Homer’s The Odyssey is the tale of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his epic ten-year journey home after the fall of Troy, where he faces vengeful gods, sea monsters and treacherous mythical lands. It is one of the cornerstones of Western literature. The cinematic adaptation of The Odyssey by Christopher Nolan has sparked a new interest in Greek mythology on the big screen and reintroduced this ancient myth to the forefront of pop culture. Cinema has been inspired by these timeless tales for centuries – from tragic heroes, to divine interventions, to terrifying beasts.
If you want to dive deeper into the world of ancient legends and gods, here are five great Greek mythology movies to watch after The Odyssey.
Immortals (2011)
Immortals is directed by Tarsem Singh, who also directed The Fall, and stars Henry Cavill as Theseus, a mortal chosen by Zeus (Luke Evans) to lead the fight against the merciless King Hyperion. Hyperion’s purpose is to find the lost Bow of Epirus, free the imprisoned Titans, and overthrow Olympus. The film opts for visual spectacle, stylized slow-motion action and stylized set pieces over strict mythological accuracy. This is a visually beautiful entry in modern mythological cinema because of its bold, violent and over-the-top dark fantasy style.
The film also offers a fascinating look at the tenuous bond between man and god. The action scenes are also a treat. The Gods can not interfere directly in the affairs of mortals and are forced to stand by and watch as mortals destroy themselves. There are strict laws against this. This tension is the stuff of good stories, like The Odyssey, where the whims and interventions of the gods keep changing the fates of men.
Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
This is a seminal classic of the genre, telling the story of the hero Jason leading a crew of legendary fighters aboard the ship Argo to the Golden Fleece and reclaiming his rightful throne. The story captures the spirit of classic hero quests, but the movie is best known for the legendary stop-motion visual effects of Ray Harryhausen. From the iconic battle against skeleton warriors to the battle against a giant bronze statue (Talos) and a multi-headed Hydra, Jason and the Argonauts remains a landmark achievement in creature feature cinema.
The episodic structure of the film follows the narrative rhythm of Homer’s epics, as the crew is transported from magical island to magical island. Jason’s journey thru island traps, hostile creatures and divine meddling makes for a perfect warm-up act or companion piece to Odysseus’s famously arduous sea voyage across the uncharted Mediterranean.
Troy (2004)
Troy is directed by Wolfgang Petersen as an account of the ten-year siege of Troy sparked by the love affair between Paris of Troy and Helen of Sparta, as told in Homer’s The Iliad. Brad Pitt is the legendary warrior Achilles. The film takes the myth and puts it within the framework of historical realism, minimizing divine intervention and emphasizing political ambition, human warfare and tragic destiny. Troy is the direct prequel to Odysseus’s journey home, as it opens immediately after the end of the Trojan War.
In the film, Sean Bean plays Odysseus, giving viewers a direct link with the character on the big screen before he sets off on his long journey home. Bean really gets the strategic mind, the diplomacy, the cunning of the Ithaca king, especially in the way he puts together the famous Trojan Horse strategy that ends the war at last.
Clash of the Titans (2010 / 1981)
Clash of the Titans is the ancient legend of the demigod Perseus, the mortal son of Zeus, who is sent on a dangerous quest to save Princess Andromeda. To do this Perseus must kill the snake-haired Gorgon Medusa and defeat the terrifying sea monster the Kraken. Both the 1981 original (with Ray Harryhausen’s final stop-motion masterpiece) and the 2010 remake (noted for its CGI action and blockbuster scale) underscore the classic hero-versus-monster adventure tradition.
The story distinguishes itself from typical Greek myth retellings by focusing on human defiance of godly tyranny. Perseus is not a pawn for the gods, but must rely on his own courage, resourcefulness and human allies. This theme of man’s persistence against the supernatural threat is a direct reflection of Odysseus’s relentless will to withstand Poseidon’s wrath.
Iphigenia (1977)
Greek cinematic drama directed by Michael Cacoyannis, retelling Euripides’ tragedy about the sinister events that preceded the Trojan War. When the goddess Artemis calms the winds, trapping King Agamemnon’s fleet, he is faced with a terrible choice: to abandon the campaign for Troy, or sacrifice his eldest daughter, Iphigenia. It’s all about psychological tension, grief and the terrible human toll of divine demands, without any heavy special effects or action spectacle.
By centering its narrative around the raw emotion and historical authenticity, Iphigenia serves as a sobering reminder of the moral ambivalence that pervades Greek mythology. It explores the heavy emotional toll weighing on Odysseus during his painful homeward voyage, that the glory of heroic quests is often based on tragic, irreparable loss.
Whether you’re into gritty war epics, old-school stop-motion monsters, modern action fantasy or intense psychological drama, these five movies display the amazing range and timeless appeal of Greek mythology on the big screen.