Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" earns $124 million in North American opening weekend

Cast and Production

In the title role, Matt Damon stars as the Greek hero Odysseus, "auf dessen jahrelanger, von Stürmen, Kämpfen und mythischen Gefahren geprägter Heimreise nach dem Trojanischen Krieg" the story is based. "In dem Film nach Homers Epos" the cast of the visually spectacular cinema event also includes Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o, Tom Holland, and Robert Pattinson. Filming took place at numerous locations around the world in IMAX format.

While the film fills cinemas internationally, the reaction in Greece has been more reserved to controversial. "Die Odyssee" has an R-rating in the USA, "weil der Film in den USA mit einem R-Rating unter eine strikte Altersbeschränkung fällt": "Jugendliche unter 17 Jahren dürfen den Film nur in Begleitung Erwachsener sehen". "In Deutschland ist er bereits ab 12 Jahren freigegeben".

Age Ratings

A central point of contention is the casting. The character of Helen is portrayed in the film by a Black actress, without any Greek performers being part of the cast. In Greece, this has led to days of debate over the adaptation of the national epic.

The dispute cuts deep into the country's cultural self-understanding. "Griechen haben sich historisch oft gestritten, wem Helena oder Sparta gehören", according to coverage, and Helen is regarded in ancient as well as modern Greek tradition as the most beautiful woman in the world.

Debate in Greece

Homer, meanwhile, is familiar to most Greeks from childhood onward: "Begegnen Kinder in Griechenland dem Epos ab der siebten Klasse in der Schule", correspondents report. Accordingly, the debates over how closely Christopher Nolan follows the source material—and what liberties he takes with the casting—are particularly intense.

Regardless of the discussions, "The Odyssey" is developing into an international phenomenon. The theatrical release has brought "The Odyssey" a worldwide rush to cinemas, underscoring the cross-cultural appeal of Homer's material and the drawing power of Nolan's name as director.

Industry observers see the success as a confirmation for Universal, which had specifically targeted a global audience given the IMAX format, the star-studded cast, and the epic subject matter. Even if Greece continues to debate the role of Helen and the absence of Greek actors, the numbers signal: the adaptation strikes a chord with a global moviegoing audience.