Quick take
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has opened to an overwhelmingly positive critical response.
At the time of publication, the film holds a 98% Tomatometer score from 163 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. The score places Nolan’s mythological epic above the current ratings listed for The Dark Knight, Memento and Oppenheimer.
The film opens in theaters on July 17, 2026. Its audience Popcornmeter has not populated yet, meaning the current number reflects professional critic reviews rather than general moviegoer reactions.
The score may move as more reviews are added, but its opening position already makes The Odyssey one of the strongest-reviewed major releases of 2026.
What the 98% score actually means
A 98% Tomatometer score does not mean critics gave the movie an average rating of 9.8 out of 10.
Rotten Tomatoes calculates the score using the percentage of approved professional reviews classified as positive. In this case, almost every review collected by the platform has been marked Fresh.
That distinction matters. Individual critics may disagree over the film’s pacing, performances or adaptation choices while still recommending the movie overall.
The Tomatometer is also fluid. Its percentage and review count can change as additional publications submit reviews during the theatrical rollout.
Why this is a major result for Christopher Nolan
Nolan entered The Odyssey with one of the most consistently successful filmographies in modern blockbuster cinema.
Rotten Tomatoes currently lists The Dark Knight and Memento at 94%, followed by Oppenheimer at 93% and Dunkirk at 92%.
With The Odyssey sitting at 98% at the time of writing, it is currently the filmmaker’s highest-rated feature on the platform.
That does not automatically make it his best movie. Rotten Tomatoes measures the proportion of positive reviews rather than creating a definitive ranking of artistic quality.
It does, however, show an unusually broad level of critical agreement around a three-hour, R-rated adaptation of an ancient Greek epic.
What critics are praising
The first wave of reviews has focused heavily on the film’s scale, craftsmanship and ability to turn Homer’s story into a modern theatrical event.
Critics have praised Nolan’s handling of large-format imagery, practical environments, battle sequences and mythological spectacle. The performances have also received attention, particularly the way the cast brings more intimate emotional stakes into a story built around gods, monsters, war and a decade-long journey home.
The early response is not completely without criticism.
Some reviews argue that the movie’s enormous scale occasionally works against its character development, while others have raised familiar concerns about pacing and sound balance in Nolan’s films.
The broader reaction remains strongly positive: even several of the more reserved reviews describe the production as technically ambitious and designed for the biggest screen available.
What is The Odyssey about?
Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, who attempts to return home after the Trojan War.
The journey becomes a prolonged fight for survival as Odysseus encounters hostile forces, supernatural threats and the consequences of decisions made during the war.
Meanwhile, his wife Penelope and son Telemachus face growing pressure in Ithaca as rivals attempt to take control of his home and kingdom.
The film follows the central outline of Homer’s epic while presenting the material through Nolan’s preference for large-scale practical filmmaking, immersive sound and theatrical spectacle.
Who is in the cast?
Matt Damon leads the film as Odysseus.
The main cast also includes:
- Tom Holland as Telemachus - Anne Hathaway as Penelope - Robert Pattinson as Antinous - Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy - Zendaya - Charlize Theron - Jon Bernthal - John Leguizamo - Himesh Patel - Mia Goth - Benny Safdie - Elliot Page
Christopher Nolan wrote and directed the film, with Emma Thomas and Nolan producing through Syncopy alongside Universal Pictures.
Built as an IMAX event
The official film campaign describes The Odyssey as having been shot entirely with IMAX film cameras.
That makes the theatrical format central to the project rather than an optional premium presentation added after production.
The movie runs approximately three hours and carries an R rating for violence and some language.
Its scale, runtime and large-format production position it as a theatrical event in the same tradition as Nolan’s previous releases, particularly Dunkirk, Tenet and Oppenheimer.
What happens next?
The first number to watch is the Tomatometer itself.
More reviews are likely to be added as the film reaches wider release, so the percentage may rise or fall from its current 98% position.
The second number will be the audience Popcornmeter. That score will offer the first major indication of whether the extremely positive critical reception is matched by general audiences.
The theatrical performance will then determine whether the film’s critical momentum translates into one of the largest box-office openings of Nolan’s career.
For more major film releases, trailer breakdowns and entertainment updates, visit the ForfeitMedia Movies & TV section.
You can also read our coverage of the Dune: Part Three trailer and its darker final chapter, or explore our ranking of the best Netflix shows to watch in 2026.
Bottom line
The Odyssey has started its theatrical rollout with one of the strongest critical scores of Christopher Nolan’s career.
At the time of publication, it holds 98% from 163 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, ahead of its July 17 release.
The score will continue changing as more reviews arrive, but the opening reaction is already clear: Nolan’s adaptation has landed as a major critical success and one of the most closely watched movie events of 2026.
