Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Just Made Rotten Tomatoes History
Christopher Nolan has spent more than two decades building a reputation as one of the few directors who can turn massive theatrical spectacle into genuine critical prestige. From ‘Memento’ to ‘Oppenheimer,’ his films have consistently opened conversations about originality, scale, and craftsmanship in modern blockbuster filmmaking. Now, with his long awaited adaptation of Homer’s epic poem, that reputation appears to have reached a new peak.
‘The Odyssey’ follows Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, as he attempts a perilous journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War, reuniting with his wife Penelope, played by Anne Hathaway, and son Telemachus, played by Tom Holland. The film also features Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron in a sprawling ensemble that critics have singled out repeatedly in early reactions.
That buzz has now translated into numbers. With 116 reviews counted so far, ‘The Odyssey’ has debuted with a near perfect 97 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, officially dethroning ‘Memento’ and ‘The Dark Knight’ as Nolan’s highest rated film, both of which had previously tied at 94 percent. At the time some outlets checked in, the score had climbed to 98 percent Fresh across 132 reviews, and other trackers later reported the number nudging up to 99 percent as additional reviews rolled in.
The film also carries an average critic rating of 8.80 out of 10, a figure that puts it comfortably ahead of nearly everything else Nolan has released. His previous high water marks, ‘The Dark Knight’ and ‘Memento,’ sit at 94 percent, followed by ‘Dunkirk’ and ‘Insomnia’ in the low nineties, with the rest of his filmography trailing behind. The record also extends to individual performers, with ‘The Odyssey’ now standing as the best reviewed film in the careers of Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, and Lupita Nyong’o.
Critics have been especially vocal about the film’s scope and technical achievement. Variety described it as a genuinely grand and gutsy vision that thrills generously across its nearly three hour runtime, while ScreenRant called it not only the clear film of the year so far but one of the most impressive accomplishments of Nolan’s career. GamesRadar awarded the film a perfect five out of five stars, praising it as a dazzling epic and a major contender for film of the year.
The commercial expectations match the critical reception. Industry reports indicate an opening in the range of 85 to 100 million dollars domestically and around 110 million overseas, which would surpass ‘Oppenheimer’s’ 181.1 million dollar global opening and mark Nolan’s biggest non Batman box office premiere. Universal made the unusual decision to release IMAX tickets a full year ahead of the film’s release, and that initial batch sold out within a single day, a sign of just how much anticipation had already built before a single review went live.
With ‘The Odyssey’ now sitting atop Nolan’s own filmography and pulling some of his collaborators into career best territory, the film heads into its July 17 release carrying an unusual amount of goodwill for something this ambitious. Do you think ‘The Odyssey’ deserves to be called Christopher Nolan’s best film yet, or is the hype getting ahead of itself before general audiences weigh in?
