Key Takeaways
- The Odyssey won't hit theaters until July 2026.
- To satisfy your craving for massive historical epics, we have curated the 5 best films that capture the scale, violence, and mythology of ancient Greece and Rome.
- Includes the direct prequel to The Odyssey (Troy), as well as modern interpretations of the myth (O Brother, Where Art Thou?).
Christopher Nolan's announcement of The Odyssey has reignited Hollywood's love for the sword-and-sandal epic. But with the film's release scheduled for July 2026, you have plenty of time to catch up on the classics of the genre.
If you are looking for massive scale, ancient mythology, and brutal historical combat, here are the five best movies to stream right now.
1. Troy (2004)
The Pitch: The literal prequel to The Odyssey.
Based on Homer's Iliad, this Wolfgang Petersen epic tells the story of the Trojan War. It features Brad Pitt as an unstoppable Achilles and Sean Bean as Odysseus. It is the perfect film to watch to understand the political and bloody context of why Odysseus is trying to sail home in Nolan's upcoming film.
2. Gladiator (2000)
The Pitch: The film that resurrected the modern epic.
Ridley Scott's masterpiece isn't Greek mythology, but it shares the exact thematic DNA of The Odyssey: a capable, legendary warrior who only wants to return home to his family, but is violently forced to endure years of trials by cruel men and fate. Russell Crowe's Maximus is the spiritual brother of Odysseus.
3. The Northman (2022)
The Pitch: Visceral, terrifying ancient mythology.
If you want to see how a modern auteur handles ancient myth, Robert Eggers' Viking epic is required viewing. Like Greek myth, it features witches, prophecies, and bloody vengeance. It serves as a great preview of how a dark, serious director might treat the fantastical elements (like the Cyclops or Sirens) in The Odyssey.
4. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
The Pitch: A brilliant, comedic retelling of Homer's epic.
The Coen Brothers took the exact plot of The Odyssey and transported it to the deep south of the United States during the Great Depression. George Clooney plays Ulysses (the Roman name for Odysseus) trying to get home to his wife, encountering sirens (washerwomen) and a cyclops (a one-eyed Bible salesman) along the way.
5. 300 (2006)
The Pitch: Pure, stylized Greek combat.
Zack Snyder's hyper-stylized adaptation of the Battle of Thermopylae defined the look of ancient warfare for a decade. While Nolan's take on Greece will undoubtedly be more grounded and less CGI-heavy, 300 remains the gold standard for portraying the terrifying might of ancient phalanx combat.
