5 Adaptations of 'The Odyssey,' Ranked By Rotten Tomatoes

Key Points:

• Homer's The Odyssey, a foundational Western literary text and archetypal hero’s journey, continues to inspire adaptations, including a 2026 star-studded film directed by Christopher Nolan.
• The Odyssey has historically been challenging to adapt due to its complex narrative, extensive timeline, and intricate characters, resulting in varied critical reception for screen versions.
• Notable adaptations with relatively high Rotten Tomatoes scores include the faithful 1997 TV miniseries (79%), the satirical 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou? (78%), and the 2024 psychological drama The Return (78%).
• Experimental interpretations like the 2011 film Keyhole (70%) received praise for surrealism but faced criticism for being overly opaque, while Troy: The Odyssey (2017) was poorly received, earning only 44% from audiences.
• These adaptations range from faithful retellings to loose inspirations, with some emphasizing psychological and family dynamics over fantasy elements traditionally associated with The Odyssey.