Christopher Nolan'
s adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey opens in theaters July 17, with early IMAX showings starting the night of July 16. The film reunites Nolan with a massive ensemble cast for what is reportedly the most expensive production of his career, and the first feature ever shot entirely on IMAX film cameras.
Cast and Story
Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca making his long and dangerous journey home after the Trojan War. Anne Hathaway plays his wife, Penelope, who has waited years for his return. The supporting cast is stacked: Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Samantha Morton, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron all appear in the film, though Nolan has kept most character details under wraps ahead of release.
The film adapts Homer's epic poem, following Odysseus through his encounters with mythical creatures and gods on his way back to Penelope. Nolan has described the project as a chance to bring ancient myth to the screen with the same scale and practical filmmaking approach he has used on films like Oppenheimer and Dunkirk.
Runtime, Rating, and the IMAX Format
The Odyssey is rated R and runs 2 hours and 52 minutes. Nolan negotiated exclusive access to IMAX screens for the first three weeks of release, a strategy he has used before to maximize the format's box office potential before the film expands to standard theaters. Shooting the entire film with IMAX film cameras, rather than digital or a mix of formats, is a first for a modern studio film and underscores how much Nolan is leaning into scale and image quality as selling points.
The Trailer Rollout
A short teaser leaked online in mid-2025 before appearing attached to theatrical releases, but the first full trailer did not arrive until May 4, 2026, when it premiered on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The marketing campaign has been unusually quiet for a film of this size, giving away little beyond mood, scale, and the cast list, which has only fueled anticipation heading into the July 17 release.
Conclusion
The Odyssey opens July 17 as one of the biggest and most closely watched films of the summer, pairing Christopher Nolan's IMAX ambitions with a cast few films could assemble. Whether it can match the box office and awards run of Oppenheimer remains to be seen, but expectations are high.
