By Prajna Girish (27S06O)

Cinema seats have rarely been snatched as quickly as they did for Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated 2026 project–The Odyssey. I remember sitting at my desk, debating the merits of watching the smash-hit that had grossed $124 million in its opening weekend and 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, on IMAX, apparently “the way it was filmed to be seen”– though prices were upwards of twice a typical ticket. Ultimately, protecting my wallet won out, but after reading the original Epic by Homer, I had to see for myself if the adaptation lived up to the hype. For anyone facing the dilemma, here’s a spoiler-light look at whether it’s worth the watch–and which way it’s best experienced.

Ancient Greeks with American Accents

For a story set in the 13th century BC, hearing “My Dad is coming home” didn’t quite aid in audience immersion. Despite having Hollywood royalty in his cast– from Matt Damon and Tom Holland, to Zendaya and  Anne Hathaway, Nolan somehow managed to forgo instructions to employ Greek actors who looked like the characters or ask the existing cast to adopt matching accents–and overall directed a Greek movie with no Greek influence whatsoever. Costumes and armour, despite fulfilling the wow-factor, were inspired by medieval and Renaissance styles rather than by the Bronze styles of Ancient Greece. Oh, and the plot? Significant deviations that, if I start listing, would probably spoil the whole thing. 

We could counter this in the name of artistic liberty–that cinemas are for entertainment and piquing interests rather than maintaining historical accuracy. Those who want the precise lore should simply read the epic, not place cultural politics and personal expectations over a medium of free expression. After all, Nolan’s aim for the movie was “to tell it in a fresh and modern way, to make it as accessible for a modern audience”, and a cast that could represent the world, both of which were certainly achieved. (See: Los Angeles Times & The Guardian) Personally, I understand why historically accurate props may not have been at the top of Nolan’s priorities–but believe if he had the budget to cast more than 5 A-listers, he could have perhaps attempted to gear his film towards a reasonable adaptation rather than modern-day fanfiction.

To prevent falling into the same folly as Nolan and leaving out Greeks, a movie based on their customs, let’s briefly look at what the locals think of their history on the big screen. Though many felt skeptical for the aforementioned, eventual turnout remained impressive, with many eulogising (See: New York Times) trips down memory lane and sharing their heritage with global audiences.

Slicing screens in half

Perhaps the greatest controversy surrounding The Odyssey: the film was shot specifically with IMAX cameras. Nolan and his cast sang hymns about wanting fans to catch the film in one of the ~31 70mm IMAX theatres worldwide. 

Here’s a summary for non-cinephiles: Even if we were to branch out from 70mm (the best format within IMAX) out of thousands of screens, only ~1800 are IMAX. These tickets aren’t cheap either, meaning this blockbuster, projected to draw enormous audiences, was intentionally shot in one of the least accessible forms of cinema from both geographical and financial standpoints.

Circling back to directorial autonomy, perhaps Nolan had every right to execute his project how he saw fit, on film that, in his words, “nothing [could] compete with” (See: CBS News). However, it doesn’t change the fact that theatres are cutting off whole chunks of every frame to squeeze onto regular screens. 

Essentially? If you’re not ready to pay the price (in whatever sense) for IMAX, parts of the movie will be off-limits to you.

Onscreen magic

Moving on from criticism, here are some reasons why you should watch The Odyssey in cinemas. The intricate filming process had its perks, producing some of the most ethereal visuals I’ve ever seen. From fight sequences and sweeping scenery to characters’ microexpressions translating onto the big screen, Nolan’s aversion to CGI and preference for practical effects immerse you within Ancient Greece. (Fun fact: The set spanned about two million feet across six countries to maintain physical authenticity) 

What a lack of Botox can accomplish

Does it go without saying that the star cast proved once more why they’re stars (though it must be said that Robert Pattinson always have the weirdest lines!)? Granted, Nolan seems to struggle with portraying strong female characters, but the narrative shift from Odysseus’ ten-year-long journey home to highlighting characters’ emotions and backstories shone clearly. Their stellar performance served as a reminder that whether in 13th BC or the 21st century, we’re all humans who bleed the same red and feel the same love. 

To see or not to see

Whether it was how Nolan intended, how Homer intended, or how fans intended, The Odyssey has cemented its, arguably rightful, place within 2026’s streak of lucrative box office releases, right alongside Michael, The Backrooms, and The Devil Wears Prada 2 (anyone else caught those?). Diehard fans of the poem, Troy, Epic: The musical, or Greek mythology in general, wishing for a faithful rendition, should probably not splurge thirty bucks just for eventual disappointment. But if all you want is a fun three hours with stunning visuals coupled with gut-wrenching dialogue, you Odyssey this!

While you sit on that, Philosopher Zhong Shu’s interview with Nolan is worth a look, if you’re interested, as is Hollywood’s decision to spend $250 million bringing Matt Damon home. Meanwhile, I’m going to revisit these recent financial decisions I made with the full confidence of an unemployed student. 

(P.S. Wallet too empty for IMAX? Head over to Golden Village’s Grand or Suntec outlets–their screens are usually bigger despite the standard ticket price.)