The first reactions for The Odyssey have finally arrived, and if these early impressions are any indication, Christopher Nolan may have another massive hit on his hands.
After plenty of conversation surrounding the film’s unusual social media rollout, the reaction embargo lifted following the movie’s London premiere, giving audiences their first glimpse of what critics thought about Nolan’s long-awaited take on Homer’s legendary tale.
Full reviews are still being held until next week, just days before the film opens in theaters, but the initial response has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
That probably won’t shock anyone who’s followed Nolan’s career, but The Odyssey represents something completely new for the filmmaker. While he’s built a reputation delivering large-scale cinematic spectacles, this marks his first venture into fantasy.
Pair that with a production shot entirely with IMAX cameras and an all-star ensemble cast, and expectations have been incredibly high from the moment the project was announced.
Based on these first reactions, it sounds like Nolan delivered exactly the kind of experience fans were hoping for.
Critic Simon Thompson praised the film in glowing terms, writing: “Flawless filmmaking” that’s “every inch as epic as you’d expect,” adding that, “Leading a stellar cast, Matt Damon gives Odysseus everything in a career-best powerhouse performance. Robert Pattinson is outstanding as Antinous and John Leguizamo’s Eumaeus is sublime.”
One of the biggest surprises mentioned by several critics is how much the film leans into horror elements. Erik Davis of Fandango called the movie “an absolute triumph and a crowning cinematic achievement,” before explaining what caught him off guard:
“What really surprised me is how much he embraces horror. Some of the film’s biggest moments are genuinely unsettling, adding a whole new dimension to his filmmaking while never losing sight of the humanity at the story’s core.”
Not every reaction declared it Nolan’s greatest film, though the praise remained strong across the board. Critic David Ehrlich offered a more measured take while still recommending the experience:
“The Odyssey: a surprisingly natural (and less despairing) Oppenheimer follow-up about a man haunted by defying the gods & dooming civilization – this one fights to avenge his own hubris. IMAX obviously immense. too clunky to be S-tier Nolan, but the last act rewards the journey.”
Meanwhile, Collider’s Steve Weintraub, who has already seen the movie twice, had nothing but praise for what Nolan accomplished, especially in the premium format:
“I’m really blown away by this film. Everything from the flawless performances to the way Nolan embraces the supernatural is just perfect.”
That mention of IMAX has been a recurring theme. Several people who’ve already seen the film have suggested that 70MM IMAX is the definitive way to experience it, which isn’t surprising considering Nolan once again designed the movie around the format.
While these social media reactions aren’t full reviews, they’re usually the first clue about where a film’s critical reception is headed. Looking at Nolan’s track record, there’s plenty of reason to think The Odyssey could land among his highest-rated projects.
His best-reviewed films currently include Memento and The Dark Knight at 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, followed closely by Oppenheimer at 93%, with Insomnia and Dunkirk sitting at 92%.
Following and Batman Begins each hold 85%, while Inception and The Dark Knight Rises both earned 87%. His lowest-rated films are still respectable, with The Prestige at 77%, Interstellar at 73%, and Tenet at 70%.
Universal Pictures also seems incredibly confident in what it has. Allowing reactions to go live eleven days before release, especially after tickets first went on sale nearly a year ago, sends a pretty clear message that the studio believes audiences are going to love what they’re about to see.
Expect plenty of those glowing pull quotes to start popping up in TV spots and online marketing over the next several days.
Of course, it’s also worth remembering that first reactions almost always arrive with plenty of excitement attached. That’s become the standard pattern for major studio releases. Early viewers rave about a film, anticipation skyrockets, and then wider audiences finally get to decide if the movie lives up to those lofty expectations.
Will The Odyssey break that cycle and truly become one of Christopher Nolan’s greatest achievements? Based on these first reactions, there’s certainly reason to believe it might. Fortunately, fans won’t have to wait much longer to find out for themselves.
