Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey is set to hit movie theaters this week, and the hype around the star-studded film has been progressively building since Universal Pictures announced the remake at the end of 2024. The ancient epic, written by Homer between 725 and 675 BCE, has become one of the most important stories of western culture — resonating with audiences for more than 3,000 years.
With box office forecasts anticipating $100 million to $120 million in domestic ticket sales on opening weekend, the time is ripe to ask: Why does this classical text have such a lasting impact?
Why The Odyssey resonates
“The Odyssey speaks to fundamental existential questions,” says History, Literature, and the Arts Professor Tom Roach, Ph.D. “Where do I belong? What’s driving me? Will I find my way home? What is home? Is it a real place, or a fantasy of my own making?”
Homer’s epic follows the travels of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, as he attempts to return home after the 10-year Trojan War. Between being trapped on Calypso’s island, trying to escape the cyclops Polyphemus, rescuing his crew from Circe, and more, the journey back to his wife and son appears endless. Filled with discovery and adventure, Roach notes that the story is about homecoming — but not in the way one expects.
“Homecoming is what drives Odysseus, but what’s most important here is the journey, not the destination. Home is merely a point of departure for boundless adventure,” Roach says.
He adds that Constantine Cavafy’s poem, “Ithaka,” highlights this theme.
“Cavafy interprets The Odyssey as a story about the illusory nature of home — the idea that home is often a constructed fantasy. We believe that if we can return home, we'll be safe, we'll be innocent again, or things will be perfect. This type of nostalgia can be quite dangerous,” Roach remarks.
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Also dangerous are the monsters Odysseus encounters on his journey. Roach notes that, during our own life journeys, the ‘monsters’ we encounter are often projections of our own insecurities, fears, and unresolved issues.
“Cavafy tells us that we won’t encounter any monsters unless we bring them with us. It’s such a brilliant insight into the psychology of scapegoating, the creation of supposedly dangerous ‘others,’” he says. “The monsters we’re told to fear are too often externalized projections of our own unresolved issues — as individuals and even as a nation.”
Roach adds that The Odyssey’s most important theme perhaps is to relish the opportunities and adventures that come our way.
“If there is one ‘home’ that we all share, it is the final resting place, the ultimate homecoming,” Roach says. “The Odyssey reminds us to make the most of our journey toward that final resting place, to live boldly and take risks. In this sense, it offers timeless advice: seize the day!”
Years of interpretations
Countless interpretations and adaptations of The Odyssey have been made throughout time. For instance, James Joyce's Ulysses — published in 1922 — was a formal experiment meant to recreate the epic for modern times, notes Roach. The result was an approximately 700-page chronicle of three Dubliners’ experiences over a singular day.
More recently, Andrew Sean Greer’s 2017 Pulitzer Prize winning novel Less follows a moderately successful writer.
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“The hero of this book is a quite pathetic, yet hilarious, version of Odysseus. His adventures involve traveling from one sad author event to another, each one a riff on Odysseus’s derring-dos with various monsters. It’s a clever re-imagining and a perfect beach read,” Roach notes.
He adds that not all ancient stories have the same modern-day appeal as The Odyssey, citing the 2004 film Troy, which retold The Iliad.
“That story doesn't stick as much because even though it features the great themes of the ancient epics — heroism, loyalty, fate, hubris — it doesn't have the existential resonance of The Odyssey. Anyone can connect with The Odyssey because it’s about finding our way in the world and navigating the various obstacles that obstruct our goal,” Roach says, adding that today’s technological advancements in film make the story ripe for remaking.
Making old things new
Looking forward to Nolan’s long-awaited film come to life in theaters on July 17, Roach hopes that it will be a true cinematic spectacle.
“Because the story is an epic saga, it should be big, loud, and scary. I love the fact that Nolan shot the film in 70mm, specifically for IMAX, and I’m really hoping to be wowed by the experience,” he says.
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Ultimately, Roach hopes viewers walk away entertained, but that they take their enjoyment of the film one step further.
“I hope that the film inspires people to go back to the original text and engage with its beautiful strangeness: its complex, fantastical characters, its timeless themes, and its insights into our very human struggles,” Roach says.
