Christopher Nolan‘s The Odyssey receives divisive reactions from critics and fans. His latest movie on the Greek epic has been well received by many. However, some criticisms have also poured in.
What element of The Odyssey has fans and critics divided?
The Odyssey will be out in theaters tomorrow, but reviews from the early screenings are already in. The movie was well received by critics and currently has a 96% score from 216 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. However, fans and critics have different opinions about one element of the movie: its non-linear story.
Nolan’s non-linear storytelling is one of his famous tropes, seen in most of his movies, like Memento. While this has worked well for him in the past, viewers are divided on whether this trope suits The Odyssey.
For instance, critic Sean Chandler on X praised the movie, although he called the structure “clunky,” stating, “Christopher Nolan turns The Odyssey into an immersive event film. The non-linear structure can feel clunky and the action imperfect, but the practical scale, performances, horror touches, and powerful third act make it a must-see epic.”
Moreover, users stated that watching the movie a second time improves the storytelling experience. X user @davidehrlich stated, “The Odyssey (x2): like all of Nolan’s best movies (and I’m starting to think this is one of them), it’s better the second time when you know its rhythms & echoes. The 70mm sings – IMAX is a spectacle, but the format’s bluntness doesn’t always suit the fluidity of his storytelling.”
Additionally, Reddit user SweelFor’s review on r/Letterboxd reads, “The Odyssey is an interesting example of a story being made less interesting by its storytelling in film format. Nolan’s obsession for pointless non-linear narration and generally confusing editing only weakens his movie.”
That said, it’s important to remember that Homer’s Odyssey itself is a non-linear story. Instead, the director takes a more “straightforward” technique, as Justin Chang wrote for NPR, “Nolan, working from translations of Homer’s epic poem, including Emily Wilson’s celebrated 2017 version, lays out the story in an unexpectedly straightforward fashion.”
In the original epic, Homer begins Odysseus’ journey on Calypso’s island, then has him meet the Phaeacians and recount his earlier adventures after leaving Troy. Nolan’s retelling also starts the hero’s story midway through the journey, but follows a more structured timeline than the original epic.
The Odyssey will hit theaters on July 17, 2026.
