Early Reviews of Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Are Overwhelmingly Positive, With Critics Praising the Cast and Scope

Nearly two weeks ahead of its July 17 release, the social‑media embargo on Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has ended, giving critics the chance to share early impressions. The emerging practice of tweet‑sized mini reviews lets critics comment without influencing Rotten Tomatoes scores, and the initial reactions are looking extremely positive.

Early reviews are uniformly glowing. Critics are hailing the film as one of Nolan’s strongest works and among the best adaptations of Greek mythology, predicting Best‑Picture momentum and numerous nominations for the ensemble cast—especially Anne Hathaway and Samantha Morton.

Some viewers remain cautious, noting that early feedback often proves overly enthusiastic. The definition of “influencer” in this context is still debated, despite promises to exclude such figures from preview screenings.

The film has faced a backlash online, with its trailer amassing one of the most‑disliked scores on YouTube, rivaled only by last year’s *Snow White*. Much of the controversy centers on rumored casting choices—first Elliot Page as Achilles (later clarified as untrue), and Lupita Nyong’o’s portrayal of Helen, which some label a race‑swap. Additional grievances include limited Greek talent, awkward dialogue in the trailer, and stylised costumes. All of these concerns, however, stem from material seen before any official screening.

Nolan’s historical track record supports expectations of commercial success; none of his recent films have been widely panned, with scores ranging from 69 % (*Tenet*) to 94 % (*The Dark Knight*). Here are the Rotten Tomatoes figures for his film catalog:

• Oppenheimer (2023) – 93% critic score, 91% audience score
• Tenet (2020) – 69% critic score, 76% audience score
• Dunkirk (2017) – 92% critic score, 81% audience score
• Interstellar (2014) – 73% critic score, 86% audience score
• The Dark Knight Rises (2012) – 87% critic score, 90% audience score
• Inception (2012) – 87% critic score, 91% audience score
• The Dark Knight (2008) – 94% critic score, 94% audience score
• The Prestige (2006) – 76% critic score, 92% audience score
• Batman Begins (2005) – 85% critic score, 94% audience score
• Insomnia (2002) – 92% critic score, 77% audience score
• Memento (2000) – 93% critic score, 94% audience score
• Following (1998) – 83% critic score, 85% audience score

Here are some of the most widely shared early reviews:

• Discussing Film – “Now that the social embargo is up I can say that Samantha Morton’s sequence in THE ODYSSEY is perhaps the best of the entire film and we’re going to be talking about it for years to come. If you know, you know. Nolan tapping into a side he hasn’t really shown before.”
• Variety – “I have seen Christopher Nolan’s #TheOdyssey, and it is an astonishing achievement. A triumphant, spectacular epic. The performances from Tom Holland, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, John Leguizamo, Robert Pattinson and Lupita Nyong’o are genuinely grand. And for some, truly, the best performances of their career!”
• Eric Davis – “Christopher Nolan’s #TheOdyssey is an absolute triumph and a crowning cinematic achievement from one of the great filmmakers of our time. The production design is incredible, the action is breathtaking, and the scale is unlike anything he’s done before. What really surprised me is how much he embraces horror.”

Those reactions continue to roll in, and while the ultimate verdict will come from audiences and the box office, the early consensus could hardly be stronger.

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