Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has already become one of the year's most talked-about films months before its release on the 17th this month. Between its sprawling ensemble cast and endless speculation over how one of literature's oldest epics will be reimagined for modern audiences, it's easy to get caught up in the discourse. Led by Matt Damon as Odysseus, the film also stars Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Zendaya as Athena, Lupita Nyong'o as Helen and Robert Pattinson as Hermes.
These stories have travelled across centuries, cultures and mediums, constantly finding newer, ‘adaptable’ ways to speak to their audiences. It's also worth noting that Nolan has cited Emily Wilson's 2017 translation as one of his key source texts. Her translation is celebrated for its clarity and accessibility, offering a fresh perspective on Homer's epic while preserving its moral complexity.
If you're geeking out over Nolan's take, or simply counting down the days until Odysseus returns to the big screen, these films are worth revisiting.
Some draw directly from Homer's world, while others echo the same questions that have kept Greek epics alive for centuries: war and its aftermath, friction amidst fate and free will, homecoming, and the often uneasy relationship between mortals and the gods.
If there's one film to watch before The Odyssey, it's this. Joel and Ethan Coen's Depression-era road movie is a loose, inventive retelling of Homer's epic, replacing gods and monsters with conmen, corrupt politicians, outlaws and the dusty backroads of the American South. Like Odysseus, its three unlikely heroes encounter a series of bizarre episodes on their long journey home, each hiding clever nods to the original poem.
If you're the kind of viewer who enjoys unpacking symbolism and literary references, O Brother, Where Art Thou? is especially rewarding.
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Videos
Long before Odysseus began his long journey home, there was the Trojan War. Based on Homer's Iliad, Troy tells the story of the conflict that sets the events of The Odyssey into motion. It introduces many of the same characters and conflicts that shaped Odysseus' story, while offering a grand, accessible entry point into Greek epic cinema.
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video
This fantasy adventure follows Jason and his crew in search of the Golden Fleece, bringing together gods, mythical creatures and heroic quests in a way that feels like a natural companion to Homer's world. Ray Harryhausen's pioneering stop-motion effects may be dated, but they lend the film a storybook quality that continues to inspire generations of fantasy filmmakers.
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Robert Eggers' Viking saga brings myth, prophecy and revenge together in one of the most visually immersive historical films of recent years. Like the heroes of Greek epics, Amleth is driven by destiny as much as choice, navigating a world where gods, omens and human ambition constantly overlap.
Where to watch: Netflix
Before historical epics became a rarity, Gladiator reminded audiences just how thrilling they could be. Ridley Scott's sweeping tale of power, and revenge brought Ancient Rome back into the cultural conversation. Like Homer's heroes, Maximus is driven by honour, grief and an unwavering sense of purpose.
Where To Watch: Prime Video
If you're watching these films for their sheer scale, don't skip Ran. Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece, inspired by Shakespeare's King Lear set in feudal Japan, wrestles with many of the same ideas that run through The Odyssey of legacy and the consequences of human pride.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
Miklós Jancsó's Electra, My Love reimagines the ancient tragedy through hypnotic long takes and striking visual symbolism, proving that Greek myths have always invited reinterpretation. It's a compelling watch before The Odyssey, offering a very different approach to adapting the ancient world. A 1974 Hungarian political fable and myth-adaptation, it retells the ancient Greek tragedy of Electra and Orestes.
Where to watch: MUBI
One of the most recent adaptations of Homer's epic, The Return shifts the focus from spectacle to the emotional complexity of Odysseus' homecoming. Starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, it's a compelling companion piece ahead of Nolan's take on the same story.
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Starring Dev Patel, David Lowery's The Green Knight reimagines the Arthurian legend of Sir Gawain with stunning visuals and a fresh take on the classic quest. Its thoughtful approach to myth and heroism makes it an easy recommendation before stepping back into Homer's world.
Where to watch: Lionsgate Play
If you've mostly encountered Greek mythology through heroic quests, this offers a fresh perspective. Adapted from Euripides' tragedy and set in the immediate aftermath of Troy's fall, the film shifts the focus away from legendary warriors and onto Hecuba, Andromache, Cassandra and Helen, reminding us that every epic has another untold narrative, waiting to be unlayered.
Where To Watch: YouTube