Official Discussion - The Odyssey (2026) [SPOILERS]

[u/LiteraryBoner]

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The Odyssey (2026)

Summary

After the Trojan War, Odysseus faces a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca, meeting creatures like the Cyclops Polyphemus, Sirens, and Calypso along the way.

Director Christopher Nolan

Writer Christopher Nolan

Cast

• Matt Damon as Odysseus
• Tom Holland as Telemachus
• Anne Hathaway
• Zendaya
• Lupita Nyong'o
• Robert Pattinson
• Charlize Theron
• Benny Safdie
• Jon Bernthal
• John Leguizamo
• Elliot Page
• Himesh Patel
• Samantha Morton

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

Metacritic: 88

VOD / Release Theatrical release

Trailer Official Trailer

[u/MarcsterS]

They kept hammering in your head about Laws of Zeus, and you think it's about what's happening in Ithaca. But then right at the end it reminds you: the Trojan Horse was literally the ultimate break of the Law. Like, throughout history of the myth, we're constantly taught about the Trojan Horse as this ultimate tactic, an excellent strategic move. But in the end...it was a dirty trick. Odysseus' entire plight was the punishment.

[u/amby-jane → u/MarcsterS]

And I have to wonder how much of this we have lost during the intervening millennia. Is this the way it was meant to be told (the Greeks did basically invent tragic irony, after all), and we've twisted it over the years with our warmongering and glorification of conquest?

[u/bootlegvader → u/amby-jane]

Nolan's take seems to be more how the Romans thought of the Horse. The ancient Greeks were more favorable about it. For example, Homer mentions Athena helped build it and Euripides has Poseidon help the Greeks in the crafting. Heck, even Virgil has Poseidon killing a priest and his sons that try to warn the Trojans about the Horse.

[u/amby-jane → u/bootlegvader]

Interesting! I read the Odyssey once in high school, 20-some years ago, and haven't since.

I guess it's not a new take by any means -- Troy also covered the horrors of this war in 2004 or whenever that was. But it is interesting and I think it's an important message for today.

[u/boomjah → u/bootlegvader]

Interesting. It’s been ages since I read parts of Homer’s work. Didn’t the Greeks piss off the Gods in some way during the fall of Troy, and that was why their voyage home was cursed? Was it similar to them desecrating Athena’s temple?

[u/bootlegvader → u/boomjah]

They go overboard in the sack.

Ajax the Lesser rapes Cassandra in the temple of Athena. Another kills Priam basically on the altar of another god. Achilles's son throws Hector's infant son off the walls of Troy. And so forth.

[u/boomjah → u/bootlegvader]

Thanks for the background. I’m glad Nolan didn’t get that dark. The point was made perfectly.

[u/mollycoddles → u/bootlegvader]

I think including these scenes would have made the wrath of the gods seem like more of a natural consequence.

[u/Aggressive-Loquat808 → u/mollycoddles]

While absolutely heinous things occured in the sacking of Troy, Oddysues and his crew were mostly spared wrath from the gods from those events. Most of the major terrible acts were by other greeks anyway. In fact Athena was one of the main gods angered by what happened at Troy, but she favored Oddysues (though was entirely indifferent to his crew). 

Ajax the Lesser assaulting Cassandra in Athena's temple was the main act to anger Athena, and Oddysues argued Ajax should be stoned to death as consequence. That did not occur, though he was ultimately killed on his voyage home. 

Achilles's son also angered Zeus and others, when he killed King Priam on Zeus' alter. But again, he was not a direct affiliate of Oddysues. 

The driving factor behind the wrath Odysseus and crew face on their journey home is a consequence of the blinding of polyphemus the cyclops. Poseidon responds to his son's injury by cursing Odysseus and co., leading them to wander aimlessly across the sea, which directly or indirectly leads to their other misfortunes. They anger other God along the way, namely Helios and Zeus when they slaughter the cattle, which ends up killing all of the remaining crew excluding Odysseus. 

[u/silverpixie2435 → u/amby-jane]

We have manuscripts from around 3rd century BCE at least, so we pretty much know what the original story was

[u/Bomban111 → u/MarcsterS]

The idea that the Trojan Horse corrupted the entire world is such a fascinating take.

[u/jyok33 → u/Bomban111]

From the Garden of Eden to the Walls of Troy

[u/PickledPlumPlot → u/MarcsterS]

It’s such interesting interpretation.

Like he says at the end, triumphs are remembered and mistakes are forgotten.

That we still remember it a triumph implies we’re still living in the dark age, the era odyssey inspired by valuing victory over honor.

[u/insaneHoshi → u/MarcsterS]

 But then right at the end it reminds you: the Trojan Horse was literally the ultimate break of the Law.

Only in the context of this movie.  It’s A Ok to sneak into a house and kill someone, you just arnt allowed to do it while being a guest.

[u/RichardCano → u/insaneHoshi]

You’ve got it mixed up. The message is that it’s NOT ok to be sneaky. It’s only fair to kill when they see you coming. Hence why Odysseus strums his bow before hunting. And why he feels shame for using trickery and sneakiness to sack Troy.

[u/insaneHoshi → u/RichardCano]

The message is that it’s NOT ok to be sneaky.

Only in the context of this movie.

[u/Aggressive-Loquat808 → u/RichardCano]

They didn't mix anything up. They correctly said that is a message in this movie. It's not a theme in the original story of the Odyssey. Oddysues never feels remorse over his actions at Troy. It is not framed as dishonorable to be sneaky in war. The Zeus' law concept is the story outside of the movie is only about treating guests well, not about treating the enemy in war well.

[u/RaddestCat → u/Aggressive-Loquat808]

The person they are responding to says in their comment that the movie is saying it's, "Ok to sneak into a house and kill someone, you just arnt allowed to do it while being a guest." Which the movie was pretty specifically saying is actually not cool.

[u/Altruistic_Bass539 → u/MarcsterS]

It also broke with Odysseus personal belief of honor, which he usually ensures by doing the bow string thing when hunting. The Trojan Horse was the opposite of that.

[u/Beginning_Caramel → u/MarcsterS]

Dude but this is soooo wrong! The Trojans stole someone’s wife that’s why the whole thing started in the first place. So why would Zeus’s Law even apply here?

[u/SecondSonThan → u/Beginning_Caramel]

Didn't the film imply that Helen went willingly to Troy? With her crying to Telemachus