struggle.
The Odyssey feels more akin to an Avengers movie than Supergirl. The A-list cast — including Damon, Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron — certainly feels like a superhero team.
I don’t think superhero movies are going away. However, Nolan is creating a new avenue of superhero-like stories to compete with Marvel and DC. Judging by the early box office estimates, Nolan’s path is working.
