Over the past few years, Ryan Reynolds has become synonymous with playing the title character of the Deadpool franchise (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription). The threequel Deadpool & Wolverine broke records and became the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever. That project has since been dethroned by Christopher Nolan's movie The Odyssey, and now Reynolds has reacted to the book-to-screen adaptation dethroning his latest outing as Wade Wilson.

Folks who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order will recall the humble beginnings of the Deadpool franchise, which got produced largely thanks to that leaked footage. It's now a beloved franchise, and Hugh Jackman's return as Wolverine for the threequel resulted in insane box office numbers. But The Odyssey has dethroned it as the highest-grossing R-rated film, and in a clip from Variety's Instagram, Reynolds was asked about that. He responded with:

It certainly sounds like the Green Lantern actor isn't too sore about how Deadpool & Wolverine was beaten out by Nolan's latest big-screen success. The Odyssey started raking in the dough immediately after being released, and it's continued for weeks, as folks clamor to see the epic drama in IMAX. And while Marvel movies are capable of making a ton of money, Nolan's reputation, the movie's great cast, and The Odyssey's reviews resulted in folks showing up at theaters in a major way.

While Ryan Reynolds is known for his quick wit and sense of humor, he got real about the importance of movies being on the big screen and performing during their theatrical runs. In the same interview, the 49-year-old actor went on to say:

He's not wrong. As much as streaming is popular and I love to watch movies from the comfort of my home, it doesn't compare to the theatrical experience. This is especially true for some of my favorite genres. The best horror movies are even more powerful with an audience full of people sharing the experience. The same can also be said for comedies, because what's more fun than being with a room full of people collectively laughing at the same joke?

Fingers crossed that Ryan Reynolds returns as Deadpool in upcoming Marvel movies soon, either with a fourth solo movie or in a crossover event like The Avengers. While his threequel is no longer the highest-grossing R-rated movie, smart money says his tenure as Wade Wilson is going to continue.

The Deadpool franchise is streaming on Disney+ now and The Odyssey is still in theaters as part of the 2026 movie release list.

All eyes are on Spider-Man: Brand New Day right now, as each week it crawls closer to becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time. This weekend pushed it toward that ultimate destination, as it took first-place honors at the Box Office — just like it has all five weekends it’s been in theaters. Admittedly, the gap between first and second place this week wasn’t as wide as it has been, with Coyote vs. Acme making a triumphant debut on the 2026 movie calendar, years after it was shelved by Warner Bros.

Below we’ll look at where Tom Holland’s Marvel blockbuster stands in its climb to the top, as well as just how badly Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars flopped on opening weekend and how audiences responded to the new horror movie, Buddy.

First, though, take a look at the Weekend Box Office Top 10 chart, per The Numbers. (* designates a new release)

Weekend Box Office: August 28-30, 2026

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Moves Up On Lists Of Top-Grossing Movies

There’s only one movie that stands in the way of Destin Daniel Cretton’s new Spider-Man movie, and it comes from a galaxy far, far away. Brand New Day added $22.2 million this weekend to push it into second-place all-time on the list of highest-grossing domestic movies with $891.5 million. Only Star Wars: The Force Awakens from 2015 has earned more in the U.S. and Canada with $936.6 million.

It feels inevitable that Spider-Man will surpass the Star Wars flick, though it may take a couple weeks. Will it keep going past that to become the first movie ever to surpass $1 billion domestically? Only time will tell.

Globally, meanwhile, Brand New Day did bump Titanic from the Top 5 Lifetime Grosses list. In fact, Spidey’s $2.332 billion pushed it past James Cameron’s 1997 disaster romance and the Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha 2. It’s now knocking on the door of Avatar: The Way of Water, which accumulated $2.334 billion in 2022.

After that, it will still have 2009’s Avatar ($2.92 billion) and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame ($2.79 billion) to contend with for global domination.

Looney Tunes Fans Show Up For Coyote Vs. Acme’s Long-Awaited Release

This was truly a celebratory weekend for the Looney Tunes fans out there, as a movie we thought might never see the light of day made its debut in theaters. Coyote vs. Acme earned $15.5 million on opening weekend, which was good for second place behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

The movie was scrapped by Warner Bros. as a tax write-off back in 2023. This caused tons of backlash from fans, who rallied support for the movie to be released. In the end, it was Ketchup Entertainment that purchased the movie and got it done.

Coyote vs. Acme sees Wile E. Coyote deciding to sue the fictional company Acme after enduring years of pain and countless injuries caused by defective devices purchased in the pursuit of catching the Road Runner. Will Forte and John Cena star as the respective attorneys. The movie broke Rotten Tomatoes records on opening day, and the general consensus from reviews is that the movie was worth the wait. So how did Rotten Tomatoes and CinemaScore audiences score this and the week’s other new releases?

The Dog Stars Sees Disappointing $8 Million Debut

It looks like The Dog Stars won’t be the one that wins Ridley Scott his Oscar. Despite an impressive cast that includes Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Alison Janney and Guy Pearce — and reviews comparing Elordi to a young Kevin Costner — the sci-fi action thriller failed to impress critics, and the slightly better audience scores were still tepid.

In addition to the $8 million it earned in the United States and Canada, The Dog Stars earned $11.3 million overseas, but that $19.3 million overall pull is a long way from making back its $80 million budget.

Can Buddy Generate Some Word-Of-Mouth Advertising?

The weekend’s other new release, Buddy, fell just below The Dog Stars at No. 6 and, while director Casper Kelly hasn’t revealed the movie’s budget, it’s safe to say it was far less than $80 million. Drawing $5.4 million in its first three days, Buddy was produced modestly enough, Kelly said, that, “whatever happens, it will make its money back eventually!”

He also says there are prequel and sequel ideas, if the movie does do well so, hopefully, those audience scores will generate some word-of-mouth advertising for the movie that critics can’t stop comparing to Barney & Friends.

Insidious: Out Of The Further And Mutiny See Big Second-Weekend Drops

Insidious: Out of the Further fell two spots from its premiere weekend to No. 4, earning another $10.1 million domestically. While that’s a 60% drop from its first three days, the Insidious series’ sixth film continued to earn overseas as well, and to date it’s accumulated $110.2 million worldwide. Working from an $18 million budget, I’d say Sony Pictures is likely happy with how this film’s done.

Mutiny, on the other hand, may not be a horror movie, but I think I heard some screams from Lionsgate, as the Alan Ritchson movie fell 64% from opening weekend with the $2.8 million it earned over the past three days. Its global total is now $16.5 million after 10 days in release, and it’s going to be hard to turn a profit on its $40 million budget.

Will next weekend be the one that ousts Spider-Man: Brand New Day from the top spot? I'm not sure there are any current or new releases strong enough to do that, but Spidey's reign can't last forever, right? Be sure to take a trip to the theater this week, then check back next Sunday to see if your favorite movies made the Box Office Top 10.

There’s no arguing that the summer belongs to Tom Holland, who stars in both Spider-Man: Brand New Day as the titular superhero and The Odyssey as Odysseus’ son. However, if the 2026 movie schedule has proven anything, it’s that you can’t keep a good horror flick down. Insidious: Out of the Further broke up Holland’s one-two punch at the Box Office in its debut weekend, earning $25.3 million to push Christopher Nolan’s epic adaptation to No. 3.

Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Brand New Day continues its climb, so just how close is it to becoming the highest-grossing movie ever? I’ll answer that question and break down all the biggest Box Office moves below.

Just like last week saw a huge shakeup in the rankings, only four of this weekend’s Top 10 are the same as seven days ago, so take a look at the chart below to get caught up. (* denotes a new release)

Weekend Box Office: August 21-23, 2026

Will Spider-Man: Brand New Day Become The Highest Grossing Movie Ever?

After only four weekends in theaters, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has not only earned enough domestically and globally to become 2026’s highest-grossing movie to date, but we’re already looking at how it compares to the biggest movies of all time. It’s closer than you might imagine.

The newest Marvel movie has earned $854.9 million domestically so far, putting it in third place all-time behind only 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($936 million) and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame ($858 million).

The global numbers tell a similar story. When you add in Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s $1.365 billion earned overseas, you get a worldwide total of $2.22 billion. That’s the fourth-highest total ever (per Box Office Mojo) behind 2009’s Avatar ($2.92 billion), Avengers: Endgame ($2.79 billion) and 2022’s Avatar: The Way of Water ($2.33 billion). History is definitely within swinging distance for Spidey here.

Where Does Insidious 6’s Opening Fall In The Franchise?

It was only a matter of time before something bumped one of the summer’s billion-dollar babies from the Top 2, and of course it would be a horror flick, given it’s been such a hot season for scares. However, I might not have predicted Insidious: Out of the Further — the sixth movie in the franchise — would be the one to overtake Christopher Nolan in the No. 2 spot.

The supernatural horror opened to $25.3 million in North America and added $35 million overseas for a combined $60.3 million. With an $18 million budget, that’s good news for Sony Pictures, but how does it compare to the first three days of the Insidious franchise’s other films?

• Insidious Chapter 2 (2013): $40.3 million
• Insidious: The Red Door (2023): $33 million
• Insidious: The Last Key (2018): $29.6 million
• Insidious: Out of the Further (2026): $25.3 million
• Insidious Chapter 3 (2015): $22.7 million
• Insidious (2011): $13.3 million

Despite falling on the lower end of the series’ premieres, most of the Insidious movies have gone on to earn well over $100 million worldwide, with The Red Door leading the way with $186.2 million by the end of its run. Word-of-mouth advertising could play a role in how long Out of the Further’s legs are here (more on that a little later).

Jason Statham’s Mutiny Falls Below Projections

Another of the weekend’s new releases didn’t fare quite as well as the horror offering. Mutiny starring Jason Statham earned $7.5 million, falling just below projections in the range of $8 million to $12 million. Plenty of critics thought it was a fun summer action flick — not CinemaBlend’s own Hugh Scott, however, who felt like he was being stabbed.

Mutiny earned slightly more than Jason Statham’s other 2026 offering, Shelter, which opened to $5.5 million in January, but behind the action star’s hits from the past couple of years — A Working Man ($15.5 million) and The Beekeeper ($16.6 million) — all of which were working with budgets in the $40 million range. Can Statham rebound in Week 2?

How Critics Rated This Week’s New Releases

Whether any of this weekend’s new movies — including the female-driven comedy Spa Weekend — can stick around in what’s been a volatile Top 10 to end the summer depends largely on word-of-mouth. So what are Rotten Tomatoes and CinemaScore rating them?

Well, audiences were much kinder to these titles than the reviews (be sure to hug the movie critics in your life; it looks like they could use one), so there’s a tiny glimmer of hope that we’ll see these movies again next weekend.

The Box Office’s Dino Twins Remain Identical In Week 2

Speaking to the volatility of the Box Office Top 10, only two of last week’s six new entries made it to the list for a second week, and while The End of Oak Street and Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie have absolutely nothing in common other than their dinosaurs, I will continue to relate the two if they continue to earn the same amount in ticket sales.

We’ll have to wait for the official tally to come Monday, but estimates have Paramount’s animated offering edging out the Anne Hathaway thriller by a mere $100K for now. Unfortunately, that means both movies saw drops of over 55% weekend over weekend. Sounds like they’re in need of a ruff-ruff rescue!

What Will Next Week’s Top 10 Look Like?

In the famous words of Benjamin Franklin, “In this world, nothing is certain except Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey,” and I’m inclined to believe him. I’m interested to see if Insidious: Out of the Further can hold on, but I really think It Ends could be the next big horror movie when it goes wide.

We’ve also got Buddy, Coyote vs. Acme, The Dog Stars, Finding Emily and Idiots, so be sure to buy your ticket to something and then come back next Sunday to see if it made the list!

Tom Holland has never exactly looked out of shape. The guy spent years flipping through Spider-Man movies and somehow found time to play an extremely physical Telemachus in The Odyssey. Still, anyone who took time to see Spider-Man: Brand New Day probably noticed Peter Parker came back looking considerably more built this time around. Now, we have at least one clue about what he does when he needs a workout without sacrificing half his day.

In a viral clip posted to Instagram, Men’s Health caught up with the actor while he was hosting an event for his nonalcoholic beer brand, BERO. He was asked for his go-to workout when he is short on time. His answer was a CrossFit staple called “Cindy.” Here’s how the Spidey actor described it:

Five pull-ups. Ten push-ups. Fifteen squats. Reading those numbers, I briefly suffered from the delusion that I could hang with Spider-Man. Then Holland mentioned his personal best:

Never mind. Twenty-seven rounds works out to 135 pull-ups, 270 push-ups and 405 squats. That is 810 reps in 20 minutes, or roughly one full round every 44 seconds. The classic CrossFit workout is designed as an AMRAP, meaning you complete as many rounds and reps as possible before the 20-minute clock expires.

Suddenly, Peter Parker’s arms in Brand New Day make considerably more sense. Once the blockbuster star’s 27-round record started circulating again, social media did what social media does best: collectively decide that a movie star has issued a challenge he never actually issued.

People have been filming themselves attempting Cindy, and 27 rounds have proven to be a nasty target. The Washington Post reported that the routine started spreading online shortly after Brand New Day opened on July 31, while other outlets described the workout as practically unavoidable across fitness feeds this summer.

Even fitness influencer Skye Mackintosh, known online as Daily Reps Guy, reportedly managed 24 rounds during an attempt. That is an absurd workout by any normal standard and still leaves him three rounds behind Holland. Check it out:

The Uncharted lead does offer a slightly more merciful version. When he is tired, he limits himself to one round at the start of every minute, using whatever time remains before the next minute begins to rest. Twenty rounds still means 600 total reps, so “merciful” is doing some heavy lifting there.

Also, the routine explains why Holland's physique can look muscular without drifting into God-of-Thunder territory. Cindy is built around bodyweight movements performed quickly and repeatedly, which makes plenty of sense for an actor whose superhero spends considerably more time swinging, climbing and flipping than posing with a hammer.

I’m impressed Holland can knock out 27 rounds. I am considerably less impressed by the tiny voice in my head that heard the workout takes only 20 minutes and immediately said, “You could probably try that.”

Fans can still catch Holland and those increasingly noticeable guns on the big screen, because both Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey are still playing in theaters and making plenty of box office noise. Brand New Day has become the highest-grossing release among 2026 movie releases so far, that is, until "Dunesday" later this year. While The Odyssey has been putting up some ridiculous numbers of its own. So, if you need workout motivation, apparently the answer is to watch Tom Holland save New York or sail around ancient Greece with his sleeves doing considerably less work than they used to.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day continued its dominance of the August Box Office this weekend, surpassing another global milestone as it pulled in another $70 million over the past three days in North America alone. Between the new MCU movie and The Odyssey also showing impressive numbers 31 days into its release, there was a lot of room for movement below them in the Top 10. I’m actually surprised at how many new releases made it.

The landscape that Spidey swooped past on the Box Office Top 10 looks pretty different from last weekend’s numbers (aside from the above-mentioned billion-dollar earners). A whopping six new releases are taking up real estate on the list. What are they, and do they have a chance to stay for a while?

Take a look at the list below, and then we’ll break down the rest. (* denotes a new release.)

Weekend Box Office: August 14-16, 2026

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Crosses $2 Billion In Worldwide Earnings

It was only a matter of time before Tom Holland’s third Spider-Man movie crossed this line, but it happened at close-to-record pace. After 17 days in theaters, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has earned a global total of $2.02 billion ($785.8 million domestic, $1.24 billion overseas). That makes it the second-quickest movie to reach that mark after Avengers: Endgame, which did it in 11 days in 2019.

Between that and The Odyssey, Tom Holland is in the conversation of Hollywood’s top box office earners with the likes of Scarlett Johansson and Zoe Saldaña. Christopher Nolan’s epic remained at No. 2 this weekend, earning another $23.2 million, per The Numbers, and now stands with $504.7 million domestic and $786.2 million international for a cume of $1.29 billion.

Two Very Different Dinosaur Flicks Lead The Bevy Of New Releases

The Odyssey didn’t win silver by much this week, though. Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor’s dino-filled thriller The End of Oak Street was right on its heels with a three-day domestic debut of $21 million. Given the competition, that’s not a terrible number, but even after adding the $26 million it earned abroad, the earnings do fall below projections, as the David Robert Mitchell project cost at least $80 million to make.

A second new release involving dinosaurs — Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie — wasn’t very far behind, either, with $20.5 million domestically and $48.5 million internationally for a combined worldwide total of $69 million. That means it’s already pretty much made back its reported production budget of $40 million, as well as marketing and promotional costs.

It’s domestic debut is also comparable to the previous two Paw Patrol movies, with 2021’s Paw Patrol: The Movie earning $13.1 million on opening weekend ($151.4 million worldwide by the end of its theatrical run) and 2023’s Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie garnering $22.8 million in its first three days ($201.7 million globally overall).

This may be the new family-friendly option kids are gravitating toward, as it pushed Toy Story 5 down four spots to No. 8, and Minions & Monsters dropped out of the Top 10 altogether.

Pinkies Up For The Rest Of The Top 10 Newbies

Fans of the global girl group Katseye showed up for the new documentary Katseye: Wild Hearts, which hit theaters alongside their third EP. Wild. This was where I spent my movie ticket money this weekend, as I accompanied my K-pop-loving daughter.

After watching teen and tween Eyekons mimic the band’s intricate choreography to songs like “Pinky Up,” “Animal” and even older hits like “Gnarly” for 80 minutes, I was ready to do some pretty gnarly dancing myself. I likely wasn’t alone, either, as the documentary earned a smidge under $4 million on just 724 screens — good for fifth place this week.

Following the success of Hadestown: The Musical last month, Six: The Musical Live! was, appropriately, No. 6 on the weekend’s Top 10, followed at No. 7 by The Brink of War, a political drama from Angel Studios starring Jeff Daniels as Ronald Reagan. The Indian romantic drama Vishwanath & Sons rounded out the new releases in 10th place, earning $1.6 million in just 350 theaters.

How Critics Scored This Weekend’s New Movies

I was surprised at how well The End of Oak Street went over with critics, all of whom compared the sci-fi survival flick to Jurassic Park (mostly favorably). But, for it to have long legs in theaters, it’s going to need to make up some ground with word-of-mouth advertising. So how did Rotten Tomatoes and CinemaScore audiences’ reactions compare to what the critics said for the Anne Hathaway film and this weekend’s other new releases?

Scores were not given for Katseye: Wild Hearts, Six: The Musical Live! and Vishwanath & Sons.

Last Week’s Releases Drop, And Next Week Could Bring More Chaos

With so many new movies making the Top 10 this week, that means we lost quite a few from last week — including Super Troopers 3, which debuted at No. 5. In its sophomore outing, it dropped 65% to earn $1.4 million. One Night Only remained in the Top 10 but also saw a severe 64% decline weekend over weekend.

We even lost our cat videos, as CatVideoFest 2026 was taken out of more than half the theaters that helped it into last weekend’s Top 10. Nothing lasts forever, I suppose. Speaking of which, I can’t find any Week 2 numbers for Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man but, given how bad the reviews were and its meager $2 million debut, I can’t imagine there was much to report.

In more positive news, both Tony and Teenage Sex And Death at Camp Miasma crossed the million-dollar mark before their respective wide releases next weekend. With Dominic Sessa earning praise for his portrayal of Anthony Bourdain and Hannah Einbinder’s Camp Miasma also catching critics’ attention, I’m looking forward to seeing them on this list next week, along with some of the several other movies hitting the 2026 movie calendar on August 21.

After Matt Damon starred in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar and Oppenheimer, he and the British filmmaker reunited for the latter's latest IMAX project, The Odyssey. In playing the lead role of Odysseus, Damon had to act out the character's attempts to brave the elements and mythological figures as well as his own psychological struggles amid his quest to return home to his family. This is one of Nolan’s most ambitious features and, funny enough, Damon referred to his director as a “drowned rat” when bringing up his directing style. Of course, the actor also shared a reasonable explanation for that description.

Nolan definitely had a lot of work on his hands when helming The Odyssey, which has become one of the runaway hits of the 2026 movie schedule. He took on the challenge of filming the movie solely with IMAX cameras across several countries, and he shot the movie with as many practical effects as possible. With all of that in mind, Matt Damon spoke on The Today Show’s Sunday Sitdown, expressing that Nolan looked like a “drowned rat” while facing the challenges of shooting on cliffs and dangerous waters:

You’ve got to commend Nolan for having the patience and resilience to shoot such challenging scenes and still keep everything running effectively. As the Good Will Hunting actor made clear, Nolan was literally in the same boat as his actors, who were experiencing some shaky conditions.

For example, Damon explained that the cast had to stop and freeze whenever a scene ran longer than two-and-a-half minutes, because that’s the maximum amount of footage IMAX cameras could capture at a time. This caused the crew to have to keep reloading the cameras. Sentiments like these are a testament to the fact that making a movie is a team effort, and no one person can do it alone.

Matt Damon has spoken highly of his experience making this historical epic. He really got a sense of how “big” The Odyssey was when he saw 1,200 extras and buildings set on fire for simply a flashback scene. The Martian actor also had his own set of hurdles to jump through while filming the epic action fantasy flick and even admitted to feeling wet and cold for a lot of scenes.

Damon also couldn’t shake off the feeling of being in a “very dank and smelly” real cave while shooting the cyclops scene. But, despite every roadblock encountered, the Oscar winner still described The Odyssey as “the best experience of my career.”

It's funny to hear Matt Damon refer to Christopher Nolan as a “drowned rat” on set. However, that term of endearment speaks to the tremendous efforts of the visionary filmmaker. Nolan clearly wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty alongside his actors to make sure his book-to-screen adaptation would be a real cinematic experience for audiences.

Check out The Odyssey in theaters now and see the work that Nolan, Damon and co. put in.

Robert Pattinson has somehow made it this far without an Oscar nomination, but the 2026 movie calendar has given the Academy plenty of opportunities to change that. The former Twilight Saga star has four potential swings at the plate, spread across both leading and supporting categories, and fans have started doing the awards-season math.

A discussion over on the Robert Pattinson subreddit kicked off with one fan suggesting he could conceivably win two Oscars, with The Drama or the upcoming A24 movie Primetime putting him in the Best Actor conversation and The Odyssey or Dune: Part Three giving him a shot at supporting. Primetime, in which he plays real-life TV journalist and former To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen, arrives Sept. 25 after premiering at Venice.

So, how realistic are two nominations? Or one? Or, because the Academy loves keeping folks on their toes, none? Let's break it down.

The Two Oscar Nomination Path

There is at least a path. The Batman star already has The Odyssey in theaters, where he plays Antinous opposite Matt Damon’s Odysseus. He also has the final chapter of Denis Villeneuve's page-to-screen adaptation, Dune: Part Three as another potential supporting role, while The Drama and Primetime give him lead performances to work with. Some fans are buying the double-nomination possibility and here is what they're saying:

• u/Xam443216: “I think Primetime and the Odyssey are his best chances.”
• u/Exciting_Place_6817: “Dude was insane in the Odyssey.”
• u/mschellbell: “I so hope he wins just one at least!!”

If Pattinson did land nominations in both acting categories, he would join a very small club. Only 12 performers have been nominated for two Oscars in separate acting categories in the same year. The most recent was Scarlett Johansson in 2019, when she earned a Best Actress nomination for Marriage Story and a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Jojo Rabbit.

That would be a pretty wild career milestone for someone who has never been nominated before. Still, having four movies in the awards conversation does not mean Pattinson has four equal shots. Even getting two of those performances into serious contention would be a feat on its own.

A Single Nomination Might Be The Sweet Spot

This feels like the scenario several fans are settling on. Primetime may be Pattinson’s cleanest shot at Best Actor simply because the movie is built around his character. He plays a television host modeled on the kind of controversial and often exploitative reality TV that defined parts of the early 2000s, with the character chasing a chance to make broadcasting history.

That gives Pattinson the sort of central, dramatic showcase that can carry an awards campaign. And based on the bonkers first trailer, he certainly looks like he is swinging for the fences here.

Meanwhile, reactions to his Odyssey performance are already much more divided:

• u/Kev2524: “Lets be real: It would be a win if he will be nominated for one of them.”
• u/mrperuanos: “I didn’t see anything Oscar-worthy in The Odyssey.”
• u/Xam443216: “I mean, I thought he was a scene-stealer in The Odyssey.”

That disagreement may ultimately work against him. Christopher Nolan assembled a massive ensemble for The Odyssey, and the The Lighthouse actor is only one memorable piece of a movie overflowing with recognizable actors. One nomination would still end a surprisingly long Academy drought for an actor who has spent years bouncing between massive franchises and strange little movies.

Likelihood of No Nominations

Here comes the bucket of cold water. Awards season does not hand out nominations based on how many good performances somebody stacks into a calendar year. Pattinson could conceivably split attention between projects, get squeezed out by crowded categories or simply end up with performances voters like without placing among the final five. Some Redditors are already preparing for exactly that:

• u/Warden_Of_The_SB: “0 percent chance he wins 2, 15% chance he wins 1.”
• u/Mundane-Inspector-52: “There’s also a genuine possibility that he won’t get nominated for anything.”
• u/parkchanwookiee: “0 chance of both.”

That is what makes Robert Pattinson’s Oscar situation so fun to watch. Two nominations feel possible. One feels entirely reasonable. Although zero, because awards season loves chaos, would not be shocking either.

Pattinson has four swings at bat this year, with no guarantee the Academy sends him to first base. I’ll be in the stands cheering him on, though. Because by my count, the two performances we’ve already seen are both home runs. I have no reason to think Primetime, arriving Sept. 25, or Dune: Part III, hitting theaters Dec. 18, will be any less interesting.

For now, Pattinson can still be seen playing one of the slimiest villains in recent memory in The Odyssey, which is currently in theaters.

There have now been five titles from the 2026 movie calendar to cross into billion-dollar territory, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey continuing to rake in the box office bucks. After celebrating the biggest domestic opening ever, the newest MCU product followed it up with a historic second weekend, adding $145 million to its North American pull.

The Odyssey, meanwhile, continues to soar as well, becoming a huge part of Christopher Nolan’s legacy as it achieves its own 10-digit milestone. Several new releases are peppered into the Top 10 — including an unexpected showing from a movie (?) of cat videos.

I’ll break down all the details below, but first take a look at the weekend’s Top 10 at the domestic box office. (* denotes a new release.)

Weekend Box Office: August 7-9, 2026

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Continues To Weave Its Way Into Hollywood History

After just 10 days, Tom Holland’s third Marvel Spider-Man movie is already the 12th highest-grossing movie of all time, per Box Office Mojo, with its $655 million domestic total combining with $1.01 billion internationally for $1.665 billion worldwide. It’s in a virtual tie with 2015’s Jurassic World ($1.671 billion) and destined to break into the all-time Top 10 soon, when it surpasses current No. 10 Inside Out 2 ($1.699 billion) from 2024.

The six days Brand New Day took to reach 10 figures is the second fastest after Avengers: Endgame, which crossed $1 billion in its first three days.

That’s not where the milestones end, either. With $145 million in its sophomore weekend, Spider-Man: Brand New Day made more than nearly every other 2026 movie’s opening weekend (the exception being Toy Story 5’s $159.7 million). Variety reports it is only the eighth movie in history to make over $100 million in its second outing.

The newest MCU Spidey flick also boasts the third-highest-grossing sophomore weekend in domestic box office history, falling behind only Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($149 million in 2015) and Avengers: Endgame ($147 million in 2019).

Brand New Day’s numbers are so strong that after 10 days we can already start wondering where it will land amongst the highest-grossing movies of all time. Star Wars: The Force Awakens holds that title in the U.S. and Canada with $936.6 million, while globally Avatar ($2.9 billion) and Avengers: Endgame ($2.7 billion) are Nos. 1 and 2 after seeing several re-releases.

The Odyssey Is Officially Christopher Nolan’s Highest-Grossing Movie

The Odyssey continues to soar after four weekends in theaters, with $461 million domestically combining with $643.6 million overseas for a total of $1.104 billion. This may not be director Christpher Nolan’s first foray into the billions, but it is already the highest he’s ever gotten. This week his Homer adaptation overtook 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises ($1.08 billion) and 2009’s The Dark Knight ($1.008 billion).

But wait, there’s more! Other milestones for The Odyssey include (per Deadline):

• The Odyssey is the second-highest-grossing R-rated movie after Deadpool & Wolverine ($1.33 billion global and $636.7 million domestic).
• It’s the most successful R-rated movie of 2026, worldwide and in North America.
• In addition to Christopher Nolan, it’s also the highest-grossing movie globally in Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson’s careers.

Now Let’s Talk About Cat Videos

I might have done a double-take when I saw CatVideoFest 2026 as the 10th-ranked movie for this week. I’m not judging, just didn’t see it coming. The film in question is a 70-minute compilation of “the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses.”

The movie was shown in just 255 theaters this weekend, where it earned an impressive $568K and a spot on the domestic Top 10. Even on a week when we’ve got epic Spider-Man stories as well as literal epics, never ever underestimate the power of a cat video.

Other New Releases See Disappointing Debuts

CatVideoFest 2026 wasn’t the only new release this weekend. A few other titles made their debut, but with so many moviegoers still flocking to the flicks I discussed above, there wasn’t much left to go around. One Night Only took the No. 3 spot, earning $5.7 million. That was below projections of up to $10 million.

Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro’s movie was “too creepy to be cute,” according to the reviews, and now One Night Only is getting roasted for its lack of sex, BUT there’s hope for this rom-com yet. Audiences liked the movie more than critics did (see the chart below), and Will Gluck’s previous movie Anyone But You ended up being a box office success despite negative reviews. Maybe lightning can strike twice.

Super Troopers 3, meanwhile, had the least-successful opening of Broken Lizard’s trilogy. Its $4 million domestic debut fell behind the first Super Troopers, which earned $6.2 million in 2001. Meanwhile, 2018’s Super Troopers 2 raked in $15.2 million in three days.

The Ice Cream Man earned just $2 million after bad reviews suggested it might be the worst horror movie in a strong year for freaky flicks. Did Rotten Tomatoes and CinemaScore audiences agree?

Tony And Camp Miasma Crush In Limited Release

This week’s wide releases may have been disappointing, but two new films in limited release have reason to be happy. A24's critically acclaimed Anthony Bourdain biopic, Tony, earned $348K on just six screens this weekend, while Hannah Einbinder’s new slasher Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma got $251K from five screens. The newest film from Jane Schoenbrun was also loved by critics, and I can’t wait for both of these to go wide on August 21.

Next week brings more new releases, but nothing that will challenge Spider-Man: Brand New Day or The Odyssey for gold or silver. We’ll have to see where The End of Oak Street with Anne Hathaway and Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie land. See you back here next week!

Working with Matt Damon is a dream for many actors. He has a reputation for being incredible to work with, and being a supportive presence even when he is number one on the call sheet. Damon also has a legacy of incredible films behind him like Good Will Hunting, The Martian, and Saving Private Ryan. Many actors have sung his praises, and Tom Holland recently revealed what was one of the best parts about working with the movie star in The Odyssey, and it's hilarious.

In a recent interview on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Holland couldn’t say enough great things about working with Damon, who plays Holland’s father in The Odyssey. Holland fawned about what a great role model the Oscar winner was, and how he was working harder than anyone on set, considering Odysseus is a huge part of the film, and a lot of physical work went into his scenes. However, one particular situation took Holland a bit out of it, as he suddenly realized he was watching “Jason Bourne” work. He told the talk show host:

This is an absolutely hilarious reaction to have, and it points out how much of a pro Damon is, considering he has done so many fight sequences in the past. Damon trained for years doing elaborate stunts for the Bourne films, so he already had a leg up on everyone when it came to practical stunt choreography, and getting in the kind of shape you need to get into to play a physically fit protagonist. Damon is in crazy shape in The Odyssey and the fight sequences all look like they come so naturally to him.

Damon may look very different in The Odyssey than he did in the Bourne films, but for Holland, it was like watching his favorite movie character come to life. Those Bourne films were huge movies with a legacy that lives on through an ardent fanbase, and considering Holland was such a fan, it must’ve been hard not to make the connection. Damon also apparently had a lot of fun with Holland’s love for those films too, as he revealed he once jokingly yelled “tell me everything you know about Treadstone” during filming, a reference all fans of that movie would remember.

While The Odyssey was anecdotally a difficult shoot, I love to hear this cast still was able to find the time to joke around and have levity. They all worked incredibly long hours and put in a lot of work, but the camaraderie was still there, as it often is on a Christopher Nolan set. Damon was a big part of it, and according to Holland, was the fearless leader they needed. I personally love this duo, and with a rumored fifth Bourne movie in the works, maybe there is an opportunity for Holland to join the beloved franchise in the future for a true, full circle moment.

You can see Tom Holland and Matt Damon together in The Odyssey, which is currently playing in theaters nationwide. You can also check out Holland in one of the most exciting films on the 2026 movie release schedule, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is in cinemas now.

Christopher Nolan went all out when he put together the star-studded cast of The Odyssey. Stars like Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Samantha Morton, and more gave outstanding performances playing these iconic characters from Homer's epic. However, it’s also important to recognize unsung performers like Damon’s stunt double, Devyn Dalton, who explained why she was picked to do the job for an important scene.

Matt Damon is a real trooper for still doing film stunts in his 50s. However, he can't do everything. For example, when it came to filming the Laestrygonians scene for The Odyssey, it required the 5’10" actor to look small against a group of man-eating giants. That's where 4’6" Canadian stunt performer Devyn Dalton comes in. She stood in for the actor during these moments to make the scale of the scene really pop. Recalling what it was like to get this opportunity, she told BBC News (via TikTok):

I can imagine that surge of female empowerment Dalton must have been feeling! It makes sense that someone of the stunt double’s short stature would stand in for kids and girls of similar height. But it’s clear it was never on the stuntwoman’s bingo card to double for a man like Matt Damon. If you can add that to your filmography, I would say that’s quite the compliment.

In Christopher Nolan’s 2026 movie release, Odysseus lands on an island where they fight off the violent Laestrygonians. With all of the stunts in The Odyssey being pretty real, the action-fantasy flick needed Matt Damon to look minuscule compared to his giant rivals. That's a big reason why Dalton was picked for the gig, as she explained:

Considering I’m 5’1", I completely sympathize with the insecurities short women face. But as Dalton said, being a smaller size has ways of working to your benefit. And if it can mean getting to double as Matt Damon, bonus!

Devyn Dalton also said she used to be ashamed of her muscles. But same as her height, she taught herself how to “lean into” them and appreciate them. Considering Dalton’s ripped arms are all we see of her on screen, her physicality helps contribute to the character of Odysseus and the continuity of the movie.

During an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the talented stuntwoman also talked about the importance of studying Odysseus’ emotions and motivations behind each physical movement. Then, when trying a stunt for the first time, she visualized every worst-case scenario so she was prepared for it.

After learning about why she was cast and all the work she put into the role, it makes me happy that stunts will finally be recognized at the Oscars in 2028. Stunt performers like Dalton deserve their props. It also makes me even happier that The Odyssey has been such a success, because it's shining a light on performers like her.

While it's not exactly normal for a very small woman to be the stunt double for someone like Matt Damon, it made perfect sense for this movie. Her short stature and blazing guns for arms helped pull off that epic Laestrygonians scene. Now, you can see Dalton’s muscles on the big screen by seeing The Odyssey in theaters.

Zendaya has been killing it latly. With four films on the 2026 movie schedule, wrapping up Euphoria (which you can watch with an HBO Max subscription) on the 2026 TV schedule, and impeccable red carpet looks, it’s been a big year for her. So it’s funny to hear how nervous she got about the start of filming on The Odyssey and that, no matter how successful you are and how much you prepare, there are still some things totally out of your control.

During an interview with the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the typically very prepared Zendaya was asked about whether she’d really forgotten a line on her first day. To which she explained that while she was ready to go, the weather had other plans. The Spider-Man: Brand New Day star recalled:

Sounds like a case of Zendaya probably being harder on herself than anyone else on set would have been. It also seems like director Christopher Nolan really put the cast through it during the production of The Odyssey. For instance, Corey Hawkins climbed a mountain on his first day of filming as Polybus.

A lot of actors have had to work through wild weather, whether in the extreme heat or the extreme cold, to pull off a cool on-screen moment. Glen Powell knows what it’s like to strip down to nearly nothing in frigid temperatures, since he had to do so for The Running Man. And Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford had to keep from freezing in below zero conditions for 1923.

All of that being said, Zendaya didn’t shy away from the challenging conditions on The Odyssey, working through the cold in a way that you’d never know affected her when watching the film. She showed up on set, pushed through, and turned in a stand-out performance as Athene the Greek goddess of wisdom, who serves as protector and guide to Odysseus (Matt Damon). And she was happy just to be a part of the experience. The Dune: Part Three star added:

You can watch the full clip of Zendaya here:

The Challengers star has been going non-stop, between filming projects and then promoting them. While Zendaya has explained her plans to disappear for a bit after such a high-profile 2026, a big part of why audiences love her is that she’s just so charming. Yes, she’s a boss when it comes to juggling all of her projects and ventures, but she’s also fun and funny, and not afraid to say it like it is in interviews.

Whether she actually ends up taking some time off or she gets drawn into any number of interesting projects that probably come her way, you can still see her reprise her role as Chani in the next installment of Dune when Part Three of the sci-fi epic hits theaters on December 18^th.

Charlize Theron might be part of The Odyssey’s side character problem, but the Calypso portrayer has been giving main character energy on the press tour, both leading up to and following its release on the 2026 movie calendar. That’s not exactly easy to do when you’ve also got Zendaya slaying (as per usual) in her Odyssey fits. Theron came to play during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, because I’ve never seen anything like this wardrobe choice.

Clear plastic is becoming a bigger part of celebrity fashion these days, and Charlize Theron is helping to lead the trend. Her Tom Ford look combined a striped, button-down dress shirt, transparent skirt, black tights and gloves to result in something truly unique:

The outfit was designed by Tom Ford creative director Haider Ackermann, who’s been responsible for some of Timothée Chalamet’s best red carpet looks. Charlize Theron started with a black slip dress, then layered that with the blue-and-white-striped silk boyfriend shirt. Over that she added the plastic skirt (or more specifically, per WWD, the skirt made of “black glass-effect technical fabric and exotic printed leather).

The skirt was held in place with a black leather belt, and underneath it all she showed off black tights monogrammed with Tom Ford’s initials. Gloves have been big recently for Charlize Theron, as the white gloves she wore to The Odyssey’s London premiere took her high-slit dress ensemble over the top, and again in Seoul, she sported a pair in black.

The layered elements, the use of plastic, and the low-buttoned boyfriend shirt give this the stunning but edgy vibe that Charlize Theron is known for, especially with her flawless glam makeup and wavy bob, parted to the side.

Zendaya may be in full goddess mode with her own dresses for The Odyssey’s press tour, but Charlize Theron is out here reminding everybody that she’s “not dead yet.” That’s not to suggest that these two are in competition, because we are equal opportunity fashion lovers, and there is enough attention to go around.

Back to the Bombshell star, though, plastic-as-clothes isn’t the only trend Charlize Theron is pushing lately. She also wore a jaw-dropping gown of silver fringe from Louis Vuitton for the China premiere of the Christopher Nolan epic adaptation. That came just one day after Florence Pugh also sported silver fringe at a Spider-Man: Brand New Day event.

I love how Charlize Theron combines classic beauty with more avant-garde fashion choices, and I can only hope her next mind-blowing look isn’t too far away. I’m also excited to see how celebrities continue to incorporate clear plastic into their red carpet choices. Considering how popular both naked dresses and structured pieces are, this “technical fabric” provides some fun opportunities.

For now, though, I’m just loving what Charlize Theron is doing. Be sure to catch the Academy Award winner in The Odyssey, which is in theaters now.

It’s easy to see the dedication on display from The Odyssey’s cast when checking out their performances in the 2026 release. But hearing how far Matt Damon went to get Odysseus right kinda blows my mind. Robert Pattinson, who portrays Antinous, dished on just what it took for Damon to become the Greek hero, revealing what really happened when he thought his co-star was totally losing it on The Odyssey set.

Pattinson got together with castmates Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway to play a game of “Who Even Am I?” for MTV UK. In the midst of one round, Pattinson divulged the way Matt Damon had him in awe with his on-the-day performance, saying:

Damon's Odysseus is one of the reasons why the movie gave Christopher Nolan his box office crown back, so it's probably safe to say Damon's vocal wear and tear was worth it in the end. Not that it was just a loss of voice that the actor endured for the epic role, as he has been open about the dreariness of filming, specifically addressing the scenes on the ship where he spent a lot of time wet and cold.

Despite scenes that required discomfort, the actor has had nothing but lovely things to say about his experience. Damon even says the movie had a “profound effect” on him, and his dedication in turn had a lasting effect on Pattinson, who shares his costar had a good reason for acting like a psycho:

Though I admit, while I love hearing the story of Damon's method acting, it's what the actor said to Nolan about his Odysseus performance that made me emotional. When the director complimented the dailies of Damon and Hathaway, the actor instantly gave away the credit: “I said that was Annie. Because I really just looked into her eyes and she took me away.”

Sadly, not everyone shares the love the cast has for the movie, especially The Odyssey translator Emily Wilson, who called the Nolan film “underdeveloped” and then later defended her criticism. However, the cast still defends the choices made, such as Pattinson, who has previously defended the actions of his despicable character. He did so by hilariously saying that when it comes to having a step-father, Holland “could do worse.” And while he praises the extremes Damon is willing to go to, it would be amiss to not mention Pattinson is going from one grueling schedule to another. He has 11 weeks of night shoots coming up for The Batman Part II.

But while we wait for his Batman encore, we can enjoy watching Pattinson, Damon, and their costars as they give these classic characters their all.

I fear we've all fallen victim to some kind of reverse Doctor Strange spell, because looking at this weekend’s Box Office numbers, our memories appear to have been erased of everyone except Peter Parker. To say Spider-Man: Brand New Day dominated ticket sales is quite the understatement, as the new MCU movie soared past expectations to earn $355 million in its first three days — the second biggest opening weekend in history. And, it’s already approaching $1 billion worldwide.

We’ve got to break down these Marvel-ous numbers, but I also want to talk about The Odyssey, which held its own after three cycles, especially considering the competition. (Maybe Spidey fans did end up doing a Barbenheimer-esque double feature!)

Olivia Wilde also had a big weekend, with I Want Your Sex being the only new release other than Brand New Day. First, take a peek at the weekend’s Top 10, then we’ll get into it all. (* denotes a new release.)

Weekend Box Office: July 31-August 2

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Approaches $1 Billion With Second-Biggest Debut In Box Office History

In North America, Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s $355 million puts it in second place all-time for biggest opening weekend behind the $357 million earned in 2019 by fellow Marvel product Avengers: Endgame. The numbers are so close, in fact, that when they're finalized Monday, Spidey might just come out on top.

It has been surpassing expectations, after all! The highest projections I saw a week ago topped out at $300 million, and even that seemed like a stretch. Until now, no other movie had come close to that mark in its first three days, with the closest being Spider-Man: No Way Home’s now-third-place $260 million domestic debut in 2021.

The news only gets better for Marvel and Sony Pictures — the international box office added a whopping $572 million for a worldwide total of $927 million. It and The Odyssey will become the fourth and fifth movies to cross into 10 digits (more on that further down). Which will get there first, and will it happen this week?

Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s $927 million global opening is the second-highest in that category, too, also behind Avengers: Endgame, which brought in $1.2 billion in its first three days.

It goes without saying that this is far and away the most successful of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man offerings, but how will its theatrical run compare to the others?

The mystery of Sadie Sink’s character was one secret fueling fan interest going into this weekend. I won’t spoil anything here, but you can read all about Brand New Day’s big Sink reveal here. There was also a lot of curiosity surrounding how Doctor Strange’s spell from No Way Home would be handled. How does this work if MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) really have forgotten Peter Parker? (Brand New Day’s ending is explained here, discussing that very issue, and don't miss our breakdown of the post-credit scene).

Even with those topics circulating the Internet now, I don’t think this title will be going anywhere for a while, especially with good reviews only likely to attract any holdouts from this weekend, as well as repeat viewings. Speaking of those reviews ...

The Odyssey Helps To Fuel Biggest Collective Box Office Ever

Is it safe to say that the only actors who matter right now are Tom Holland, Zendaya and Jon Bernthal? OK, probably not, but in addition to the trio starring together in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, they’re also part of The Odyssey’s ridiculous cast. Given how much money Spidey earned this weekend, it’s impressive there were enough people left to give Christopher Nolan’s epic adaptation another $51 million.

So far The Odyssey has earned $395.5 million in the U.S. and Canada, and $515.9 million overseas, combining for a worldwide total of $911.4 million.

Through their powers combined, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey have led to the biggest collective box office in history, with all films bringing in a total of over $425 million this weekend, per Variety). The previous high was led by (naturally) Avengers: Endgame for a weekend of $402 million.

Olivia Wilde Goes Back-To-Back With Two In The Top 10

Olivia Wilde’s critically acclaimed The Invite continues to be an indie hit for the director and star, as it holds strong in the Top 10 after eight weekends in theaters (six in wide release). So far. it’s earned $22.8 million domestically and was approaching $40 million worldwide on a budget of $6 million. But that’s not all.

Olivia Wilde starred in another of the Top 10 flicks this week — I Want Your Sex — which earned $600,000. That was good enough for 8th place, just below The Invite. The actress has strong thoughts about how sex is portrayed in film, and between this erotic comedy thriller and the Seth Rogen dramedy, she’s definitely got people talking about sex this summer.

Looking Ahead To Next Week's Releases

There's no doubt we'll still be talking about Spider-Man: Brand New Day next weekend, but there are some fun new flicks hitting the 2026 movie calendar. The Anthony Bourdain biopic, Tony, for one, hits theaters on Friday, August 7, and with positive reviews for Dominic Sessa's portrayal of the late chef, the upcoming A24 movie is looking at an opening between $7 million and $10 million, according to Box Office Pro.

We're also looking forward to One Night Only, Eli Roth's Ice Cream Man, Super Troopers 3 and Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, starring Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson. Whichever flick you choose to see, these sound like a blast.

Charlize Theron is both a trendsetter and fantastic at hopping on trends in a unique way. Now, I think she’s doing both these things with her latest look, as she was the second celebrity this week to wear a silver fringe dress to a premiere for a project on the 2026 movie schedule. So, here’s hoping we have a new trend on our hands!

One day after Florence Pugh rocked a silver fringe dress at the UK premiere of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Theron showed up to the China premiere for The Odyssey in a stunning fringe gown by Louis Vuitton. Take a look:

As you can see, the silver fringe on this gown starts at the Mad Max: Fury Road star's shoulders and then cascades down her entire body. Underneath it, she’s wearing a high-neck black top, and her Instagram post about the look highlights the open back.

Overall, this fit doesn’t just fit in with a potential new trend; it also adds to her ongoing epic catalog of Odyssey looks. From one outfit that featured a high-slit dress and over-the-top gloves to another that was made of sheer black and white material, she’s been wearing clothes that stand right up there with Zendaya’s fits for this film.

However, let’s go back to Pugh for a second. The actress, who ironically will also star with Zendaya later this year in Dune: Part Three and is supposedly also in Spider-Man: Brand New Day with her, turned heads with her silver dress a few days ago. The dress was by Tamara Ralph, and it was fully made of silver fringe. It also featured what the Little Women star called “breast curtains,” which were made of fringe and added a really cool structure to the gown.

In comparison, Theron’s fringe look is a lot more free-flowing. It almost feels like it’s a waterfall. So, it’s a very fun and effective example of how much range fringe (and the color silver) has.

Now, I’d like to see more celebrities jump on this trend. I feel like they will too, considering how both Pugh and Theron’s styles tend to fit right in with what’s hot at any given moment. For example, Pugh was a leader of the sheer trend. Meanwhile, the Apex star always knows how to make a fad edgy and her own, as she wore a plunging yet structured sheer Givenchy gown to a different Odyssey event this week.

With that said, I’m looking forward to seeing the next outfits these ladies rock on the red carpet. I’m also hopeful we’ll see more silver fringe. Maybe Pugh will even bring it back again, seeing as she’ll be releasing both Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday on December 18.

Clearly, silver fringe can be done in many different ways, and I want to see her, Theron, and others wearing it again and again and again, because it really does make them shimmer.

Christopher Nolan’s epic page-to-screen adaptation of The Odyssey has become one of the biggest talking points of the 2026 movie calendar. It has been tearing up the box office and earning lots of praise from critics. However, Emily Wilson, one of the best-known modern translators of Homer’s ancient work, made waves this week when she criticized the movie for its lack of sex scenes and food that looks “horrible,” among other things. Do not expect her to walk that opinion back, either, because she is now defending her take on this blockbuster.

Speaking on NPR’s Fresh Air, Wilson revisited the line from her sharply critical London Review of Books review that has gone viral. She admitted that her complaint about the food was quite literal, even if it also pointed toward a larger problem she had with Nolan’s version of Odysseus. She explained:

Honestly, fair. While I can’t totally get behind all the nitpicks leveled at the film, food does matter throughout Homer’s poem. Meals can offer safety after a dangerous journey, reveal what sort of host has welcomed Odysseus, or show how badly someone has abused the rules of hospitality. The suitors practically eat their way through his home while he is gone. A feast in The Odyssey should probably look more appealing than something served during a layover.

Wilson also knew exactly why her sentence became the headline. She hoped readers would laugh, but she was using the missing sex and unappetizing meals to get at what she sees as the movie’s real problem. She continued:

That explanation makes the complaint much harder to dismiss. Wilson is not simply demanding that Nolan add a love scene and shoot the roasted meat with better lighting. She thinks those missing appetites are symptoms of a less complicated Odysseus.

Homer’s hero wants to reach Penelope and Ithaca, but that is hardly his only desire. He wants glory, comfort, pleasure and recognition. Sometimes those wants push him home. Sometimes they help keep him away from it. That contradiction is part of what has made readers argue over Odysseus for thousands of years.

Wilson felt Matt Damon’s performance carried plenty of guilt without giving the character enough hunger. Finally, she added:

That perspective makes a lot of sense. Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey famously begins, “Tell me about a complicated man, Muse.” Fair enough, then, that Damon’s Odysseus was not quite complicated enough for her. The scenes with Charlize Theron’s Calypso could have offered one way to deepen that conflict. In Homer’s poem, Calypso and Odysseus live together as lovers for years, but Nolan’s adaptation does not give their relationship that same level of romance or desire.

Of course, that may simply be a different complication than the one Nolan wanted to explore. Adding a deeper love story between Calypso and Odysseus might have muddied the version of the epic he was trying to tell. That is part of what has kept The Odyssey alive for roughly three millennia. The story can be pulled apart, rearranged and interpreted by generations of artists, writers and filmmakers without exhausting what it has to offer.

If you prefer a little more spice in your Odyssey, fret not. Look hard enough, and you are sure to find an adaptation that delivers it. It just will not be Nolan’s movie adaptation of the poem. For my money, the version with the most 'eros' is still Homer’s poem, in just about any translation, so maybe stop by your local bookstore, as The Odyssey castmember Zendaya did, and pick up a copy.

The Odyssey is still playing in theaters, so be sure to check your local listings for showtimes.

Timothèe Chalamet is a massive fan of Christopher Nolan; however, allegedly, the actor is not a big fan of one of the people in the director’s adaptation of The Odyssey. While the Marty Supreme star has made his love for Nolan incredibly well known (Kylie Jenner even rented out a theater so they could watch Interstellar), a source made claims that he and Travis Scott do not get along, and apparently this new movie has not helped.

In The Odyssey, Travis Scott plays the bard Phemius. While he is not in much of the movie, what he says is vital and radiates throughout the entire story. Some people loved this tweak to The Odyssey, as Nolan cast a rapper to play this part. However, it’s also been subject to criticism. When it comes to Chalamet’s thoughts about Scott’s role in this movie, a source alleged to In Touch:

There’s no way around it: Chalamet and Scott have to be in each other’s lives. The rapper co-parents his kids with Kylie Jenner, who has been dating the Oscar nominee for years now. This has caused breakup rumors to crop up here and there, with one example happening late in 2025 when Jenner was seen wearing a ring Scott had given her in 2021. However, the reality star and Little Women actor were never broken up, and they are still together.

Meanwhile, it would seem that Chalamet’s issue with Scott has more to do with acting. According to this insider, the Wonka star was allegedly jealous of the “Sicko Mode” artist’s work with Nolan:

The Odyssey received good reviews, and it’s been a box office smash hit for Nolan. Scott has a very small role in it, and it does remind me of how Chalamet had a little part in Interstellar. For both men, the Nolan movies marked major moments in their acting careers, and apparently, the Call Me By Your Name star is not thrilled that this happened for the musician.

Before all this, it had been alleged that Chalamet and Scott don’t have the best relationship. Not long after the 2026 Oscar winners were announced, The Daily Mail published claims that when the rapper posted an image of Michael B. Jordan during his Best Actor acceptance speech, it rubbed the Dune star the wrong way and implied who Scott “thinks is cool and who isn’t.”

Overall, it would seem the two have a fraught relationship, as the insider claimed:

While they might not be close, they do share an unavoidable connection. Scott is the father of Kylie Jenner's children, and Chalamet has been her partner for quite some time.

So, as they continue to work and make movies, we’ll just have to wait and see how the relationship between these two men continues to develop.

Minor spoilers for The Odyssey lie ahead.

As general audiences and critics heap praise on The Odyssey, something that’s been noted quite often is just how practically made the film is. Writer/director Christopher Nolan is known for shying away from soundstages and visual effects whenever possible, and he certainly commits that principle to heart with his 2026 movie release. The cast (and crew) really went all in as a result of that and even performed some serious stunts. And, as CinemaBlend learned, that included drowning scenes.

Much of The Odyssey takes place in and around large bodies of water, especially since the film heavily centers around Odysseus and his men’s attempt to return to the island of Ithaca. Cast member Himesh Patel (who plays Eurylochus) recently spoke with us about having to act like he was drowning for one particularly intense scene of the film. When asked if acting out drowning is essentially just drowning, Patel agreed with that summation and added the following thoughts:

Having to perform such a wild moment seems daunting enough, but that’s only the half of it. When our own Hannah Saulic asked if Patel trained before performing that particular stunt, he shared an honest answer that also delighted co-star John Leguizamo (who plays Eumaeus):

• Patel: [George’s] like, ‘You'll be fine. We're not going to let you drown.’ But there is no alternative. You just got to sort of look like you're drowning and flail around.
• Leguizamo: While you're drowning.
• Patel: Yeah, while you're drowning.

Even with safety measures in place, I still would’ve been anxious about performing that drowning scene. To the stunt team’s credit, though, the scene is incredibly convincing, and I was stressed out while watching it. Check out Himesh Patel discussing the topic in the Instagram video below:

Many of Odyssey’s stars were put in the position to step out of their comfort zones while shooting Nolan’s ambitious film. Leading man Matt Damon talked about being “wet” and “cold” during portions of the shoot, and he and Nolan also recalled shooting the Cyclops scene in a truly “dank” cave. At one point, Charlize Theron also acted through massive winds that got up to 30 to 40 miles per hour. Even while facing the elements, though, many of the stars have talked about feeling excited and grateful to be part of the movie.

I’d say their efforts weren’t in vain either, considering how The Odyssey has rocked the box office and earned considerable buzz following history-based nitpicks and further Internet-based backlash. Given the drowning scenes, battle sequences and more, it’s probably safe to assume Himesh Patel and his co-stars won’t soon forget their time making this movie. On that note, see the historical epic for yourself, as it’s currently playing in theaters nationwide.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is currently killing it at the box office, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was up for Best Picture come Oscar season.

One movie that will NOT be up for Best Picture and did terribly at the box office is Masters of the Universe, which came and went so quickly that it barely even registered on my radar (It’s actually one of the reasons why I think this summer is one of the weaker ones in recent memory).

However, now that it’s available with an Amazon Prime subscription, I watched it and really liked it! Dare I say, even more so than The Odyssey? I’ll explain.

First Of All, The Odyssey Held Back On The Fantasy, While Masters Goes Full Throttle

When it was announced that The Odyssey would be Christopher Nolan’s next project, I was excited…but with some trepidation. You see, I love Homer’s The Odyssey, and mostly for its fantastical elements. However, Nolan is the absolute king of making grounded, realistic movies, even when it concerns a rich guy who dresses up as a bat at night. That’s what I go to see his movies for.

That said, I DIDN’T want that with The Odyssey, and that’s what we got: A grounded version of this fantastical tale, which is why I wasn’t in love with it (Though, it’s superb when it comes to the human elements). When I want fantasy, I want it full throttle, and Masters of the Universe does just that!

MotU is a fantasy movie par excellence! There are swords, sorcery, firepower, weird monsters, you name it! I was just a wee one when the Masters of the Universe cartoon first aired in the ‘80s, but the colors, visuals, and ridiculousness of this movie struck a chord with me that put a huge smile on my face. Do you know how many times I smiled while watching The Odyssey? Not once!

Masters Of The Universe Also Has A Lot More Personality Than The Odyssey

Not too long ago, my colleague, Jessica Rawden, wrote about one thing that Masters of the Universe does better than The Odyssey, and can I say that it does a lot more than ONE thing? I can name several things that MotU does way better than The Odyssey.

For one, it has WAY more personality. Nolan has a particular style, and it works for him. It’s why he can make a movie about dreams, and the farthest he goes to showing how weird dreams can be is having a city fold in on itself (In contrast, watch a movie like Paprika to see the real surrealness of dreams). And look, I LOVE Inception, but I find Nolan’s style a little bland sometimes.

Well, MotU is full of personality, humor, and color! Jared Leto is unrecognizable as Skeletor, but he has personality for days. Eternia feels way more alive than the various islands that Odysseus travels to. I mean, is The Odyssey an overall better movie than MotU? Of course! I’m not going to argue that, but which would I rather watch again? Well…

I Could See Myself Watching Masters Again. The Odyssey? Not So Much

Another one of my colleagues, Hugh Scott, recently wondered why Masters of the Universe was even made, and he has some valid points (Namely, who was this even made for?). That said, even though some of the jokes were definitely bad, and He-Man’s journey could have been better, I still find that I enjoyed the journey…for the most part.

You see, when I was watching The Odyssey, I found myself engaged in the story, but I don’t really see myself carving out another three hours to watch it again, mostly because I feel like I got what I needed to get out of it the first time. On the other side, watching MotU, I felt there were probably in-jokes that I might have missed, or other cool details hidden in the story, which is why I enjoyed the film.

It never takes itself seriously, which I love. It’s fun, and I highly recommend it. So, if you missed it in theaters, check it out now. It’s no The Odyssey, of course, but in this instance, I prefer that.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has received rave reviews from critics and for a multitude of reasons. Pundits and general audiences alike have lauded the film’s direction, screenplay, performances, score and more. The British filmmaker pulled from Homer’s original epic poem when crafting the film, though he also looked to others, including Emily Wilson, who translated the story in 2017. While Nolan named Wilson as an inspiration for his approach, the author has some brutally honest thoughts about the book-to-screen adaptation.

To put it simply, Nolan’s 2026 movie schedule entry has stirred up a lot of conversations amongst those familiar with the story. There’s been backlash leveled at Nolan for his casting choices and use of modern language. Well, Wilson has entered the chat, and she lambasts the blockbuster in an essay written for the London Review of Books. While Wilson noted that her teenage kids “had a good time,” she laid out why she was unimpressed:

Wilson also goes on to say “the film’s vision is too confused, its characters too underdeveloped, to deliver what it half-promises in terms of big ideas – although it is very good at conveying big bangs and big giants.” The writer is also of the belief that the Dark Knight helmer’s “spectacle threatens to drown out his story”. While Wilson acknowledges that film adaptations don’t need to follow the source to the letter, she’s still of the thinking that Nolan misses the mark here in several respects. She also adds this:

Wilson’s translation of the story has been celebrated over the years, with fans even shouting it out when they saw one of the movie’s cast members, Zendaya, holding a copy of it. The actress’ character, Athena, is also referenced in Wilson’s review, as the classicist also claimed the movie’s female characters were mostly underwritten as well as the characters of color. Wilson did admit to being “humbled” that Nolan used the first line of her translation – “Tell me about a complicated man” – but added another biting thought:

It’s quite clear that Wilson has some very strong views on Nolan’s film and, like anyone, she is indeed entitled to her opinions. Plenty of comments made the rounds on the internet long before the movie even hit theaters. Much of that involved users nitpicking the film over historical inaccuracies, much to the annoyance of the movie’s early defenders. Yet I wouldn’t group Wilson in with that discourse, as she even still calls the film’s release “still an event to celebrate” and notes that translations of the book (including her own) are seeing big sales.

Any sentiments shared by detractors don’t seem to be hurting The Odyssey’s box office performance. The film is soaring and, amid Toy Story 5’s billion-dollar achievement, the historical epic saw only a 27% drop from its first-to-second weekend hauls. Like so many others, I really enjoyed the film as well, and I’m surprised by Emily Wilson’s sentiments. Be that as it may, viewers can form their own opinions on the Christopher Nolan film by seeing it in theaters now.

We are currently right in the middle of our Tom Holland summer, following the release of The Odyssey on the 2026 movie calendar, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s theatrical debut just days away. Holland’s been a busy man, doing press for both films, and while he may have Zendaya to keep him from dropping Spidey spoilers, nobody was there to save him when he got candid (possibly too candid) about some of his past movies not being very good.

Tom Holland is donning the Spider-Man suit for his seventh MCU movie (eight if you count the mid-credit scene of Venom: Let There Be Carnage), with his appearances overlapping with the work he’s doing for Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s epic The Odyssey. it’s seemingly an embarrassment of riches for the actor — and possibly exhausting. Holland visited the Dish podcast, where he was asked how he was handling such a busy time. He said:

My jaw is on the ground. I’m not sure you’re supposed to be that honest! However, Tom Holland is known for having loose lips — he’s been spoiling Marvel secrets for years, after all. (Someone’s even put together a handy compilation of all of his spoilers.)

Of course, here he didn’t reveal any secrets here, as much as he said the quiet part out loud — and thankfully for him (not so much for us), he didn’t actually name any of the movies he thought were crap.

Tom Holland’s career hasn’t been all Marvel and Christopher Nolan. He’s had some critical stinkers, as pretty much every actor does. The 2018 dystopian sci-fi Chaos Walking got negative reviews, with critics saying there was no need for audiences to rush to theaters for the “jumbled” and “muddled” movie.

His lowest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes is Dolittle, in which the actor voiced Jip, the titular doctor’s dog. That one holds a brutal 15% critics rating. The 2021 crime drama Cherry also failed to connect with critics, whose combined scores gave it a 37% rating.

We have no idea which film or films the actor had in mind when making the comment, but I’m still just in shock that Tom Holland fully admitted to lying on previous press tours!

Either way, it’s nice to know that while this is a busy time, Tom Holland is enjoying the chance to promote both The Odyssey, which has dominated the box office for the past two weeks, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with the upcoming Marvel movie projected to earn hundreds of millions of dollars on opening weekend. Be sure to reserve your seat when it hits the big screen Friday, July 31.

This weekend saw no new big releases sandwiched between last week’s The Odyssey premiere and the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day. However, just because the Top 3 stayed the same doesn’t mean there’s not plenty of cause for celebration and introspection in this week’s Box Office breakdown. Toy Story 5 crossed $1 billion globally and now stands as the highest-earning movie in the franchise domestically. But how does its pull compare to 2026’s other juggernauts?

We’ll discuss all of that below, as well as The Odyssey’s second weekend in release, as it raked in another $87 million in the U.S. and Canada (per The Numbers). That’s quite impressive, even considering the competition wasn’t exactly fierce.

Let’s take a look at the Top 10 chart, then we’ll get into what it all means. (* denotes a new release)

Weekend Box Office: July 24-26, 2026

Toy Story 5 Is Now The Biggest Release Of 2026 So Far

The new Toy Story sequel brought in another $10 million domestically this weekend, officially making the fifth installment the franchise’s highest-grossing film domestically, with $448.6 million after eight weekends in theaters. That surpasses the $443 million that Toy Story 4 earned in 2019.

Adding in the $573.5 million it’s compiled from overseas markets, Toy Story 5 has now earned a global total of $1.022 billion, making it the third of Buzz and Woody’s flicks to cross into 10 digits. It’s still got a little work to do there, as it falls behind Toy Story 4’s $1.071 billion and Toy Story 3’s $1.068 billion.

However, its worldwide earnings are enough to move it into first place amongst 2026 movie releases. Toy Story 5 is the third movie to cross the billion-dollar mark, surpassing both Michael ($1.015 billion) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($1.011 billion).

No Sophomore Slump For The Odyssey’s Ticket Sales

Not to be outdone, The Odyssey looks to be on its way to $1 billion as well after posting astounding second-weekend numbers. The $87 million it earned in North America from Friday to Sunday was a mere 27% drop from opening weekend. It wouldn’t have been surprising to see the Christopher Nolan epic lose about half of its audience — especially given its R rating.

Not allowing younger viewers in without an adult may be justifiable given some of The Odyssey’s horrifying sequences, but it can also lead to upset fans and less box office moolah.

The adaptation of Homer’s epic, however, said, “no tweens, no teens, no problem,” as Variety reports Matt Damon’s The Odyssey had the second-biggest sophomore outing domestically for an R-rated movie after Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s Deadpool & Wolverine. That 2024 MCU product reportedly earned $96 million in its second weekend following a $221 million debut.

When you combine The Odyssey’s $286.4 million stateside with an international total of $353.2 million, the movie has earned a cumulative $639.6 million after just 10 days on the big screen.

It’s safe to say Christopher Nolan has justified that gigantic $250 million budget. It’s also worth pointing out that the Oscar-winning director’s latest project earned more in its second week ($87 million) than Oppenheimer did in its 2024 debut ($82 million). Obviously, that’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, since Odysseus isn’t competing against Barbie or any other huge IP — yet.

Hadestown: The Musical Scores Earns Extended Run In Theaters

The Odyssey may have scared off any big releases for this week, but Hadestown: The Musical provided an option for those who are craving more stories from Greek mythology (maybe that’s your double feature!). Director Brett Sullivan brought the live stage recording to theaters, combining the five principal cast members from the original Broadway run with the actors from its West End production.

While Hadestown: The Musical was only slated for a five-day run in theaters, high demand and $9.7 million in box office earnings has reportedly inspired distributors to add additional dates and showtimes.

Alan Ritchson's Motor City was this weekend's other new release to make the Top 10, after the dialogue-free flick received mixed reviews. Audiences seemed to agree, as it holds a 68% on Rotten Tomatoes' Popcornmeter, compared to its critics' Tomatometer score of 64%.

My Spidey Senses Are Tingling ...

We're just days away from Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but how big will its box office debut be? Projections earlier this month were as low as $180 million for the three-day premiere weekend; however, ticket pre-sales have caused those estimates to rise well into the $200 millions. I've even seen predictions as high as $300 million. Regardless of where it falls, there's no denying next weekend is going to be huge.

Brand New Day follows the events of 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home, which earned $260 million domestically on opening weekend. The first two movies in Tom Holland's MCU era, Homecoming (2017) and Far From Home (2019), earned significantly less, debuting to $117 million and $92.6 million, respectively.

Make sure to get your tickets to Spider-Man: Brand New Day early, and then join me back here next Sunday to see the effect the upcoming Marvel movie has on the rest of the box office.

Christopher Nolan’s 2026 movie release, The Odyssey, sees the British filmmaker taking plenty of big swings to ensure a spectacular movie-going experience. From shooting entirely on IMAX cameras to using a 60-foot animatronic Cyclops puppet in a “dank” mess of a cave, Nolan pulled all the stops. While I thought the Oscar-winning director was fearless, he just mentioned one type of movie he’d be “terrified” to make.

Every Christopher Nolan movie has a distinct touch, to say the least. There can be a time-bending, a sense of confusion and more. It goes without saying that his films are grand in scale and heavy in psychological twists and themes. So you’d think he could take on any genre if he wanted to, right? However, the Memento director got real on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (via YouTube) about the one genre he wouldn't be keen on entering, and it's a fan-favorite:

Christopher Nolan makes an excellent point. Rom-coms are all about the comedic timing and making sure each joke lands. If they don’t, the movie can fall apart. There are plenty of filmmakers who explore various genres like Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott or Ang Lee. However, others like Nolan have a specific niche that works well for them, so I can understand his hesitance to jump into the realm of comedy.

Sure, The Prestige director has romantic elements in his movies, but those are set against the backdrops of dramas or action films. In The Odyssey, we see the romantic hardship of Odysseus and Penelope being apart for 20 years. Also, in Inception, that turmoil is present as Hobbs can only see his deceased wife in a dream world.

If Nolan were to attempt any rom-com, I feel like it would have to be a non-conventional one in the tone of films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Her, where characters are forced to confront questions about identity, memory and genuine connection. I honestly can't see the Oscar winner creating a light-hearted rom-com where everything is fine and dandy by the time the credits roll.

In terms of other genres The Dark Knight filmmaker would want to experiment with, though Nolan was honest about wanting to direct a horror movie one day to “make people literally feel something in their bones.” I’m already prepped for that moment to come. After all, audiences compared Oppenheimer to a horror film in the intense journey that leads up to the creation of the atomic bomb. And, in many ways, Odyssey is also a horror film, as features some truly shocking and visceral moments. So let’s leave the light rom-coms for everyone else, shall we?

A light love story may not be in Christopher Nolan’s filmography anytime soon, but he's still a fearless filmmaker in my book. That's because of his ability to continuously make movies that mess with time, feature unconventional storytelling and show the darker sides of human nature. See all three of those elements in The Odyssey, which is now playing in theaters.

Spoilers for The Odyssey are in play here, so read on accordingly.

The Odyssey offers up a stellar cast, and all of them give excellent performances throughout Christopher Nolan’s epic book-to-screen adaptation. For me, that definitely applies to John Leguizamo, who plays the role of Eumaeus, Odysseus’ blind and faithful servant. One of Leguizamo’s scenes is honestly quite surprising, and that’s saying a lot due to this film including massive wars and a cyclops in a “dank” cave. With that, Leguizamo spoke to CinemaBlend and got real about knowing people would hate him for THAT moment.

A flashback sequence shows the origins of Odysseus’ loyal dog, Argos, who patiently awaits his master’s return to Ithaca in the present day. It’s established that as a puppy, Argos is part of a litter obtained by Odysseus and Eumaes. In a surprising move, Eumaes takes one puppy from the group and throws it off a cliff before Odysseus picks the pupper who eventually becomes Argos. It’s also implied that the others will suffer the same fate as the one thrown off the cliff seemingly as part of a method of breeding the strongest canines.

Before the film’s debut amid the 2026 movie schedule, CB spoke to Leguizamo alongside his co-star, Himesh Patel (who plays Eurylochus). The John Wick alum shared a funny response when asked how he thought audiences would react to the puppy scene:

Some audience members have indeed expressed reservations about that cliff scene, with some taking to Reddit to express their displeasure. On the other hand, though, others have defended the puppy-throwing practice as accurate to that period of time. Regardless of how someone may feel about what happens during that moment, Leguizamo makes a good point that in time, his character is able to “redeem” himself. He does that by defending an aged Argos when he receives abuse from Penelope’s suitors. Leguizamo and Patel also share:

• John Leguizamo: I know that was rough. I was like, ‘Oh man,’ every time I took a puppy and dropped it off the edge, I mean, obviously….
• Himesh Patel: No puppies were actually harmed.

Yes, unsurprisingly, Nolan and co. took steps to ensure that none of the diminutive dogs were hurt as part of that scene. Leguizamo also offered this important detail:

Of course, that’s not even the most emotionally intense scene Leguizamo had to film while working on The Odyssey. Eumaeus has several cathartic scenes, and Leguizamo plays them to perfection. It’s no wonder his name has been coming up amid the positive reviews Nolan’s latest film has received. Leguizamo’s blind character is one of the film’s heartbeats, and he helps keep the sometimes fantastical story grounded. That’s a tough task, so the Menu alum deserves credit for his efforts.

I still think audiences aren’t going to forget that puppy scene, and more viewers might have less-than-positive thoughts as the box office-breaking Odyssey continues to draw crowds. Still, just remember that all the puppies involved in that scene lived to bark another day. So check out the film now whether you have already or just want to experience it again.

I don't know what I expected. The same ambitious director, Christoper Nolan, who made a grounded Batman trilogy and a whole movie centered around entropy, wasn't going to just make a by-the-numbers Odyssey flick.

Don't get me wrong. I don't think The Odyssey is BAD. It's actually really good. That said, even though I was greatly looking forward to it, I didn’t really like it (and no, it’s not because it was Rated-R, which it definitely didn’t have to be). Here’s why.

Oh, and some minor spoilers up ahead.

Christopher Nolan Could Have Gone Fantastical For This One. Instead, He Went "Realistic"

When I first saw Interstellar, there was a key moment in the film where I thought, if this goes where I THINK it’s heading, then I’ll probably hate this movie, but if it doesn’t and Nolan surprises me, then I’ll probably love it. The moment in question was the S-T-A-Y scene, and it went exactly where I thought it was heading, and guess what? I don’t like Interstellar (Even though this website looks upon it fondly).

I had a similar moment with The Odyssey. You see, my favorite part of the epic poem is when Odysseus has to get his men through the Strait of Messina, but there are two horrific monsters called Scylla and Charybdis. Now, Charybdis is a living whirlpool, and Scylla is a multiheaded monster that’s waiting for sailors to come by.

I really wanted to know how Nolan would approach this moment since I knew it was coming and…I was massively disappointed. I’m not going to say it was “realistic,” but it definitely wasn’t as fantastical as it could have been. In fact, all of the mystical moments in this film felt subdued, and it just bummed me out (like the cannibalistic Laestrygonians just being some big dudes in armor). The same goes for the Cyclops scene (There was definitely no “Nobody is attacking me!” moment), as well as Odysseus's journey to the world of the dead.

I mean, the human drama in this film is great, and I liked all of that, but – as I should have expected – Nolan stayed well within his comfort zone when it came to the actual magical elements of this story (Though, the Circe scene was fantastic). Could you imagine if Peter Jackson or Guillermo del Toro tackled The Odyssey? I’ll tell you what, the whole Scylla and Charybdis moment would have definitely been a whole lot more epic.

It Also Takes Itself SO SERIOUSLY. Possibly Too seriously

Once again, I don’t know what I was expecting. The story of Odysseus’s inner turmoil is very effective here, and I love that Nolan included the war as something that is holding Odysseus back. Because in truth, Odysseus is lost both externally and internally as well.

Again, this movie is good for what it is. I’m just saying that I didn’t like it, or at least, I didn’t love it. That may be because I feel like it takes itself way too seriously. I want to go back to that Cyclops moment.

While MOST of the poem is grim and serious, certain parts are whimsical, and even fun. I feel like that’s missing entirely from this film. Yes, Nolan's approach has always been to make pretty much everything serious (which worked for Batman after the tremendously silly Batman & Robin), but I would have liked at least some levity in this movie, like the silly “Nobody is attacking me!” moment in the poem with the Cyclops.

Or, you know, maybe the gods could have actually been involved in the story rather than just being an interpretation. I’m not going to spoil Zendaya’s role in the story as Athena, but I would have loved it if there were clear and definable gods in this movie, since Nolan goes to the edge, but doesn’t quite go far enough.

I don’t know. I’d say The Odyssey is a solid 7 out of 10 movie, and I get why many would call it a 10 out of 10 flick. I just wish that Nolan would have stepped out of his comfort zone a bit more, but I guess it wouldn’t be a Christopher Nolan movie if he did that. Oh, well.

Christopher Nolan is known for utilizing the best modern filmmaking technology available when making his movies. For instance, his 2026 movie release, The Odyssey, is a technological achievement, as it was shot on two million feet of IMAX film. Despite the British filmmaker's tech-savvy strategies, the man himself is still not tempted to get a smartphone. Truth be told, though, I understand his logic.

On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the Memento director got real about internet rumors that have circulated about him throughout the years. It was probably a given that a biggie that came up was Nolan's preference not to use a smartphone or email. As for why the Oscar-winning director has never felt the need to join the crowd, Nolan shared a very logical answer during his interview (which can be seen on YouTube):

Wow, it’s been decades since I’ve seen a flip phone in the wild! However, I completely understand where Christopher Nolan is coming from in preferring an old-fashioned cellphone over a smartphone. As we as a society become more glued to our phones and other electronic devices, we lose sight of the world around us as well as in-person communication. If having a “dumb phone” is enough for the Oppenheimer filmmaker and helps his creative process, I'm all for him sticking to his mantra.

So, if The Dark Knight filmmaker doesn’t use a smartphone, how did he communicate with his cast and crew while making The Odyssey? Nolan gave an old-school answer, and it makes a lot of sense:

Now, why didn’t I think of that? Considering how massive the cast and crew of the epic action fantasy flick is, it makes sense that Nolan would certainly not be without people who could help him out tech-wise.

Not only was the Inception director against personally using smartphones amid production on his movies, but that's the same deal with his casts. Nolan has long had a "no phone" rule on his sets, and Tom Holland said Nolan's policy remained in place on the Odyssey set. If anything, that's a truly distraction-free way of keeping the actors focused on their movie. Believe it or not, he's even banned UGGs from his set to also not break the illusion of the world being built out in the film.

As for how The Prestige director has been able to get away with contacting his actors without a cellphone, he has his wife and producing partner, Emma Thomas, give a heads-up when he's ready for a phone call. And, from there, he'll call the star from a studio landline. You’d think it’d be just easier for the man to group-message or call his actors on a Samsung or iPhone. But, if calling from a landline works for one of the most successful filmmakers of our generation, who are we to judge?

With Christopher Nolan’s love of practical effects and belief in the communal, theater-going experience, it should come as no surprise that the London native isn't keen on immersing himself too deep in personal electronics. I can certainly see the advantages of owning a smartphone, but I also understand the benefits of shying away from such items.

I hope Nolan fans check out The Odyssey in theaters now and, while you're doing so, keep that phone away and enjoy the experience.

While movie-goers might see Robert Pattinson’s character in The Odyssey as a villain, he would beg to differ. In the 2026 movie release, Antinous is one of the suitors with his eyes on the throne, left empty by absent war hero Odysseus (Matt Damon), and Penelope, Odysseus' wife. As Penelope (Anne Hathaway) waits for the return of her husband, Antinous is hoping for his moment to rise above the other suitors. But since taking over as the king of Ithaca would mean eliminating Odysseus and Penelope’s son, Telemachus (Tom Holland), it’s not surprising that she wouldn’t be thrilled with the prospect.

Part of what makes Robert Pattinson so delightful is that every time he has a new project to promote, you never really know what he’s going to say, but it will likely be memorable. During the press tour for The Odyssey, Anne Hathaway called out his take on the villainous role but then agreed that he does actually make a good point. Talking to IGN, the British actor explained his defense of Antinous and why he sees him as a legitimate option for Penelope. You can hear him sell his point of view in the clip:

No character is a villain to the actor portraying them, but listening to Robert Pattinson talk about Antinous feels like he’s recast his character in a comedy. In the interview, the Twilight actor calls out Penelope’s mixed signals and, in his defense, points out that she never asks him to leave at any point in the movie’s three-hour runtime.

However, he’s also previously and quite accurately called the character “the worst stepfather you could possibly have.” And that is easily understood when you consider how shallow Antinous is and the fact that he wants to kill Telemachus.

The Odyssey has been acclaimed by critics for its epic storytelling, which is well-deserved, but I can’t stop laughing at the way The Batman star has been talking about his despicable character. It’s a bit weird to think of Antinous as a good option for Penelope, but if anyone is going to champion the villain, it should be the actor playing him. Pattinson said:

Ultimately, Damon’s character doesn’t die in the film, but his absence allows for plenty of time to watch Robert Pattinson enjoy being the bad guy. Antinous is the kind of villain that you love to hate because he knows the pain he’s causing but doesn’t care who gets hurt along the way.

But if you follow the actor’s take on the role, he’s the hero of his own story, just trying to win the girl. I know that I, for one, hope that Pattinson continues to take on villainous characters in his career, and that he continues to share his hilarious takes on them with us.

It’s uncomfortable saying anything negative about The Odyssey right now. In an age of mediocre sequels and uninspired live action adaptations, it feels necessary to exclusively put good vibes into the universe about a big budget event film with high art aspirations that’s doing its own thing. Most of us want more movies like it, and because of that desire, it’s more comfortable to just tell people, “The Odyssey is great! Go see it.”

The truth, however, is that The Odyssey is not great. It’s merely good, and the reason why it’s a step below great is because it has a major side character problem. More specifically, it’s filled with dozens of disposable side characters with one-note personalities who are merely there to advance the plot.

It’s Mostly A Problem Of Structure

I know The Odyssey is a long movie, but even for a long movie, a lot of stuff happens. We get the Trojan Horse and the destruction that comes afterwards. We get the bit with the cyclops, the bit with the sirens and the bit with Scylla and Charybids. There’s an extended sequence with Calypso and the Lotus Flowers. There’s the cattle of Helios and the entire fallout from that. There’s the stuff with Circe and Odysseus’ men and then the stuff with Circe and Odysseus himself. There’s the scene where he meets with the soldiers who have died, and the scene where they have to escape the man-eating giants.

And that’s just the stuff involving Odysseus while he’s on his extended adventure. We also get a parallel plot that runs throughout the movie that involves his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus. She has to fend off the suitors who want to marry her and take her place, and Telemachus goes on his own side quest to Sparta to meet with Menelaus and try to figure out if his father is really dead.

Altogether, it’s too much plot for a single movie. It would have been an impossible task to get through all of this in three hours without abridging and trying to move through everything with a brisk momentum.

But That Doesn’t Change The Fact That These Side Characters Are Not Good

Most of The Odyssey’s runtime follows Odysseus’ quest to get home alongside his men. Unfortunately, we spend almost no time with those actual men at all. There are a few scenes of plot-driven banter and minor character development between Matt Damon’s Odysseus and Himesh Patel’s Eurylochus, but there’s nothing particularly memorable or noteworthy about their relationship.

They don’t have a fun rapport or any distinct conversations. And we get almost nothing from anyone else, apart from occasional reaction shots and maybe the odd bit of dialogue here or there. They have no quirks, eccentricities or memorable facets to their personalities. They’re just around to move the plot along.

Unfortunately, that’s a recurring theme with most of the characters in the movie, even the ones that should stand out. Take Charlize Theron’s Calypso. Odysseus spends years eating the Lotus Flowers and living with her on the island, but for the sake of runtime, we’re really just told about it. We don’t see them spending any real time together, and she’s not even given a fully developed personality. Theron has been nominated for three Oscars and has a long track record of doing really weird and memorable things with many of her characters, and yet, she feels so subdued here.

You could go down the list and say the same thing for side character after side character. Zendaya's Athena, Jon Bernthal’s Menelaus, Lupita Nyong’o’s Helen Of Troy and Mia Goth’s maid servant, are all, in theory, key characters played by acclaimed actors who should have a memorable impact on the movie, and instead, they’re just kind of there. Sometimes they deliver really emotional and weighty dialogue, but since we’re not given time to get to know their characters, they just feel like words moving along the plot.

I can’t imagine anyone leaving The Odyssey and saying, ‘you know what side character I really loved?’ Even the ones who are in the movie for a substantial amount of time feel so shallow and without. Robert Pattinson is, I guess, trying to be a little quirky with his portrayal of Antinous, who is the stand-in for the suitors that we see the most, but he’s still ultimately a stock villain from the sleazy handbook.

Samantha Morton’s Circe and John Leguizamo’s Eumaeus are getting a bit of positive buzz, but in my opinion, they still feel semi-neutered or at least like unrealized potential. Morton is in the movie for like fifteen minutes, maybe, and chooses to go a bit more understated than the set buzz had me believe, and almost all of Leguizamo’s scenes are just an old man getting picked on and looking downtrodden (apart from that wild puppy scene).

It’s A Missed Opportunity

Once again, none of this is to say The Odyssey is a bad movie or not worth your time. It’s a good movie that is worth your time. You should go see it because it’s (for the most part) an achievement in what’s possible and has a ton of scenes that work really well. There’s so much about the film that’s worth praising, but none of it has to do with character development, which is mediocre at best for Damon's Odysseus, as well as the other two leads Anne Hathaway (who makes the most of her one-note widow) and Tom Holland (who is decent as the one-note meek son).

I don’t know how Nolan could have possibly developed all these characters in three hours, but ultimately, he picked this story and this format. Maybe it should have been two movies. Maybe it should have been a miniseries. I don’t know what the answer was, but I think we should be honest that the path he picked has obvious limitations.

It sucks that the sirens were a three minute afterthought because there wasn’t time to develop their characters. It sucks that we didn’t get more from Theron or Bernthal or Nyong’o. It sucks that Morton’s Circe was only around for like ninety seconds before she showed her true intentions. All of these characters could have been the centerpiece of entire movies or episodes or at least hour long chunks. Instead, they’re underdeveloped. Instead, they’re part of a side character problem that can’t be overlooked.

Christopher Nolan's movies are known for their epic scale and practical effects, and he's done it again with The Odyssey, which is crushing at the box office. The acclaimed book-to-screen adaptation is super ambitious, and Matt Damon recalled one wild moment on set that showed just how big of a production the latest Nolan movie truly is.

The Odyssey's reviews have been super positive, and there's already Awards Season buzz surrounding the massive blockbuster. Matt Damon movies aren't known for being on indie budgets, but the level of production on Nolan's latest shocked even him. In a video from The Today Show's Instagram, the 55-year-old actor spoke about shooting one particularly epic sequence. In his words:

Talk about a crazy day on set. Damon is no stranger to huge movies, but it sounds like The Odyssey was on another level... even for him. Christopher Nolan has a reputation for preferring practical effects over CGI, and that includes employing tons of extras when necessary. Case in point: The Dark Knight Rise's epic final battle actually had hundreds of background actors rush at each other when Bane's forces collided with Gotham's Police Department. And the scale of The Odyssey is even bigger than that Batman movie (which is streaming with an HBO Max subscription).

In the same interview, the Martian actor went on to tell the same story, and a comment by cinematographer Hoyt van Hoytema really highlighted what a huge movie they were filming. As Damon went on:

Talk about perspective. The fact that Christopher Nolan put this much money and effort into what would ultimately just be a flashback for The Odyssey proved how huge a movie it would become. That includes plenty of epic flashbacks, a stellar ensemble cast, and (of course) that wild Trojan Horse sequence.

Fans can see The Odyssey's scale for themselves as the movie is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. Spoiler alert: the movie is HUGE.

Whenever a new movie or show based on a Greek myth or epic comes out, I always want more, and that has certainly been the case since The Odyssey’s release on the 2026 movie schedule. Thankfully, there’s an easy way to continue taking in Greek stories on the big screen, because one week after Christopher Nolan’s film hit theaters, a proshot film of the Broadway show Hadestown will make its way to cinemas.

After Watching The Odyssey, I Want To See More Greek Stories And Myths On The Big Screen

Unsurprisingly, Nolan’s book-to-screen adaptation of The Odyssey was met with great reviews, and it got the director his box office crown back. This new take on Odysseus’ journey home was indeed epic; it was immersive, and it was held together by miraculous filmmaking and jaw-dropping performances.

Overall, I haven’t stopped thinking about the film since I saw it, and it’s left me wanting more. However, I’m all caught up on Percy Jackson (which actually takes inspiration from The Odyssey in Season 2), and I want to take in another tale like this on a big screen rather than with a Disney+ subscription. So, I’m thrilled to report that a musical take on a Greek myth is making its way to theaters this week.

Hadestown: The Musical Is Set To Have A Limited Theatrical Run

Hadestown tells the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, as they fall in love and find themselves in the Underworld, facing off against its ruler, Hades. Alongside these characters, the main cast is rounded out by Persephone, the Goddess of Spring and Queen of the Underworld, and Hermes, the God of Wit, Travelers and more. Together, they tell a tale about a journey to the Underworld and back, tapping into themes of love, trust, survival, power and more.

Obviously, like The Odyssey, this is a classic tale known by many. And like Nolan’s take on The Odyssey, this musical by Anaïs Mitchell is a unique adaptation of the myth about Orpheus and Eurydice.

I write that because Hadestown uses jazzy folk music to tell its story, and the set feels industrial, not ancient. It’s sprinkled with modernization, and it’s done so in a beautiful and accessible way.

Adding to that, the story is told by a knockout cast. For this proshot of the show that opened on Broadway in 2019, the entire set of original leads returned, with Reeve Carney as Orpheus, Eva Noblezada as Eurydice, Patrick Page as Hades, Amber Gray as Persephone and André De Shields as Hermes.

Of this cast, Page, Gray and Noblezada were nominated for Tonys, and De Shields took one home for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical. The show also earned seven other awards, including Best Musical. So, also like The Odyssey, this retelling of a beloved Greek story is critically acclaimed and absolutely stacked with talent.

Now, Hadestown will begin its run in theaters on July 23. Its final day on the big screen will be Wednesday, July 29. So, it’s sure to give you that mythology fix you might have after seeing The Odyssey.

It won’t go away after that, though. The musical is still playing on Broadway and the West End, plus there’s also an ongoing national tour. Therefore, even after it leaves the cinema, there’s plenty of opportunity to sing Hadestown songs again.

Famously, Christopher Nolan, whose The Odyssey is currently walking all over the competition at the box office, doesn’t like cell phones. He doesn’t use one, and he bans them from his sets. It turns out that’s not the only bit of modernity that he doesn’t want on set. He apparently bans the ubiquitous boots, UGGs, from his working environment as well. He was asked about it on CBS Mornings and related why he doesn’t like actors turning up to set in the footwear. I’ll be honest, I’m with him on this, but maybe for different reasons.

Christopher Nolan's Philosophy Is Kind Of Like Method Directing

Method acting is when an actor tries to completely disappear into a character, even when the cameras aren’t rolling. It’s a craft practiced by many of the best actors in the world, perhaps most famously used by Daniel Day-Lewis. It can be seen as mercurial and often obnoxious, but you can’t argue with success. Nolan, it turns out, brings some of that same thought process to his director’s chair and is seen acutely with the UGGs ban. He doesn’t want actors wearing them when they arrive to shoot a scene. Here’s what he said when asked why by CBS Mornings host Gayle King:

It’s easy to imagine how “real” some of Nolan’s set pieces feel, given his preference to avoid CGI and rely on practical effects. Showing up to the ancient city of Troy in a pair of trendy footwear could pull everyone on set out of the “reality” of the ancient Mediterranean. Nolan added:

This kind of thing might come across as pretentious or even a little silly, but for me it’s easy to understand. While some method acting goes to the extreme, it serves a real artistic purpose, just like this type of “method directing.” Nolan wants everyone on set to be in tune to what is happening in any given scene, and I’m sure it can be easy to lose focus, if only for a moment when distracted by something so “today.” This is probably especially true in a period epic like The Odyssey, which may be part of the 2025 movie schedule, but is very much of a different era.

For me, I think the shoes are ugly, so for that reason, I’m on board with Nolan’s decision to ban them from his sets, even if he actually thinks UGGs are "great."

Major spoilers for The Odyssey lie ahead, so read on at your own risk.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has been acclaimed by critics, and it’s not hard to understand why. The filmmaker mostly stays true to Homer’s epic poem in this book-to-screen adaptation and sticks to the themes that make it such a timeless story. While there’s plenty of spectacle to be found, from daring sword fights to a “dank” encounter with a Cyclops, there are intimate moments that are also poignant. And, when lead actor Matt Damon spoke to CinemaBlend, he talked about being shocked by the final scenes.

At the center of the film’s story is the treacherous journey that Odysseus (Damon) and his men make in order to return home to Ithaca after The Trojan War. Odysseus is ultimately the only one to return and, in the film’s third act, he attempts to keep his identity a secret from his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland). During his interview with CB, Damon spoke about the irony or “twist” that resulted from his character actually making his way back to the aforementioned Greek island:

In time, a cloaked Odysseus finds himself having a confessional with Penelope, who’s unaware of his true identity. He then goes on to convey the shame he feels over the invasion of Troy, as it resulted in copious casualties. (One of those is even linked to Zendaya’s Athena.) For Damon, that scene was huge, and Hathaway contributed to that sense of awe in a key way:

Penelope and Odysseus’ scene is indeed an emotional gut punch, and both Damon and Hathaway act it out so beautifully. That’s a massive reason why the following scene, which sees Odysseus revealing himself and doing battle with Penelope’s various suitors, hits so hard. And, ultimately, Damon’s character doesn’t die in the film, but he emerges victorious and exiles himself. From there, he and Penelope sail west to honor the former’s fallen comrades and find solace in each other’s company.

This particular moment isn’t just a testament to the actors’ skills, but it’s also a credit to Christopher Nolan’s stellar screenplay. It’s nothing short of amazing that even throughout massive action sequences and surreal, creature-centric scenes, Nolan can still keep character at the forefront of the proceedings. As a whole, the film “walloped” me for that reason but, like Damon, I’ll also long be enamored by that reunion scene.

Check out The Odyssey, which is playing in theaters now alongside other 2026 movie schedule entries. With that, you’ll bear witness to all the tweaks Christopher Nolan made to the story as well as the scenes that ring true to the original text.

I went into The Odyssey feeling optimistic about Christopher Nolan's adaptation of Homer's epic poem. Having only just read the story within the past year, I won't pretend I marched into the 2026 movie with a list of things that absolutely needed to be done to my scholarly satisfaction, but my fingers were crossed for something special. Overall I loved the movie, and it definitely helped to deepen my appreciation for the story. Amidst its three-hour runtime, we got fascinating characters, incredible (and sometimes terrifying) imagery and a thoughtful approach to depicting the impact of war. There was also one sequence that completely blew my mind, and I doubt I'm alone.

Seeing how Odysseus and his men carried out his plan to sneak into Troy inside the horse was nothing short of riveting. So you can imagine how floored I was this week, when I learned that the concept of the partially submerged horse was something Nolan had been noodling around with since he was attached to direct a movie more than two decades ago.

When speaking with Jon Stewart about The Odyssey, Nolan spoke about the challenge of presenting the Trojan Horse concept to a modern audience.

He made a fair point there, then went on to explain that this was a problem he tasked himself with solving back when he was attached to direct 2004's Troy, the loose Iliad adaptation written by David Benioff, which would ultimately be directed by Wolfgang Peterson. As Nolan noted, the horse isn't featured in The Iliad, but they put it in the script.

We first glimpse the horse near the start of the movie. Seeing how it's partially buried in sand on the shore, it really doesn't look like an obvious attempt to sneak a boatload of soldiers into the fortified city. Rather than the usual depiction of the horse with all four hooves on the ground, this version of the statue is bucking upward, making it kind of impossible to fathom it could be anything other than what it appears to be (and certainly not a structure filled with Greek soldiers).

It isn't until later in the film that we're able to see how it all work, and it's truly brilliant. It's not like Odysseus and all of his people are securely set up in comfortable positions, snickering at the Trojans who are about to let them through their impassible wall. These Greek soldiers are essentially stacked on top of one another, with some drowning due to the tide flooding the lower part of the horse, and others getting literally crapped on by the people above them. They also have to try to be completely quiet and avoid being stabbed when some of the Trojans poke their swords in. The whole thing seems like a nightmare situation, but one that yields major dividends when they're ultimately dragged inside the city and able to pull off their attack.

As Nolan explained it to Stewart, making the whole thing believable was his initial goal with the concept he'd been hanging onto all this time:

Mission accomplished! This is one of those movie scenes that will undoubtedly live rent-free in my mind for as long as I live. The fact that the idea was something that sparked inside Nolan's imagination more than two decades ago is a great piece of the lore. It also leaves me to wonder what other ideas he has in that mind of his, just waiting for the opportunity for him to bring it to life.

We know that Zendaya's filming schedule was busy last year, as she worked on The Odyssey, Dune: Part Three and Euphoria. Now, with four major releases on the 2026 movie schedule, she's staying busy in a different way, as she promotes her projects and continues to prove why she's a fashion icon. This summer, specifically, she’s stepped up her fashion game, as she’s been on global press tours for The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Now, while she shows no signs of slowing down, I have to imagine that she needs a break after slaying this hard for so long.

I’m not kidding, Zendaya and her stylist, Law Roach, have been working overtime this summer. A few months after they put together a bunch of wedding-themed looks to promote The Drama, they brought their method-dressing A-games to not one major blockbuster’s press tour, but two. They began with some iconic fits like the one you can see below for Spider-Man: Brand New Day:

This gown is Giorgio Armani SS 1990, per Law Roach’s Instagram, and Zendaya wore it on June 23 to the Rome premiere of the fourth Spider-Man movie. She also rocked a fun red and blue fit to the photo call in Italy too.

During this leg of the Spider-Man press tour, she also rocked the prettiest backless spider-web dress in London, a fun suit jacket with red shorts in Amsterdam, and a stunning leather set in Berlin. That’s not even every look, either; these are just a few of my favorite examples.

Then, after a few weeks of globetrotting for Spider-Man, she began a different global press tour. That’s right, The Odyssey just came out in theaters, and in the weeks leading up to it, Zendaya wore a handful of stunning ensembles that were fit for a goddess. For example, on July 7 in Paris, she rocked a white dress from Givenchy Haute Couture SS 1997 by Alexander McQueen (per Roach’s IG), and it was paired with a mask by Philip Treacy.

A few days before that, she also graced London with some beautiful flowy looks, and then she rocked a curve-hugging Schiaparelli corset dress that was literally fresh off the runway to the premiere.

These are not all her looks for The Odyssey either; she wore many other lovely outfits while doing interviews for the movie too. For example, while on The Tonight Show, Zendaya wore a gold brocade ensemble by Zuhair Murad (which you can see below), and we cannot forget that jaw-dropping winged gown she wore to the movie’s New York premiere on July 14.

Notably, during The Odyssey premiere, where Zendaya wore that winged dress, she was asked about upcoming projects, like Shrek 5; she was also asked about taking a break after all this. During that interview with ET, she made it abundantly clear that she’s looking forward to doing “nothing” and minding her own business. She also, understandably, said that “sometimes you need to just disappear for a little bit.”

However, she’s not doing that just yet, because she still has more promo to do for Spider-Man. And she’s back wearing black outfits too, as she wore a black high-neck Ashi Studio gown to a fan event in Mexico City on July 20.

She really can’t stop, won’t stop with these looks, and there’s still over a week before Spider-Man: Brand New Day premieres on July 31. So, I’m sure the actress and her stylist have even more looks planned for the upcoming Marvel movie.

Now, by the time Spider-Man premieres, they will have been giving 110% and traveling all over the world for nearly two months straight. So, hopefully, Zendaya and Law Roach get a break. However, it won’t be a super long one, though, because Dune: Part Three will premiere on December 18. And we know the actress always goes hard with her fashion moments for those movies.

After that, though, she’ll be done for a while, and I hope she is able to take a vacation and breathe for a minute.

As a longtime member of Team CinemaBlend, I am rarely happier than when actors and filmmakers who aren’t known for horror projects voice their desires to make spooky movies. Such splendor usually doesn’t happen with name as big as Christopher Nolan, but the Odyssey director and current box office king is apparently down and eager to get behind the camera for a new horror movie.

Nolan’s admission is heavenly music to my ears, even if Hans Zimmer’s “bwomp” bass is also back there somewhere. The director, who didn’t shy away from horrific imagery in his adaptation of Homer’s epic, voiced his feelings about potentially bringing his talents to horror storytelling with The Empire Film Podcast (via Spotify), saying:

Now, I’m not going to pick a fight with the Oscar winner for that blanketed assessment about the number of “really great horror movies” out there. In comparison to the vast overall number of movies that have been produced, then yes, there are relatively few. But “very few” implies a number lower than I’m willing to accept. That said, I would give my third and fourth eyes to know which horror movies he does consider to be really great, and how many of them rank among CinemaBlend’s Best Horror Movies rankings.

One might ask, “If Chris Nolan wants to make a horror movie, what’s actually stopping him?” And the answer to that question is apparently the Brit’s ability to find the right source material. As he explained:

Considering how much technical wizardry Nolan brings to his films, with IMAX cameras often getting a big focus, I can certainly get how the vast majority of horror narratives might not scale up to what he's used to working with. I can't imagine he'd sign up for any kind of limited-location project in the vein of Exit 8 or Cube, and almost definitely wouldn't be interested in going the found-footage route for a Blair Witch update. (I know one already exists, but I'm just brainstorming.)

As such, it stands to reason that Nolan would be most interested in telling an expansive and layered horror story that wouldn't feel so out of placed paired up with one of his non-epics such as Memento or Insomnia, or possibly even Inception, Interstellar or The Dark Knight. Much as I'd love to believe that A Nightmare on Elm Street fits that bill, I don't foresee Nolan following in Wes Craven's footsteps.

But I do have several ideas in mind for horror projects that the Oppenheimer director could knock out of the park if he ever invested his creative efforts into them. Since I can't very well get inside his brain to determine what kinds of original genre stories he might have kicking around, I opted for a list of novel and comic books that I think would make for solid gold Nolan adaptations.

• House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski - House of Leaves is largely considered an unfilmable tome, given the multiple narratives and timelines being depicted through the core text and the ever-present footnotes. But if there's anyone who can pull off the haunting tale of a man who loses himself inside his increasingly expanding home, it's Nolan.
• American Vampire by Scott Snyder, Stephen King & Rafael Albuquerque - While I'd love to throw several Stephen King works out as potential adaptation fare, his folksy charms don't necessarily mesh with Nolan's. Instead, I think this historical approach to vampires in America would lend itself well to the director's talents, and it's definitely different enough from Sinners to not worry about overlap.
• Gideon Falls by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino- Gideon Falls is perhaps my favorite horror comic, written and illustrated by perhaps my favorite writer and artist. So I'd probably slap it into every list I can think of, but I actually do think its massive story about a black barn and those haunted by it (to say the least) would be glorious putty in Nolan's hands.
• A Walk Through Hell by Garth Ennis & Goran Sudžuka - This disturbing tale sees FBI agents taking on the most baffling and depraved case of their careers, and delivers genre thrills while also tapping into true crime elements.
• Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay - Few horror stories get more widescale than tales about infectious outbreaks, and this one comes from one of the best horror authors working, Paul Tremblay.
• Fatale by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips - Brubaker & Phillips are best known for Criminal, but they bring the supernatural and old Holllywood into their neo-noir storytelling for Fatale, which centers on a seemingly immortal woman whom men can't help but desire, except for those in the cult trying to kill her.
• Annihilation (All the Southern Reach books, really) by Jeff VanderMeer - Yes, the first of this unnerving quartet of novels was already adapted by Alex Garland in 2018, but that film was not built to tell the entire story, and left a lot of disturbing details by the wayside as a result. With Nolan's brains and budgetary command, Area X could live anew and better than ever.

I could easily keep coming up with new examples of horror movies that Christopher Nolan should make, but I should probably save my energy to pitch one of these in person whenever I next share an elevator with him. Which will definitely be around a quarter to never, so wishful thinking is what I'll be resting my laurels on in the days to come.

While waiting for him to announce his next project, join the many in seeing The Odyssey currently in theaters.

There's been a lot of talk about Zendaya having a big year, given she has four movies on the docket. However, I keep forgetting what a big year it is for Anne Hathaway as well, as she has five films out this year. Just looking at her movie schedule has me exhausted. Most recently, she's been promoting The Odyssey (her third film of the year) ahead of two additional releases later this year So how does she feel about all of this work? Well, she shared a great take:

It goes without saying that Hathaway is a talented actress, but the notion of her having five films on the 2026 movie schedule releases feels like a dream. On that note, she knows she’s having a big year, and I love the expressions of gratitude she shares with People:

Hathaway definitely has a lot of moments this year. She started the year with Mother Mary, which hit theaters back in April. The David Lowrey film is a psychological musical drama that's been heralded by critics as a “fascinating chamber piece.” The film has also been praised for the originality it uses to tell a story of celebrity and obsession.

Then in May, fans had their prayers answered when The Devil Wears Prada 2 hit theaters and reunited Hathaway with Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt. Plenty of fans had high expectations, which were met when the actors seamlessly stepped back into their old roles. This also reunited them with the original director, David Frankel, who directed the first film.

Hathaway is now receiving rave reviews for her performance as Penelope in The Odyssey, which gives Christopher Nolan back his box office crown with an epic opening weekend. In the Homer epic brought to life, Hathaway plays Penelope, the wife of Matt Damon’s Odysseus and mother to Tom Holland’s Telemachus. So, all in all, she's been quite busy, so I'm glad a source also said this:

However, Hathaway will soon have more press to do, thanks to The End of Oak Street, which is set for an August 14 release. Somehow, this is the Hathaway film that surprised me the most. I wasn’t expecting the suburban prehistoric story when the trailer dropped, yet such a film makes sense coming from from producer J.J. Abrams, who works in tandem with director David Robert Mitchell. I know I’m not the only one curious with how it’s going to do at the box office.

Finally, Hathaway will end the year similar to how she started, with a psychological thriller. That film, Verity, is directed by Michael Showalter and will be released October 2. In it, Hathaway plays a bedridden author whose husband hires a ghostwriter (Dakota Johnson) to finish her book series. The two can be seen in the Colleen Hoover adaptation in the first trailer.

What amazes me above all the work Anne Hathaway has done, though, is that while promoting it, she's also expecting her third baby with husband Adam Shulman, and it's due sometime this year. Few stars have the kind of work ethic that Hathaway has, and I'm loving that she's continuing to thrive in Hollywood!

Tom Holland is a pro when it comes to stunt sequences. He’s been doing stunt choreography and fight scenes for a decade now, and I can’t think of anyone who has done more cinematic backflips in their movie career. However, apparently The Odyssey came with new challenges that the actor had never experienced before, and he recently explained what these sword fight sequences made things feel so much more dangerous.

In a recent interview with the cast of The Odyssey for Entertainment Weekly, the all-star group of actors talked about what made shooting this film so much more intense than their experiences in the past. All of the actors had experience with action sequences before, like the memorable fight sequences from the Jason Bourne movies with Matt Damon, or the stunt scenes with Anne Hathaway in the Dark Knight Rises.

However with three Spider-Man movies and three Avengers movies under his belt, Holland might take the cake as the most experienced. He joked that his Spidy-skills wouldn't have worked for this film though, saying:

The armor in The Odyssey scenes wasn’t the only thing that set the fight sequences in the film apart from Spider-Man, though. Holland explained that the sword battles in the buzzy 2026 movie release felt incredibly different than anything he’d experienced before, and a lot of this had to do with the way that director Christopher Nolan directs scenes like this, where he runs through it completely without cutting. Holland explained:

I can imagine how this could be incredibly daunting. When swords are being moved around everywhere in a stunt sequence without any cutting, it must feel very scary. Even though this is all movie magic, with intricate stunt choreography and safety precautions all being taken, it doesn’t take away from the fact that heavy, pointy movie props are moving around everywhere. The lack of cutting makes everything feel way more real and less clean than a Marvel movie. Nolan also admitted that the weapons used in a film like this makes things more dangerous, saying:

The danger behind the whole thing translates so well on screen, so the shooting style was definitely the right move for scenes like this. It brings a sense of grandiosity as well as danger, and Nolan’s insistence on actually using hordes of extras for his battles instead of CGI grounds the film even more. Comparing Marvel sequences with The Odyssey feels a bit unfair, but with a shared cast, it’s hard not to. There is something so gritty about these sequences that work so perfectly for The Odyssey, and allows the characters, like Holland's, to actually feel the stakes of the film.

You can see Tom Holland in The Odyssey, which is currently in theaters nationwide in IMAX and on 70mm. The Odyssey is being lauded by critics, so make sure to check it out on the biggest screen possible while you still can. Fans of the Peter Parker actor can also see him in the MCU Spider-Man films, which are all streaming with a Disney+ subscription, with the latest heading to theaters on July 31, 2026.

SPOILERS ahead for The Odyssey. Go see it before reading ahead!

Zendaya continues her reign over the 2026 movie schedule with the release of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. While the actress sadly has a small role in a film that’s nearly three hours long, I think she actually makes the biggest impact. I didn’t necessarily have set expectations for her role as the goddess Athena, but wow, did she steal one scene. That being said, there’s something about her character I’m not solid on.

I Think There’s Two Ways To Interpret Athena In The Odyssey

In Greek mythology, Athena is the goddess of wisdom and war. Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus sees Athena as a vision as she acts as a confidant and mentor to him. But there’s something interesting the Chris Nolan movie does with her character that really makes her presence in the rest of the movie matter more.

Close to the end of The Odyssey, Odysseus recalls his experience at Troy to his wife in more detail. He says he watched “rage” run rampant that night in a way that betrayed his own morals. As he tries to go home after the war, he finds himself emotionally fighting himself over something. Odysseus details how the use of the Trojan horse was a deceitful way to fight an opponent. And, when his soldiers invaded Troy, he’s disgusted by the way the entire city was slaughtered with little mercy, even for the likes of innocent civilians. That’s when we see the face of Zendaya as a woman Odysseus witnesses getting beheaded by his men. At the same time, a statue of Athena earns the same fate.

Since seeing The Odyssey, the sequence has had me thinking about what the moment means. Was Zendaya’s Athena showing herself to Odysseus as the woman he watched be slaughtered through Odysseus’s visions? Or was Athena disguised as a human who sent herself there in that moment to haunt him for his betrayal of the rules of war? It’s definitely a reveal I wasn’t expecting from the movie, and it's really the scene that sticks the most with me.

But, I Think It’s Left Open-Ended For A Reason?

As a longtime viewer of Christopher Nolan movies, I know that the filmmaker likes an ambiguous ending that can lead to multiple interpretations from viewers. I definitely think the whole thing with Athena falls into that camp. Is it Athena the entire movie, or does the goddess come to Odysseus as a symbol of the humanity he gave up during the Trojan War? Either way, the meaning did its job of being powerful and gut-punching. It’s also something that I want to ask more people about now after they watch it. Honestly, I’m not sure there’s one answer to the question. Maybe the fact that it feels enigmatic plays into this quote from earlier in the film:

• Odysseus: "Why can’t gods speak in ways we understand?"
• Athena: "Who doesn’t understand thunder? Or fire? A child’s smile? A good harvest?"

Early in the film, Odysseus is frustrated by the way the gods communicate. And the scene where Athena is beheaded kind of underlines both their points at the same time. While it’s not going to be talked about nearly as much as the spinning top at the end of Inception, I think it has a similar effect. I think the point is to get viewers talking about the scene because it’s kind of the big thesis moment of Nolan’s The Odyssey.

I felt that Odysseus’s epiphany about the ways in which he deviated from his own moral code was thrilling to watch in theaters. Zendaya’s Athena being part of the scene was very effective… even if I’m not totally sure if I can quite explain Athena's arc in the story completely.

No R-rating nor nearly three-hour runtime could stop Matt Damon and The Odyssey from reigning over the Box Office this weekend. The crown was rightfully returned to Christopher Nolan’s head for his book-to-screen adaptation of the Homer epic. The film defied the limits of experts’ projections to earn $124.5 million in North America over its first three days, becoming the third-best premiere to hit the 2026 movie calendar.

Meanwhile, the family friendly flicks' successes continued to suggest kids (and their adult companions) are escaping the summer heat by hitting the movie theater. Moana took second-place honors, but it was too close to call between Toy Story 5 and Minions & Monsters, which earned $14.8 million apiece. They may have tied for bronze, but the Disney/Pixar product crossed one big milestone this week and is set to make franchise history in the coming days.

Let’s get into what all of the numbers mean, but first, please take a look at what those numbers are on the Box Office Top 10 list. (* denotes a new release)

Weekend Box Office: July 17-19, 2026

The Odyssey Is Christopher Nolan’s Biggest Global Debut

There are several reasons that The Odyssey earning $124.5 million this weekend (per The Numbers) is impressive — beyond the fact that high-end projections were closer to $110 million. For one, it’s the Oscar-winning director’s best three-day domestic premiere since 2012, when The Dark Knight Rises earned $160 million. Globally, it’s his best overall, adding $139.6 million internationally for a worldwide total of $264.1 million.

That massive $250 million budget isn’t looking so insurmountable now, is it? The Odyssey's $264.1 million global debut is better than that of The Dark Knight Rises ($249 million) and 2023’s Oppenheimer ($180 million).

Just how far could this colossal start take Christopher Nolan’s latest? Looking at recent history, Oppenheimer opened in second place to Barbie back in 2023 with a better-than-projected $82 million and stayed in theaters long enough to earn $975 million worldwide. So go, Odysseus, go!

The Odyssey Had The Best Live-Action Premiere Of 2026 So Far

Another impressive stat about the phenomenally cast epic is that it had the third-highest debut of the year so far, its $124.5 million trailing Toy Story 5’s $159 million and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’s $131 million. That makes it 2026’s best live-action premiere yet, which is impressive because its R-rating puts an age limit on potential ticket-buyers.

While we were expecting review-bombing of The Odyssey because of the tweaks Christopher Nolan made to Homer’s classic, audience reaction was as high as you could hope.

Toy Story 5 Crosses $900 Million, With Even More Good News Coming

Minions & Monsters has been putting up a good fight since its Fourth of July release, despite lower-than-expected box office totals, even withToy Story 5 right on its tail. The Illumination product has earned $357.9 million globally so far, but it’s no match for what Jessie, Buzz and Woody have going on.

Toy Story 5 surpassed the $900M mark globally this week with a $958.4 million worldwide total. When it crosses into billion-dollar territory, it will be the franchise’s third movie to do so. Before that, though, TS5 will become the series’ highest-grossing movie domestically. Toy Story 4 currently holds that honor, having picked up $434 million during its time in North American theaters, but with the fifth movie standing at $430.9 million, a new leader seems mere days away.

Audiences Accepted The Invite For A Big Second Weekend In Wide Release

The buzz surrounding Olivia Wilde’s latest dramedy The Invite — including surprisingly great reviews for Seth Rogen movie — definitely is working to its advantage. The movie added to an additional 500 screens, allowing it a minimal 34% drop in its second weekend in wide release.

Last week’s new releases didn’t fare so well, with Moana falling 56% and Evil Dead Burn dropping 64%.

With Backrooms Out Of The Top 10, Is This The End Of Horror Summer?

The box office is in full swing (pun intended), as we prepare for Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31, and movie lovers are basking in a new Christopher Nolan flick, with plenty of child-approved options to fill their summer break. Is it the end of our horror-filled summer dominated by YouTubers?

Backrooms dropped out of the Top 10 this week after 52 days in release, but Obsession remains the little horror movie that could. Despite being released to stream with a Peacock subscription and now available to rent or buy, Obsession still has people choosing the big-screen experience. The $2.5 million Curry Barker's film made this weekend alone — its 10th in theaters — is more than three times what it cost to make the movie.

Genre fans need not worry, though. Slashers may not be dominating the charts right now, but there are plenty of upcoming horror movies still to come this summer.

No Major Releases Next Week Ahead Of Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Next weekend we can expect The Odyssey to make easy work of the box office again, as no major releases have been scheduled between that and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. So just how much is the upcoming MCU project expected to make? Box Office Theory predicts Spider-Man: Brand New Day to earn between $212 million and $228 million in the US and Canada over its first three days. Projections have been as high as $250 million in recent weeks.

Hopefully Zendaya can keep Tom Holland from spoiling the ending until then. I hope you’ll take this next week to see something at the theater you may have missed, and then I’ll be back with you next Sunday to look all the numbers.

Let’s get this out of the way: I loved The Odyssey. The new Christopher Nolan film, which finally hits the 2026 movie schedule this weekend, isn't perfect, but I thoroughly enjoyed the full three-hour runtime of the epic. I applaud the technical achievements made by Nolan and the crew. However, there was one thing that completely pulled me out of the movie, and that was the Automatic Dialogue Replacement (ADR) in some scenes. I noticed it multiple times in the movie, and I know why it was necessary, but I need to make note of it.

Penelope And Telemachus On The Balcony

I first noticed it early in the movie in a scene between Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and Telemachus (Tom Holland). They are standing on the balcony of their castle, overlooking Ithaca, and Hathaway’s dialogue is clearly overdubbed. It completely distracted me for the whole scene. If you’re not familiar with the term, ADR is when actors overdub their lines in post-production because the on-set microphones don’t pick up the dialogue clearly due to any number of circumstances.

There are probably a couple of things at work in this scene that required the ADR from Hathaway. IMAX cameras are notorious for being loud and can be problematic when trying to pick up sound. Nolan and company mitigated this problem somewhat with a custom-built soundproof box for their cameras when filming the movie, but that could still be part of the issue. The other is a simpler explanation: it was windy on the wall overlooking the island. My guess is that it was a combination of the two, and while ADR is very common in modern filmmaking, it doesn’t usually stand out as much as this did to me. The same was true a few other times in the movie.

Overall, The Sound Quality Surprised Me

I saw The Odyssey in IMAX, so theoretically, I was seeing and hearing the movie in the perfect format. However, I was a bit surprised by how all over the place the sound was in the movie. In addition to the dialogue issues, I was also taken aback by how loud some moments were. I’m a music fan, and I see a lot of concerts, so loud doesn’t usually bother me, but at least in my screening, the sound was louder than I’ve ever experienced in a movie. I’ve seen many movies in the same theater and never heard anything like this.

At one point, my friend sitting next to me actually covered his ears. I can’t say whether this is due to the sound mixing in the movie or due to the theater I was sitting in, but it was LOUD to the point of being uncomfortable at times. Christopher Nolan movies are often controversial, but generally perfect when it comes to sound, so hearing both the ADR issues and the general volume of some of the action sequences wasn’t something I expected.

Let me be clear: as I was in the beginning, I still love the movie, and I think everyone should experience it in an IMAX theater, or at least on the biggest screen they can find. It’s visually stunning, and sound aside, I don’t think it will be nearly the same on even a big TV at home. I hope Nolan goes big like this the next time he makes a movie.

When it comes to movie buffs, this weekend is pretty much all about The Odyssey, which hit the 2026 movie schedule this past Friday. The Christopher Nolan-helmed film is an adaptation of Homer’s epic poem of the same name, and it’s been making quite a splash. Not only is the film poised to top the box office this weekend, but Nolan’s latest has also received critical acclaim. All the while, though, a show on Amazon Prime Video is gaining notice as well and actually has a Rotten Tomatoes score higher than Nolan’s new movie.

A Prime Video Docuseries Is Sparking Some Critical Buzz

The series in question is Murder 101, which arrived on the 2026 TV schedule last week, and it seems critics are really digging it. As of this writing, the docuseries has a 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. What should be mentioned, however, is that this stellar score is only based on a total of five reviews. Still, that’s impressive due to the review embargo having been open for a little while now.

Murder 101 is a three-part limited series directed by Stacey Lee, and this documentary centers on a high school sociology class in Tennessee that investigates a cold case involving a serial killer. At the center of this story is the case of the Redhead Murders, of which several red-headed women were killed within a six-month span in the Tennessee area between 1984 and 1985. The class’ efforts ultimately inspire law enforcement to reopen the case themselves.

Anyone who enjoys watching various true crime documentaries may want to check out Lee’s docuseries for themselves. What it offers is an examination of a serious case, but it’s analyzed from a unique perspective, that of high school students. Admittedly, I don’t watch true crime often, but I’m constantly amazed whenever unique stories like the one told in this recent Prime Video doc come up.

The Odyssey Is Still Getting It’s Fair Share Of Praise

Nolan’s The Odyssey may not have a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but the score it has is still nothing to scoff at. Right now, the blockbuster has a certified 95% freshness rating based on 370 reviews. So that’s much larger than the pool of pundits that have responded to Murder 101 so far. Also, the film came in hot once the review embargo lifted as it initially peaked at 98%, which is even more amazing. That’s certainly a testament to the talents of Nolan and his team.

This book-to-screen adaptation of Homer’s work represents what’s arguably Christopher Nolan’s most ambitious cinematic feat. What’s most jaw-dropping about it is that a lot of it was shot practically and with minimal visual effects. So this is much bigger than some of Nolan’s earlier films like the acclaimed Memento or the excellent Insomnia, which is a story involving a killer.

Overall, though, entertainment junkies have some quality viewing options to take in this weekend on both the big and small screens. Honestly, I can’t recommend The Odyssey enough so, if you’re able to see it in a theater, head out as soon as you can. Yet, if you can make it to the cinema or have booked tickets for another time, sit back, grab a Prime Video subscription and stream Murder 101 at home.

Christopher Nolan is easily one of the greatest filmmakers of our time and, in a way, he’s also one of the most eclectic. The Oscar-winning writer/director is known for having a no-phone policy on set for his cast and crew members. Additionally, Nolan himself doesn’t have a cellphone or email, leading to questions about how he contacts actors for new projects. I’m one of the many who has wondered about this and, thankfully, we now have an answer, thanks to one of Nolan’s collaborators.

Matt Damon has worked with Nolan on three films – Interstellar, Oppenheimer and most recently the 2026 movie release The Odyssey. The leading man – who plays Odysseus in the fantasy epic – recently recalled how he learned Nolan wanted him in the movie. As Damon explains to People, the Dark Knight helmer obviously has a bit of help when it comes to reaching out to stars, considering the lack of tech he uses. Unsurprisingly, one of his closest (and most crucial) collaborators manages to fill the gap for him:

Aside from being Nolan’s longtime producing partner, Emma Thomas is also his wife of 29 years. Considering Thomas’ professional position, her being the first point of contact honestly makes sense regardless of her husband having a phone and email or not. It sounds like the studio Nolan is working with – Universal in this case – also serves as the place from where he’ll phone an actor. It’s been (rightfully) said that filmmaking is a collaboration and, in Nolan’s case, that’s definitely true when it comes to reaching out to actors.

It may be hard to get a hold of Nolan, given his lack of electronic communication methods but, when he does come calling, it’s certainly a big moment. Damon may have worked with Nolan before getting his Odyssey call, but he was still surprised when the director reached out to say he was working on something else:

And, of course, Damon eventually found himself back on set with Nolan and leading a production that’s massive in scale. The experience wasn’t easy, of course, as Damon even talked about being “wet” and “cold” for good portions of the shot. Nevertheless, the Good Will Hunting star also said he relished the opportunity to make such a grand film in a practical way. And, all the while, phones still weren’t allowed on set as fellow cast member Tom Holland previously confirmed.

What should be known, though, is that Christopher Nolan doesn’t impose that no-phone rule on his sets so that actors simply fall in line with his own habits. It seems he simply wants a focused team and, having seen the critically acclaimed The Odyssey myself, I’d say everyone was locked in. I’m not sure if Nolan himself will ever join the fray and get a phone or email address. But, as long as he can communicate with others as needed (whether personally or professionally), I’m here for him sticking to his no-tech ideology.

Check out The Odyssey, which is now playing in theaters nationwide.

The Odyssey is already shaping up to be the biggest movie on the 2026 movie schedule, and the huge press tour happening around the film has been a blast to watch. A lot of this can be attributed to the magnetic chemistry of The Odyssey cast, which includes stars like Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland and Zendaya. Despite being in the same film, Holland and Zendaya are keeping their private life private on the tour. Yet Holland recently made a reference to his marriage to Zendaya in a recent interview to promote the film, and I love this unexpected moment.

Holland, along with Damon, Hathaway and Robert Pattinson participated an interview for Wired, where they answered the internet’s most searched questions about The Odyssey. One particular question was asked about Damon’s character, Odysseus, and his relationship to Zendaya’s character, Athena. After reading the question, Holland made a cute comment that was just too perfect. He said:

Holland's comment is surprising, considering the fact that he and Zendaya have been incredibly quiet about their relationship. The general public didn’t even know they got married until Zendaya’s stylist, Law Roach, let this information slip during a red carpet interview. The pair subsequently dodged marriage questions, with Zendaya only coming out deny that AI photos of a wedding were real. However, it now seems Holland has no problem brazenly (but briefly) mentioning the marriage.

It's true that at this point, the marriage has been made public knowledge, and Holland has also confirmed the wedding in the past few months, hearing it said still feels strange, because of how strict they have been about their privacy. When they first started dating, Zendaya shared a birthday post dedicated to Holland, but that was posted years ago, at a point at which the two weren't even active as a couple on social media. Even on this press tour, they haven’t been paired up for interviews, making sure to shift the cultural conversation to the movie and not their relationship.

Still, I personally love when Holland or Zendaya make little comments about each other like this latest one. While they prefer privacy, little jokes remind fans that these two are very much a unit. Fans have been shipping them since even before they started dating in late 2020. Also, the fact that these two continue working together over and over again, and have two movies coming out together this year also shows that this is a firm professional pairing as well as a romantic one.

In short, I’m always rooting for these two, and I hope even more little nuggets like Holland's joke come out of this Odyssey tour or the Spider-Man one.

You can see (the happily married) Tom Holland and Zendaya in The Odyssey which is currently in theaters nationwide. It’s the first film to be made entirely in IMAX, so make sure to check it out on the biggest screen possible. Also, be sure to see Holland and Zendaya in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which opens in theaters nationwide on July 31.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey may trade laboratories and nuclear dread for monsters, gods and storm-tossed ships, but Jon Stewart sees a surprising connection between the filmmaker’s latest epic and his Oscar-winning book-to-screen adaptation Oppenheimer. And the link goes beyond both of their titles beginning with an “O.” After hearing the late show host's explanation, I am having trouble looking at Odysseus’ voyage as a simple adventure home, because Stewart makes some great points.

Jon Stewart Breaks Down His Theory About The Odyssey And Oppenheimer

During Nolan’s appearance on The Daily Show, Stewart admitted that his comparison might sound “far afield” before arguing that The Odyssey feels like a thematic sequel to Oppenheimer. Rather than connecting the movies through genre or plot, he focused on two men carrying the psychological weight of events that changed the world around them. Nolan’s response made it clear that Stewart had not wandered off course.

Stewart said the part of Oppenheimer that stayed with him was the burden J. Robert Oppenheimer must have felt after seeing what his work had created. He then connected that guilt to Odysseus returning from the Trojan War:

Nolan joked about avoiding “3,000-year-old spoilers,” but he otherwise agreed with Stewart’s reading. The director said Stewart watched his 2026 calendar release the way he intended and explained that his adaptation treats the Trojan War and Odysseus’ role in it with real “weight” and “gravity.”

Additionally, Nolan confirmed that the Cillian Murphy-led historical drama remained on his mind while making The Odyssey. The celebrated director said he tries to leave each project with questions he can continue exploring, adding that he “definitely brought Oppenheimer into this movie.”

That may be the clearest explanation yet of why Nolan followed a historical drama about the atomic bomb with his interpretation of Homer’s mythic poem. On the surface, the projects appear to be at opposite ends of Nolan's illustrious filmography. Beneath the spectacle, both appear interested in what happens after a man participates in something too large and destructive to fully understand.

Why I Think Stewart Is Onto Something

The comparison works because Odysseus is often remembered for the exciting stops along his journey. There is the Cyclops, the Sirens, Circe and a sea full of angry gods. Those episodes can easily turn the story into a greatest-hits tour of Greek mythology.

Stewart’s reading puts the wounded man back at the center. Odysseus is not merely delayed on his way home but is a soldier returning from a decade-long war, carrying memories of violence, lost friends and decisions that destroyed a city. Even the famous Trojan Horse (which got the popcorn bucket treatment) becomes less of a clever trick and more of a weapon whose consequences follow its creator.

That sounds very Christopher Nolan. Oppenheimer spends much of its runtime examining what happens after intellectual achievement becomes mass destruction. The Odyssey can ask a similar question through myth: What happens to the warrior after the war ends, and he's left with regret, while the songs call him a hero?

I also like that this connection made by Jon Stewart gives Nolan’s film a reason to exist beyond its scale. Real ships, giant sets and an entire film shot with IMAX photography are exciting, but emotional fallout could keep the movie from becoming an expensive mythology slideshow.

The Odyssey opens in theaters July 17.

Spoilers for Christopher Nolan’s take on The Odyssey are ahead! You can see the movie in theaters now.

As I counted down the days to The Odyssey’s release on the 2026 movie schedule, and reactions started to come out, I was surprised to see the word “horror” thrown around. I know there are objectively horrific events in this story. However, I didn’t expect parts of Christopher Nolan’s book-to-screen adaptation to feel like a legit horror movie. However, after seeing it, I can confirm it is actually scary at times, and there’s one scene that really got me.

The Scene Where Circe Turned The Men Into Pigs Is Terrifying

I knew the men would be turned into pigs when they encountered Circe. I’m familiar with The Odyssey. I also watched the last season of Percy Jackson with a Disney+ subscription and saw the kids turn into guinea pigs. So, I’ve always seen and imagined this part of the story where Circe turns the men into pigs as magical and a bit silly. So, I was excited to see how Nolan adapted this chapter of the tale. What I didn’t expect was to feel like I was watching a body horror sequence.

Now, early reactions to The Odyssey made note of how Christopher Nolan “embraces horror” in this film, as Erik Davis wrote. While I didn’t doubt that, I also didn’t anticipate Circe’s sequence to feel like a scene that should be in an upcoming horror film.

From the jump, I was unsettled by her island. Then, when she got the men to start eating, and she started turning them into pigs by pulling at their faces, I was legitimately covering my eyes. It was so slow, visceral, painful, gory and torturous, and I loved it. I also adored Samantha Morton’s performance. She made it clear why Circe was doing this, and it was unsettling to see her walk around the table and literally manipulate the men into pigs in such a haunting way.

I appreciated how they didn’t shy away from how tortured Circe is and this painful transformation process. So, while I was actively horrified watching the scene and could barely look at the screen, I also loved that I felt that way.

There Are Plenty Of Other Scary Moments And Jump Scares

Circe’s island was not the only horror-esque moment in The Odyssey, though. The other big one came in Polyphemus’ cave. The tension that built as the men tried to escape reminded me of the jaw-clenching anticipation I feel while watching a slasher.

Meanwhile, there were also plenty of very effective jump scares that had me clutching my heart. For example, during the Scylla and Charybdis bit, when Scylla showed up, I didn’t just flinch; I also audibly gasped.

The way Nolan and his team play with tension, anticipation, and effects helps make these moments creepy, and the performances of the actors help hammer home the horror of these chapters that create Odysseus's journey home.

So, to see all this for yourself and to get a good scare, you can watch The Odyssey in theaters now.

Christopher Nolan's movies are known for their epic scope and brilliant storytelling, and The Odyssey looks like it's going to continue that legacy. The book-to-screen adaptation's cast is incredible, including both Zendaya and Tom Holland. The latter also spoke to his mentor Robert Downey Jr. before starting the movie, but also dropped some knowledge that came from Matt Damon.

What we know about The Odyssey has been fairly limited, although those who have read the source material know what to expect narratively. During an appearance on Today, Holland spoke about joining a Nolan movie for the first time, offering:

Honestly, this makes a ton of sense. While RDJ and Holland have a good mentor/mentee relationship, the Iron Man actor also worked with Christopher Nolan on Oppenheimer. In fact, that's the very project Downey won his Academy Award for. So it certainly seems like the 30-year-old actor spoke to the right person.

While Tom Holland didn't reveal what his Marvel co-star had to say about working with Christopher Nolan, RDJ wasn't the only person who helped him at the start of filming The Odyssey. In the same interview, he name-dropped two of his co-stars, saying:

Working with Christopher Nolan is a dream for many out there, and Tom Holland clearly took his gig at The Odyssey seriously. It sounds like Matt Damon was particularly helpful for him, especially when describing what each actor and crew member brought to the table. In the Uncharted actor's words:

That definitely sounds like an inspiring way to work. Indeed, all of the Odyssey actors have gushed about their experience working with Christopher Nolan and the way that all of the movie's contributors brought their A-game to the project. Lucky for moviegoers, the wait for this new epic blockbuster is finally over.

The Odyssey is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fans will be able to judge the movie for themselves, although The Odyssey's reviews were rather positive.