At the same time, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has become both one of the most anticipated films of 2026 and one of its most polarizing. Early reviews from critics have been overwhelmingly positive, but many moviegoers have been less enthusiastic about the film’s marketing campaign and have remained skeptical ahead of its release.
In their social media out-of-theater reaction, Film Threat hosts Chris Gore and Alan Ng gave audiences an early idea of what to expect from The Odyssey. Their first impressions were far less enthusiastic than the critical consensus.
Film Threat’s First Impressions
While Gore and Ng are saving their full review of The Odyssey for Film Threat’s livestream later this week, their immediate reaction may have said it all.
“I was bored out of my mind,” Ng laughed. “I was checked out of this movie pretty much from the beginning.”
He went on to say that he initially struggled to understand the dialogue. The sound mixing in Nolan’s films has been a frequent criticism, and Ng’s comments suggest that trend continues with The Odyssey.
Scene from Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey – Universal Pictures, YouTube
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“And then I started to understand dialogue and realize how bad the dialogue is,” he added.
Gore focused on the film’s lack of accents. Historical epics have long relied on British accents to lend an air of authenticity or grandeur, even in stories set in ancient civilizations. Nolan appears to have taken a different approach.
“The way they spoke, I felt diminished the film,” Gore said. “It just… it felt too modern.”
What Worked—and What Didn’t
That said, Gore did single out several aspects he enjoyed. While acknowledging that “there are parts that drag, especially the first half,” he praised the fall of Troy sequence and the battle with the Cyclops. He also highlighted Samantha Ward’s performance, saying her scene was handled particularly well.
The Film Threat hosts also addressed the film’s controversial casting choices, which have fueled online debate for months.
Lupita Nyong’o and Elliot Page in The Odyssey – YouTube, Universal Pictures
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“Not a big deal,” Ng said. “They might as well be cameos.”
As for the principal cast—including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway—both Gore and Ng suggested that the star power became a distraction. Ng argued that the characters were so thinly developed that audiences were left watching famous actors rather than becoming invested in the people they were meant to portray.
Nolan Responds to the Backlash
In a recent interview, Christopher Nolan addressed the pre-release criticism surrounding The Odyssey.
“Comes with the territory,” he said. “But look, these conversations that happen before people see the film—they’re always irrelevant, because no one having them knows what the film actually is yet.”
Christopher Nolan in an interview – YouTube, BAFTA Guru
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Now that Gore and Ng have seen the movie, they have offered one of the first high-profile dissenting opinions.
“This is the most pretentious movie I’ve seen all year,” Ng said. “I can’t wait to not see this movie again.”
“I’m still marinating on it,” Gore added, emphasizing that he plans to give the film another viewing. “It’s not a disaster.”
Whether audiences for The Odyssey ultimately side with the widespread critical praise or with Film Threat’s more skeptical assessment remains to be seen. What is already clear is that The Odyssey will continue to generate debate long after its theatrical debut.
Are you surprised by the Film Threat hosts’ reaction to The Odyssey? Sound off and let us know!
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