Emily Wilson Slams Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” While the Film Dominates Box Offices

Christopher Nolan cited Emily Wilson’s 2017 translation of *The Odyssey* as an influence while promoting his new blockbuster, *The Odyssey*. She concluded that none of the characters possess convincing motivation and described the narrative structure as “gimmicky.”

Variety Magazine

Wilson’s criticism focuses on several elements: the film’s failure to address themes of time, memory, history, war, and the warrior’s return; the absence of meaningful character development; and the superficial treatment of the source material. She also noted technical shortcomings, such as the lack of sex scenes and unappealing food depictions. Despite these points, Wilson acknowledged that the movie is generating renewed public interest in Homer’s epic.

Variety Magazine

Audience response diverges sharply from Wilson’s assessment. The film earned an “A” CinemaScore during its opening weekend and became one of the year’s biggest blockbusters. In its second weekend, domestic earnings reached $90 million, and the movie continues to play in theaters nationwide.

Variety Magazine

She also observed that translations of *The Odyssey*, including her own, are experiencing strong sales, indicating a broader cultural resurgence tied to the movie’s release.

Variety Magazine

• “The release of ‘The Odyssey’ is still an event to celebrate,” — Emily Wilson

Variety Magazine