Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Earns Top Reviews, Sparks IMAX 70mm Ticket Rush

The film, which stars Matt Damon as Odysseus and Anne Hathaway as Penelope, is being hailed as the best-reviewed movie of the year so far.

According to IndieWire, the high demand for a limited number of premium-format showings has created a major ticket-buying frenzy. This follows reports of fans purchasing tickets up to a year in advance for the chance to see the epic on the largest possible screen.

What do critics say about Nolan's adaptation?

In a discussion on IndieWire's 'Screen Talk' podcast, critics dove into what Nolan gets right and wrong about Homer's epic poem. The consensus, as reported by the outlet, is that the director is here to tell a new story about the decline of civilization. His version of Odysseus is described as sanded down and stripped of the brutality seen in the original text, reconfigured as more of a dignified problem-solver who is nonetheless flawed and hubristic.

What's the controversy around the casting?

The podcast also addressed online debates surrounding the film's casting. Particular focus was placed on Lupita Nyong’o playing Helen of Troy and Helen’s half-sister, Clytemnestra—identified in the movie as Helen’s “twin,” which is noted as one of Nolan's artistic flourishes. The casting of Elliot Page as Sinon, the Greek soldier who acts as a bait-and-switch for Odysseus, was also mentioned.

The Odyssey is a theatrical release with a runtime of 173 minutes. The film's worldwide box office stands at $40 million against a reported budget of $250 million.