As ordinary humans, we haven’t really been cursed by a sea god or been trapped in a cave with a one-eyed giant. Which is why there isThe Odyssey, theancient Greek epicpenned by Homer that has inspired countless storytellers for a very, very long time. Written sometime around the 8th century BCE, this tale of Odysseus’ journey home from the Trojan War has given birth to adventure narratives across centuries. It is not just a piece of literature. It is the original road trip.
Both filmmakers and TV creators have been seduced by the mythical pull ofThe Odysseyand have reimagined it in nearly every format. There are movies, miniseries, cartoons, and even sitcom episodes adapted from Homer’s epic. Each one has its own flavor. Some stick closely to the original text, while others take wild liberties and swap Ancient Greece for Mississippi or outer space.
The Odyssey
And now, the legend is getting its most ambitious retelling in the form ofChristopher Nolan’s upcoming IMAX epicThe Odyssey. Slated for release in 2026, it features a cast that reads like a blockbuster dream team. Matt Damon as Odysseus, Tom Holland as Telemachus, and Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and Lupita Nyong’o to round it off. But before Nolan’s version hits the big screen, it’s worth revising these 10 greatest adaptations ofThe Odyssey.
10’Nostos: The Return' (1989)
Directed by Franco Piavoli,Nostos: The Returnfinds Odysseus drifting through a dreamlike Mediterranean landscape following the Trojan War. While facing many natural obstacles that delay his journey and that of his companions, he is haunted by memories of war, childhood, and longing. There’s no grand narration or heroic saga here, just a quiet and visual symphony of surreal figures.
A Meditative and Haunting Experience
Piavoli’s direction is quite elemental in this Italian adventure film. It strips Homer’s epic down to its emotional core andprovides a sensory experiencewhere visuals, like a woman offering a seashell and a storm leaving Odysseus shipwrecked, complete his journey through time, trauma, and nature. Basically, the movie reimaginesnostos, which is the Greek concept of homecoming.
9’The Odyssey' (1997)
The Odysseyis a two-part NBC miniseries that opens with Odysseus leaving Ithaca for the Trojan War, and then faces gods, monsters, and heartbreak. After sacking Troy, Odysseus offends Poseidon and is cursed to wander for twenty years, across which he blinds the Cyclops Polyphemus, survives Scylla and Charybdis, and even meets Tiresias in the Underworld.
A Sweeping and Faithful Adventure
Towards the end, the series features Odysseus’s final return, where he disguises himself as a beggar and reclaims his home. It is both satisfying to watch and faithful to the source material. Helmed by Andrei Konchalovsky and starring Armand Assante, this adaptation is grand, spectacular, and sincere. Even the supporting cast, including Isabella Rossellini as Athena and Vanessa Williams as Calypso, are brilliant. While some liberties are taken, the miniseries remains one of the most comprehensive retellings of Homer’s epic.
8’Ulysses' (1954)
A movie based on Homer’sThe Odysseydoes not get better than this masterpiece. A technicolor epic, it begins with Penelope besieged by suitors in Ithaca. Meanwhile, her husband Ulysses washes up on the shore of Phaeacia devoid of any memories. As he falls for Princess Nausicaa, his past returns in fragments, and he remembers the Trojan Horse, the Cyclops encounter, the sirens’ song, and his time with Circe, the sorceress.
An Emotionally Charged Adaptation
1954’sUlyssesisa classic sword-and-sandal adventurethat ends with Ulysses returning to Ithaca and winning an archery contest, slaying the suitors. Kirk Douglas brings intensity and emotion to Ulysses and Mangano’s dual roles as Penelope and Circe add a fascinating psychological layer. The Cyclops sequence, co-directed by Mario Camerini and Mario Bava, is brutal and tactile. Even though it condenses the story, it still captures the essence of it.
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7’The Return' (2024)
The Return
Fairly recent addition to the mix is Uberto Pasolini’sThe Return. It follows Odysseus as he washes ashore in Thaca after twenty years of war and wandering. The movie opens with a shot of his silent arrival. He is naked and broken and tended by Eumaeus. His kingdom is in decay, his wife is surrounded by suitors, and his son Telemachus is resentful. Odysseus, no longer a myth, infiltrates his own palace and tries to save his family.
Stripped Down to a Human Scale
This version is more into the psychological realism of the story. The gods are absent and the monsters act as a metaphor. The violence is personal and the final confrontation leads to a soft but fractured reunion.The Returnfeels like a quiet storm. It is visually held-back, heavy on sentiment, and deeply introspective. A huge part of its successcan be attributed to Ralph Fiennes, whose portrayal of Odysseus is haunting, and Juliette Binoche, whose Penelope is weary and dignified.
6’Mission Odyssey' (L’Odyssée) (2002)
Created by Marie Louz Drouet, Bruno Regestre, and Claude Scasso,Mission Odysseyis an animated series and a child-friendly adaptation of Homer’s epic. The premise is simple. Poseidon bets Athena that Ulysses will never make it home, and each episode throws a new obstacle in his path. He also has a team including Nisa, Titan, and Philo.
Mythology meets Saturday Morning Nostalgia
The show blends classic episodes with original twists. It keeps the tone adventurous and humorous. And surprisingly enough, each 22-minute episode tackles a different leg of Ulysses’ journey, making the series quite educational. It is the perfect getaway to Homer’s world and an easy watch before Nolan’sThe Odysseyfor both younger audiences and nostalgic adults because of the anime influences and expressive characters.
5’O Brother, Where Art Thou?' (2000)
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Set in Depression-era Mississippi, this offbeat comedy by the Coen brothers follows three escaped convicts, Everett, Pete, and Delmar, who are on a winding adventure to recover a buried treasure. Along the way, they encounter sirens, a one-eyed Bible salesman, and a blind prophet. Eventually, they become folk music legends known as the Soggy Bottom Boys.
Whimsical, Sepia-Toned Odyssey
O Brother, Where Art Thou?boasts the Coen brothers’ signature mix ofquirky humor, visual finesse, and rich character development. George Clooney’s Everett is a fast-talking trickster whose quest to reclaim his wife Penny mirrors Odysseus’s homecoming. John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, Holly Hunter, and John Goodman make the film soulful and endlessly rewatchable. But what’s most intriguing are the references to Homer, from the Cyclops to the sirens, twisted in a playful way but never without purpose.
4’Keyhole' (2011)
Keyholerevolves around Ulysses Pick, a gangster with a past, who storms his old home with a hostage and a drowned girl in tow. The house is barricaded by police, but inside it is a surreal and unsettling labyrinth of locked doors and emotional reckoning. As Ulysses moves room by room toward his wife Hyacinth, he confronts the ghosts of his children, his sins, and his own fractured morality.
Fever Dream of Myth and Memory
In the hands of avant-garde filmmaker Guy Maddin, the classic tale of the Odyssey takes a strange turn. It is narrated by Hyacinth’s chained father and it turns the house into a living metaphor for grief and forgiveness. The journey is nonlinear, hypnotic, and theatrical. It’s got both horror house tropes and gangster elements, but ultimately the experiment is hailed as a bold, genre-defying masterpiece.
3’The Telemachy' (2012)
The Telemachy
Christopher Nolan’sThe Odysseyis nowhere close to its release yet, but another modern-day adaptation of Homer’s epic is worth a watch until then. The Telemachy, set in Greece, is an indie drama that follows Telemachus, a restless Anglo-Greek teenager who runs away from London to find his estranged father on the island of Skiathos. Along the way, he encounters fishermen, mystics, and strangers who bestow him with wisdom.
Gentle Pain of Self-Discovery
Directed by Alexander Nally,The Telemachydoes not chase spectacle. It prefers silence and atmosphere and allows the ache to sit between father and son. Inspired by the opening chapters of The Odyssey, it tells the story ofa son’s coming-of-age pilgrimage. Patrick Fryer’s Telemachus is raw and Constantine Markoulakis brings quiet intensity to the role of Ilias. Though modest in scale, it is praised for its meditative tone and thematic depth.
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2’Odissea' (1968)
Odissea, orThe Odyssey, is an eight-part Italian miniseries that stands as a meticulous retelling of Homer’s Odyssey. Filmed across Yugoslavia and Italy with a cast that feels like it has been plucked from history itself, it unfolds with grandeur and weaves a story of adventure, drama, and the timeless human struggle to find one’s way back home.
Immersive, Intelligent, and Timeless
Odisseais a rare gem. Perhaps the best and most authentic television production, it treats Homer’s text with reverence and cinematic ambition. The breathtaking locations, the intricate costumes, and the believable portrayal of the gods and mythical creatures, offer a wildly immersive experience. Mario Bava’s direction of the Polyphemus sequence as well as the Cyclops episode is equal parts beautiful, eerie, and memorable.
1’Ulysses 31' (1981)
Ulysses 31
Finally, we venture into the realm of animated adaptations once again and recommendUlysse 31, the 1981 series created by Jean Chalopin and Nina Wolmark. The plot goes like this: In the 31st century, Ulysses commands a spaceship called the Odyssey and is returning from the planet Troy with his son Telemachus and a robot named Nano. After slaying the robotic Cyclops, he angers the gods of Olympus and wanders the galaxy until he finds the Kingdom of Hades.
Greek Myth and Retro-Futurism
The showcombines sci-fi adventure with mythological elements, infusing Homer’s original narrative with a high-tech sensibility.Ulysse 31is a cult classic for good reason. It not only inspires and captivates audiences, but also wraps the episodes up in laser slingshots, siren-like androids, and alien creatures. The animation, a French-Japanese hybrid, is impressive, and the soundtrack is pure synth gold. Very creative and ingenious, for sure.
