The Odyssey’s – Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is officially his most expensive movie in 14 years, with a $250 million budget and a 2:52 runtime. The film, starring Matt Damon and Tom Holland alongside Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, and more, is set
The clock is ticking toward July 17, 2026, and Christopher Nolan’s next move already feels like a high-stakes bet: The Odyssey is set to open with a budget of $250 million, making it Nolan’s most expensive film since The Dark Knight Rises in 2012.
This is the kind of spend that changes how every decision gets measured—casting, scale, and expectations. The Odyssey is also positioned as a serious summer player, even with the season already underway. Masters of the Universe is kicking things off this weekend. while The Mandalorian and Grogu haven’t exactly launched the summer blockbuster season the way Disney would have liked.
Nolan, meanwhile, is returning to sci-fi in a way that feels built for attention. Steven Spielberg is also set to return to the world of sci-fi for his next epic, Disclosure Day, which stars Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor—adding another layer of competition around the same moviegoing calendar.
The Odyssey’s lead figure is Matt Damon, who has been promoted to the lead figure after starring in a key supporting role in Oppenheimer. Damon will be joined by Chris Nolan newcomer Tom Holland.
Holland’s involvement is already bringing box-office momentum into the conversation. The film notes that between his work in The Odyssey and Brand New Day. Holland could add another $2 billion to his already impressive box office total. And while Spider-Man: Brand New Day may yet finish with the highest box office total. The Odyssey is “guaranteed to turn heads. ” with fans debating for days which 2026 summer release will come out on top.
There’s also the matter of length. The Odyssey has a runtime of 2:52, which places it among the longest movies of Nolan’s career—behind the three-hour epic, Oppenheimer.
The budget is what ties all those details together: $250 million leaves The Odyssey with a break-even point of just over $500 million. After Oppenheimer fell just short of $1 billion. there’s no reason given to doubt Nolan right now—especially with this being his biggest financial leap in more than a decade.
Nolan has assembled the kind of cast that makes the scale feel immediate, not theoretical. In addition to Matt Damon and Tom Holland. the film’s father-son duo roles of Odysseus and Telemachus are also tied to a roster of major stars. Anne Hathaway stars as Penelope. Robert Pattinson plays Antinous. and Lupita Nyong’o appears in dual roles as both Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra. Zendaya is set as Athena, and Charlize Theron takes on Calypso.
The list extends beyond the headline names, with Jon Bernthal, Mia Goth, Elliot Page, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Ryan Hurst, Himesh Patel, James Remar, and Bill Irwin also tapped for roles in the film. The Odyssey is adapted from the famous fictional story by Homer.
Homer’s ancient tale is arriving with modern weight—an $250 million budget, a nearly three-hour runtime, and a release date of July 17, 2026—while Nolan steps back into the spotlight after the sweeping Oscars moment for Oppenheimer, where he worked writing and directing the 2023 film.
The Odyssey Christopher Nolan Matt Damon Tom Holland Anne Hathaway Zendaya Charlize Theron Lupita Nyong’o runtime budget July 17 2026 Oppenheimer
250 million?? Nolan really out here lighting money on fire lol. I’ll still watch though.
Wait is this the one with Tom Holland and Matt Damon? I thought Nolan already made sci-fi like a bunch of times. Also July 17 2026 feels so random like why not sooner.
2 billion?? That sounds like a typo or something. Tom Holland doesn’t add $2B just from being in a movie, that’s not how math works. But hey, I guess if they got Zendaya in it then people will show up. Unless it’s like The Mandalorian where nobody cares until later.
I’m confused because the article keeps saying July 17 then “the clock is ticking” but also talks about Masters of the Universe already starting?? So is The Odyssey dropping this year or next? And competing with Spielberg’s Disclosure Day… why are they stacking movies like every summer is just one big mess now.