The Odyssey (2026 film) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Odyssey (2026 film)
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Christopher Nolan
Produced by	Emma Thomas Christopher Nolan
Screenplay by	Christopher Nolan
Starring	Matt Damon Tom Holland Anne Hathaway Robert Pattinson Lupita Nyong'o Samantha Morton Zendaya Charlize Theron
Music by	Ludwig Göransson
Cinematography	Hoyte van Hoytema
Editing by	Jennifer Lame
Studio	Universal Pictures Syncopy
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date(s)	July 6, 2026 (2026-07-06) (Odeon Luxe Leicester Square) July 17, 2026 (2026-07-17) (United States and United Kingdom)
Running time	173 minutes
Country	United States United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	$250 million
Money made	$1.446 billion

The Odyssey is a 2026 epic adventure movie written and directed by Christopher Nolan. It is based on the famous ancient Greek poem called the Odyssey, written by Homer. The film stars Matt Damon as King Odysseus, alongside Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, and Zendaya.

The story follows Odysseus on his long, dangerous trip home after the Trojan War. Along the way, he encounters mythical monsters and magical challenges. Filmed in many countries using large IMAX cameras, it became a major worldwide hit in movie theaters.

Major Cast and Characters

Cast members of The Odyssey at the premiere event in New York City.

• Matt Damon as Odysseus: The clever king of Ithaca who uses his wits and strategy to survive extraordinary adventures.
• Tom Holland as Telemachus: The determined prince of Ithaca who goes on a brave quest to find his missing father.
• Anne Hathaway as Penelope: The wise and patient queen of Ithaca who protects her home while awaiting her husband's return.
• Robert Pattinson as Antinous: The arrogant leader of the suitors trying to claim the throne of Ithaca.
• Lupita Nyong'o in two roles:
  • Helen of Troy: The famous queen whose journey to Troy sparked the Trojan War.
  • Clytemnestra: Helen's twin sister and ruler of Mycenae.
• Samantha Morton as Circe: An island sorceress with powerful magical abilities.
• John Leguizamo as Eumaeus: A loyal servant in Ithaca who assists Odysseus upon his return.
• Zendaya as Athena: The ancient Greek goddess of wisdom and strategy who guides heroes.
• Charlize Theron as Calypso: A sea spirit who keeps Odysseus on her hidden island.
• Jon Bernthal as Menelaus: The warrior king of Sparta and brother of Agamemnon.
• Himesh Patel as Eurylochus: Odysseus's trusted second-in-command during the sea voyage.
• Bill Irwin as the physical performer for Polyphemus: The towering Cyclops.
• Elliot Page as Sinon: A brave Greek soldier involved in the Trojan Horse mission.
• Benny Safdie as Agamemnon: The leader of the Greek armies during the Trojan War.

How the Movie Was Made

Writing and Early Planning

Director Christopher Nolan at the film's premiere.

Director Christopher Nolan became interested in the Odyssey as a child after watching a school play about the story. After the success of his 2023 movie Oppenheimer, Nolan decided to adapt Homer's epic poem into a major Hollywood film.

Nolan studied several modern English translations of the ancient text, including one by scholar Emily Wilson. He wanted the film to show the real historical background of the Bronze Age while honoring the famous myths.

The script used a non-linear storytelling style, meaning scenes jump between the past and present to show different adventures simultaneously. Universal Pictures approved a large production budget of $250 million.

Special Effects, Sets, and Costumes

The production team worked hard to build realistic sets and practical creature effects rather than relying entirely on computer graphics.

• The Trojan Horse: Set designers constructed a massive wooden model of the horse measuring 36 foot (11 metres) tall and weighing 8,800 pounds. It was transported in 27 separate crates to the filming location.
• Mythical Creatures: The giant Cyclops was created using a mix of physical animatronics (robotic puppets), puppetry, and actor Bill Irwin in special gear. Its appearance took inspiration from classical artwork by Francisco Goya.
• Ancient Clothing: Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick researched real archaeological artifacts from Mycenaean Greece to design authentic bronze armor, leather gear, and linen robes.
• Sea Monsters: Visual effects company Wētā Workshop and digital team DNEG built the six-headed sea monster Scylla and created turbulent ocean whirlpools.

Filming in Real Locations Around the World

A specialized soundproof case called a blimp used on large IMAX cameras.

Principal photography began in late February 2025 and wrapped in August 2025 after 91 days of shooting. Christopher Nolan chose to film in real, outdoor environments across six different countries to capture authentic natural landscapes.

Filming took place at diverse locations including Aït Benhaddou in Morocco, Voidokilia beach in Greece, the island of Favignana in Italy, Hjörleifshöfði in Iceland, Findlater Castle in Scotland, and the White Dune in Western Sahara.

Key filming locations included:

• Morocco: The ancient fortified village of Aït Benhaddou was used to depict the city of Troy.
• Greece: Coastal areas in the Peloponnese, including Voidokilia beach and Methoni Castle, served as ancient Greek shores and caves.
• Italy: The production filmed on the Mediterranean islands of Favignana and the Aeolian Islands near Sicily for ocean voyages.
• Iceland: Volcanic black sand beaches and mountains like Hjörleifshöfði were used to represent the underworld.
• Scotland: Coastal scenes and forest sequences featuring the giants were filmed near Findlater Castle and Culbin Forest.
• United States: Large indoor water tanks at Universal Studios Lot in California were used for complex water stunts.

The full-scale historical ship used during filming for sea travel scenes.

The Odyssey became the very first feature movie filmed entirely with IMAX 70 mm cameras. Because these large cameras can be noisy, custom soundproofing cases called blimps were built to keep scenes quiet while actors spoke their lines.

Unique Musical Score

The soundtrack was composed by Ludwig Göransson, who previously won Academy Awards for his film music. Nolan and Göransson wanted a distinctive sound rather than a traditional orchestral score.

Göransson incorporated ancient musical instruments into the music, including:

• Ancient Greek lyres (string instruments similar to small harps).
• The aulos (an ancient double-pipe wind instrument).
• Heavy bronze gongs and metal drums to match the Bronze Age setting.
• Folk singing recorded with traditional performers.

The soundtrack also featured an original closing credits song titled "When I'm Home", created in collaboration with electronic artist James Blake and rapper Travis Scott.

Release and Global Box Office

Matt Damon in costume as Odysseus.

A model of the Trojan Horse (left) at the New York premiere and the ancient Manchester Odyssey papyrus (right).

Movie fans and performers dressed in ancient Greek armor at the premiere event.

Theatrical Debut

The Odyssey held its world premiere in London at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 6, 2026. Further premiere showcases took place in Mumbai, India, and in New York City.

The film opened in theaters across the United States and the United Kingdom on July 17, 2026. It was released in several formats, including giant IMAX 70 mm screens, standard 70 mm, 35 mm film, and digital formats. Early previews also debuted in major cities across China in early August 2026 ahead of a wider release.

Box Office Achievements

The movie became a massive commercial success:

• It earned over $1.446 billion worldwide.
• It became the highest-grossing film of Christopher Nolan's directing career.
• It ranked as the second-highest-earning movie released in 2026.

See Also

In Spanish: La Odisea (película de 2026) para niños

• Odyssey – The original ancient Greek epic poem by Homer.
• Homer – The ancient Greek poet who composed the Iliad and the Odyssey.
• Greek mythology – The collection of ancient stories about gods, heroes, and monsters.
• Trojan War – The legendary conflict between early Greek kingdoms and the city of Troy.
• IMAX – The large-format camera and projection system used to film the movie.