The Odyssey: Cast, Story, IMAX Format and Box Office

The first stills from The Odyssey previewed Matt Damon in Christopher Nolan’s mythic epic. The completed film opened in theaters on July 17, 2026, and remains in its global theatrical run as of August.

What The Odyssey is about

Nolan adapts Homer’s foundational poem about Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his attempt to return home after the Trojan War. The voyage carries him across dangerous seas and into encounters with mythical beings, while his family waits for him in Ithaca. The film presents the ancient story as a self-contained action epic.

Cast and filmmakers

Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, with Tom Holland playing his son Telemachus. The ensemble also includes Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, John Leguizamo and Jon Bernthal.

Christopher Nolan wrote and directed the film and produced it with Emma Thomas through Syncopy. Thomas Hayslip is the executive producer.

The all-IMAX production

The Odyssey is the first feature shot entirely with IMAX film cameras. A newly developed camera sound enclosure made it possible to record dialogue-heavy scenes with the large-format system. The theatrical release includes IMAX 70mm, standard 70mm, digital IMAX and conventional presentations, depending on the cinema.

Release and box-office record

The movie opened worldwide on July 17, 2026. By August 9 it had crossed $1.1 billion globally, becoming Nolan’s highest-grossing film without adjusting for inflation. It had also set a domestic IMAX box-office record by that date.

No official digital release date has been announced. Current showtimes and available projection formats should be checked with local theaters.

Sources and further reading

The official Universal Pictures page confirms the release date and all-IMAX production. Associated Press explains the format, a current AP box-office report records the $1.1 billion milestone, and Variety provides production and theatrical context.

Original report: Film.ru.