Homer’s The Odyssey has served as cinema’s ultimate storytelling blueprint for more than a century, inspiring generations of filmmakers with its timeless themes of adventure, survival and homecoming. Now, the ancient epic is poised to receive its most ambitious cinematic interpretation yet with Christopher Nolan’s upcoming sci-fi epic, The Odyssey, slated for release in July 2026. Shot entirely on IMAX film cameras, the film promises a breathtaking visual spectacle, backed by a star-studded ensemble that includes Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron and Lupita Nyong’o, among others. But before audiences embark on Nolan’s voyage to Ithaca, several remarkable movie and TV adaptations have already reimagined Homer’s legendary tale in fascinating and unforgettable ways.

What to watch: 5 screen adaptations of The Odyssey to watch before Christopher Nolan’s epic arrives1. O Brother, Where Art Thou? – Amazon Prime Video

In 1930s Mississippi, the vain, fast-talking Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney, a modern Odysseus) escapes a chain gang with his gullible crew-mates Pete (John Turturro) and Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson) under the guise of finding hidden treasure. In reality, Everett is just trying to stop his wife, Penny (Holly Hunter, a cynical Penelope), from marrying someone else. As they flee the ruthless Sheriff Cooley (Daniel von Bargen, embodying Poseidon), they accidentally become folk-radio stars, get seduced by three river Sirens (Mia Tate, Musetta Vander, Christy Taylor), and get robbed by the one-eyed, Klansman Bible salesman Big Dan Teague (John Goodman, standing in for the Cyclops). The Coen Brothers famously claimed they never actually read The Odyssey, but they built a brilliant, hilarious masterpiece around it anyway.

2. The Odyssey (1997) – YouTube

This visually ambitious television miniseries remains one of the most faithful screen adaptations of The Odyssey ever made. Starring Armand Assante as the legendary warrior Odysseus, the series follows his perilous ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. Guided and protected by the goddess Athena (Isabella Rossellini), a battle-weary Odysseus must ultimately return to Ithaca in disguise to violently reclaim his family, throne, and kingdom. Featuring elaborate sets, large-scale battles, and fantasy elements that were impressive for television at the time, the series brought Homer’s epic adventure to life for a new generation of viewers.

3. Ulysses – Dailymotion

One of the earliest major cinematic adaptations of The Odyssey, this Italian-American epic starred Kirk Douglas as Ulysses (Odysseus). After the Trojan War, the warrior king Ulysses (Kirk Douglas) is cursed by the gods to wander the seas, eventually washing ashore on the island of Phaeacia with severe amnesia. As Princess Nausicaa (Rossana Podestà) falls for him, Ulysses slowly recovers his memory, flashing back to his encounters with the giant Cyclops Polyphemus (Umberto Silvestri) and the sorceress Circe (Silvana Mangano). Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, his wife, Penelope (also played by Silvana Mangano in a deliberate dual role), uses every trick she can to stall the suitors led by Antinous (Anthony Quinn). Armed with his restored identity, Ulysses rejects a peaceful new life in Phaeacia and rushes home to punish the men invading his palace. Blending classical mythology with grand old-Hollywood spectacle, Ulysses became a landmark adventure movie of the 1950s.

4. L’Odissea (1968) – YouTube

Directed by Franco Rossi, this acclaimed Italian television miniseries is one of the most visually poetic and textually accurate adaptations of Homer’s epic. The miniseries recreated many iconic episodes from Homer’s epic, including encounters with the Cyclops, Circe, the Sirens, and Calypso, while maintaining a grounded and literary tone rather than relying heavily on fantasy spectacle. Widely praised for its performances and storytelling, L’Odissea is still considered one of the definitive adaptations of Homer’s masterpiece.

5. Odysseus: Voyage to the Underworld – Dailymotion

This dark fantasy adaptation reimagines The Odyssey with a gritty, action-heavy twist. Starring Arnold Vosloo as Odysseus, the movie begins after the Trojan War, when the legendary warrior and his men become trapped on a mysterious island ruled by dark supernatural forces. Unlike traditional adaptations that closely follow Homer’s narrative, the movie leans heavily into horror and mythological fantasy, turning Odysseus’ journey into a battle against monstrous creatures, curses, and the terrifying underworld itself. Though far removed from the classical epic in tone, the film offers a darker and more violent interpretation of the legendary hero’s odyssey.