‘The Odyssey’ Sets Record Critics’ Score For Nolan’s Films On Rotten Tomatoes

Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" has become a blockbuster hit, projected to earn $124.5 million in its opening weekend, marking his third-highest domestic debut despite its R-rating and nearly three-hour runtime. The film, an adaptation of Homer's epic poem about Odysseus' perilous journey home, has also set new records on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics awarded it a 95% score, making it Nolan's highest-rated film, surpassing "The Dark Knight" and "Memento." Audiences also embraced it, giving it a record-breaking 97% score. Featuring a star-studded cast including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Robert Pattinson, "The Odyssey" is praised by RT critics for its majestic sweep and ability to imbue myth with primal human feeling.

Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey is not only a blockbuster hit in theaters, it has also set a new record for the director’s films on Rotten Tomatoes.

Adapted for the screen by Nolan from Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey opened in theaters over the weekend and is projected to make $124.5 million from 3,919 North American theaters — a remarkable amount considering the film is rated R and runs 2 hours and 52 minutes. The $124.5 million gross for The Odyssey marks the third-highest opening frame domestically for a Nolan film, behind 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises’ first weekend tally of $160.8 million and 2008’s The Dark Knight, which had a $158.4 million debut.

While The Odyssey didn’t eclipse either of his final two Batman films at the box office, the reception of the film by critics and audiences has resulted in new records for Nolan-directed films on the critic aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes.

While the early critics’ score on RT’s Tomatometer for The Odyssey after the review embargo lifted on Wednesday began at 98% based on 145 reviews, the score dropped a few percentage points as more reviews were posted. As of Sunday, the RT critics’ score has leveled to 95% based on 345 reviews, which still sets a record for the highest-rated movie directed by Nolan on the site.

Rated R, The Odyssey chronicles Greek King Odysseus’ (Matt Damon) perilous 20-year journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War, where he and his soldiers encounter gods, monsters and other threats. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson and Charlize Theron, among many others.

RT’s Critics Consensus reads, “Reinvigorating an ancient adventure with majestic sweep and sterling work by its colossal ensemble, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey imbues myth with primal human feeling.”

Beginning with Following in 1998, Christopher Nolan has directed 12 feature films— all of which have received a “fresh” critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. Here’s a breakdown of where all of the director’s films rank on the aggregation site, including ties.

1: The Odyssey (2026) – 95% based on 345 reviews (to date).

2: The Dark Knight (2008) – 94% based on 339 reviews.

Memento (2000) – 94% based on 186 reviews.

3: Oppenheimer (2023) – 93% based on 509 reviews.

4: Dunkirk (2017) – 92% based on 469 reviews.

Insomnia (2002) – 92% based on 206 reviews.

5: The Dark Knight Rises (2012) – 87% based on 374 reviews.

Inception (2010) – 87% based on 363 reviews.

Following (1998) – 87% based on 89 reviews.

6: Batman Begins (2005) – 85% based on 285 reviews.

7: The Prestige (2006) - 76% based on 208 reviews.

By contrast, The Odyssey has achieved a 97% “fresh” audience score on RT’s Popcornmeter based on 5,000-plus reviews, topping the previous record high score of 94% held in a three-way tie between Nolan’s Memento, The Dark Knight and Batman Begins.

Responding to Nolan’s latest, RT’s Audience Summary reads, “A cinematic epic fit for the biggest screens, The Odyssey proves with technical precision and unrestrained grandeur that there’s no filmmaker quite like Christopher Nolan to steer Odysseus’ voyage home.”

Also starring Lupita Nyong’o, Himesh Patel, Jon Bernthal, Elliot Page, John Leguizamo, Mia Goth, Benny Safdie, Corey Hawkins and the voice of Bill Irwin, The Odyssey is playing in theaters everywhere.