Christopher Nolan has earned a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most respected filmmakers, but that hasn’t shielded his latest project from mounting backlash. The newest trailer for The Odyssey has been hit with an overwhelming wave of dislikes on YouTube, adding another chapter to the growing list of controversies surrounding Universal Pictures’ adaptation of Homer’s legendary epic.
The like to dislike ratio for The Odyssey – YouTube, Universal Pictures
According to publicly available estimates from browser extensions that track YouTube dislikes, the trailer currently sits at approximately 39,000 likes compared to roughly 118,000 dislikes—nearly a 3-to-1 dislike-to-like ratio.
While YouTube no longer publicly displays dislike counts, the estimated numbers have quickly spread across social media, with many pointing to them as evidence that audiences remain skeptical of the film ahead of its theatrical release.
The Odyssey Dislikes Reflect Months of Growing Online Frustration
The backlash didn’t suddenly emerge because of one trailer. Instead, The Odyssey has spent months generating controversy over casting decisions, creative choices, and Christopher Nolan’s interpretation of one of the most influential stories ever written.
Among the biggest flashpoints has been the casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy, a decision many critics online have described as another example of Hollywood race-swapping iconic historical and mythological figures.
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The criticism continued when audiences learned that Zendaya would portray Athena, one of the central gods in Greek mythology. For some viewers, the issue went beyond another race-swapping debate, with many also arguing that Hollywood has become overly reliant on Zendaya, leading to what has commonly been described online as “Zendaya fatigue.”
The promotional footage has also generated criticism over dialogue choices.
Several clips feature characters referring to family members as “Dad” and “Daddy,” language that many viewers argue feels jarringly modern for a story rooted in ancient Greece. Critics contend that the dialogue undercuts the timeless, mythological atmosphere they expected from a Christopher Nolan adaptation.
Travis Scott in The Odyssey – YouTube, Universal Pictures
The casting of Elliot Page as a male character has likewise generated discussion, becoming another point of contention for audiences already questioning several of the production’s creative decisions.
Another controversy arrived when Nolan cast rapper Travis Scott as a bard in the film.
Many fans questioned why one of modern music’s biggest rap stars had been included in an adaptation of The Odyssey. Nolan later explained his reasoning during an interview with Time, saying he viewed Homer’s work as oral poetry that had been passed down through generations and believed that tradition was “analogous to rap.”
The explanation itself became controversial.
Some argued the comparison felt forced and only reinforced concerns that the adaptation was attempting to modernize material that has endured for nearly three millennia.
Taken individually, none of these controversies necessarily explain the trailer’s overwhelming dislike ratio. Collectively, however, they demonstrate that The Odyssey has faced persistent skepticism long before audiences have had the opportunity to judge the finished film.
Negative Trailer Reactions Have Increasingly Preceded Commercial Disappointments
None of this guarantees that The Odyssey will struggle financially.
Christopher Nolan has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to draw audiences to theaters, and his name alone remains one of the strongest brands in modern filmmaking.
At the same time, the entertainment industry has seen a growing number of heavily ratio’d trailers precede disappointing releases.
Disney’s live-action Snow White generated enormous backlash across multiple trailers before ultimately collapsing at the global box office. On the streaming side, Marvel Studios‘ Ironheart likewise faced overwhelming negative reactions online before failing to generate significant enthusiasm after release.
Dislike ratio for the Snow White Teaser Trailer as of 02/03/25
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That doesn’t mean every trailer with a poor like-to-dislike ratio is destined to fail. There have been exceptions where audiences ultimately embraced a film despite a rocky marketing campaign.
Still, a nearly three-to-one dislike ratio on the official YouTube upload for one of the year’s biggest releases is difficult to dismiss as meaningless.
Whether the negative reaction stems primarily from casting decisions, modern dialogue, Nolan’s creative interpretation of Homer’s epic, or simply dissatisfaction with the marketing itself, the trailer suggests The Odyssey enters theaters carrying far more baggage than most blockbuster films.
Matt Damon as Odysseus in the trailer for The Odyssey – YouTube @UniversalPictures
Ultimately, YouTube dislikes alone won’t determine the film’s fate. Audiences will render that verdict when The Odyssey arrives in theaters, but if the trailer reaction is any indication, Christopher Nolan’s latest epic may face a much steeper climb than many expected.
How do you feel about The Odyssey seeing mass dislikes? Sound off and let us know!
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