Fez — Anyone waiting to watch Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” from the couch now has a date.
The blockbuster will become available to rent or purchase digitally on November 17, exactly four months after its July 17 theatrical debut, Variety reported on August 21.
A 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray edition is also scheduled to arrive on the same day. The date gives “The Odyssey” a 123-day exclusive theatrical window, considerably longer than the turnaround now common for major studio releases.
There is one important distinction for viewers. November 17 is the film’s digital rental and purchase date. A subscription streaming release, where viewers could watch it as part of a service such as Peacock, has not yet been officially announced.
Universal Pictures still lists the movie as playing in theaters, while reports on the November home release have not identified a subscription streaming date.
Nolan is keeping the long theatrical window
The strategy closely resembles Nolan’s approach to “Oppenheimer.”
That film spent 123 days in theaters before reaching digital platforms and physical media in November 2023. “The Odyssey” is following almost exactly the same timeline.
The lengthy window is especially notable because Nolan has remained one of Hollywood’s strongest advocates for theatrical viewing. Universal describes “The Odyssey” as the first adaptation of Homer’s epic brought to screens using newly developed IMAX film technology.
Audiences appear to have rewarded that approach.
“The Odyssey” has earned approximately $1.35 billion (MAD 12.5 billion) worldwide, making it Nolan’s highest-grossing film and the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever. It recently passed the $1.338 billion (MAD 12.2 billion) total of “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
IMAX alone has reportedly contributed around $257 million (MAD 2.3 billion) to the film’s global haul, making “The Odyssey” the format company’s biggest release to date.
From Morocco to the home screen
The nearly three-hour epic stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek king attempting to return to Ithaca after the Trojan War.
Tom Holland plays his son Telemachus, while Anne Hathaway portrays Penelope. The ensemble also includes Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, and Charlize Theron.
The production also carries a significant Moroccan connection. Nolan filmed portions of the movie in Morocco, using locations including Aït Benhaddou as part of his recreation of the ancient Mediterranean world.
For audiences who skipped the theatrical run, November 17 will therefore mark the first opportunity to legally watch “The Odyssey” at home. Those waiting for it to simply appear inside an existing streaming subscription will have to wait a little longer.
