Updated

Updated · TheWrap · Jul 17

Article Ranks 10 Greek Mythology Movies, Putting 1963's Jason and the Argonauts at No. 1

Updated

Updated · TheWrap · Jul 17

Article Ranks 10 Greek Mythology Movies, Putting 1963's Jason and the Argonauts at No. 1

Q: What controversy forced Christopher Nolan to publicly defend his new horror-epic The Odyssey?

Christopher Nolan was pushed to defend *The Odyssey* after online backlash over its casting and its modernized approach to Homer. The loudest dispute centered on casting Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy and Elliot Page in the film, with critics arguing those choices strayed from traditional expectations of Greek myth. Another flashpoint was Nolan’s use of American accents and contemporary-sounding dialogue in the trailer, which some viewers said felt anachronistic. There was also criticism of stylistic departures such as costume and ship designs, and of Travis Scott’s casting as a bard. Nolan’s response was that the pre-release uproar was largely misplaced because audiences had not yet seen the film. He said such debates “come with the territory” and are often “irrelevant” before release, arguing that his aim was to honor Homer through a strong personal interpretation rather than museum-style literalism. On the dialogue, he said he wanted the poem to feel immediate and accessible, not embalmed by convention. On Travis Scott, he defended the choice as a nod to *The Odyssey*’s roots in oral poetry, drawing a parallel with rap performance. Scholars broadly backed the idea that strict literalism is hard to apply to myth, noting that *The Odyssey* has always been reinterpreted and that cinematic tradition often shapes audience expectations more than historical reality.

2 articles · Updated · TheWrap · Jul 17

A new top-10 list names 1963's "Jason and the Argonauts" the best Greek mythology film ever made, with Christopher Nolan's 2026 "The Odyssey" ranked No. 2 and 1959's "Black Orpheus" No. 3.
The ranking spans genres and eras, from Disney's 1997 "Hercules" and 2017's "Wonder Woman" to arthouse entries like 1950's "Orpheus" and modern reinterpretations such as "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
Nolan's "The Odyssey" is singled out as a grim, horror-tinged take on Homer starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, while 2024's "The Return" with Ralph Fiennes lands at No. 6.
The list argues Greek mythology keeps drawing filmmakers because its gods are flawed, interventionist figures whose stories adapt easily into action, comedy, animation and contemporary drama.