Giants, Monsters, And Pissing Off Poseidon: Christopher Nolan Delivers One Of 2026's Most Metal Films With The Odyssey

The Odyssey is out now in UK cinemas [photo: Universal Pictures]

*SPOILERS FOR THE ODYSSEY BELOW*

We're just over halfway through 2026, and there's already been some incredibly strong contenders for 'most metal film of the year'. From Ralph Fiennes hamming it up in 28 Years Later sequel The Bone Temple to the incredibly fun, campy, power metal Masters of The Universe, we've been eating good this year. However, it's Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey that really stands strong, its imagery and story right at home with the folk/fantasy metal greats.

After all, what's more metal than slaying giants, heading to the Underworld, and sailing violent, crashing waves just to try and get home? .

There's always going to be discourse surrounding big studio films (no, Elliot Page isn't Achilles. No, there's no such thing as a 'historically accurate' fictional journey), and whilst the film may not be as accurate to Homer's original story, what Nolan has done is carefully and craftfully adapt the material to suit modern audiences. Instead, the narrative feels nuanced, with some truly tense and borderline horror movie moments scattered throughout. This is no doubt bolstered by Nolan's career-long drive to prioritise practical effects over anything digital. From the forced perspective with the giants to the whole sequence in the cyclops' cave, it's hard not to feel immersed in the world being shown. I definitely need to see some behind the scenes footage with the pigs.

The Cyclops was a combiation of puppetry, stop-motion, and limited visual effects [photo: Universal Pictures]

The main cast are given plenty of space to breathe, and even some of the more minor roles still feel integral. Matt Damon brings depth to the role of Odysseus, tackling the multiple emotions and feelings of someone unsurprisingly dealing with guilt for leading the fall of Troy, and it's nice seeing Tom Holland take on a more serious role. Robert Pattinson continues to excel in playing downright detestable characters.

Perhaps the most visceral part of the film is its sound design. Composer Ludwig Göransson worked with traditional instruments to build the soundscape, and there's some moments where the sound genuinely feels louder than some gigs I've been to. A particular scene set around the end of Odysseus' journey was an audiovisual attack, lightning and crashing waves as the crew realised just what pissing off the Gods felt like. One of the many scenes that really makes the IMAX experience worth it.

Matt Damon stars as Odysseus [photo: Univeral Pictures, IMDb]

The only potential downside is I'm not entirely sure how much rewatchability a film like The Odyssey has. Will I watch it again? Absolutely. Will it feel the same on a smaller screen at home? Probably not. But it's also the sort of film that lends itself quite nicely to 'chaptered viewing', splitting it into a couple of evenings or something to alleviate the epic runtime, so the at-home experience may still deliver.

Now, if you don't mind, I'm off to blow the dust off an old Turisas CD. I'm in the mood for some epic seafaring quest music.

The Odyssey is out now in the UK in cinemas and IMAX screens