Matt Damon in “The Odyssey.”
Universal Pictures/Melissa Sue Gordon
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is new in theaters this weekend, and that’s where it will likely stay for quite a while before it debuts on digital streaming.
Directed by Nolan from his adaptation of Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey began playing in preview screenings on Thursday before opening in theaters everywhere on Friday. Clocking in at 2 hours and 52 minutes, The Odyssey stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca. Emerging victorious from the Trojan War, Odysseus embarks on a harrowing, years-long trek home to reunite with Queen Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and their son, Prince Telemachus (Tom Holland).
Threatening Ithica, however, are a large number of suitors who are courting Penelope, who are operating on the assumption that Odysseus is dead. Among them is the conniving Antinous (Robert Pattinson), who has no qualms about the extreme measures he needs to take to marry the queen and assume power over Ithaca.
The Odyssey’s massive ensemble cast includes Zendaya as Athena, Charlize Theron as Calypso, John Leguizamo as Eumaeus, Samantha Morton as Circe, Benny Safdie as Agamemnon, Jon Bernthal as Menelaus, Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy and her twin sister Clytemnestra of Mycenae, Himesh Patel as Eurylochus, Mia Goth as Melantho, Corey Hawkins as Polybus, Elliot Page as Sinon and Bill Irwin as the one-eyed giant Cyclops.
The Odyssey is a Universal Pictures release, and most of the studio’s film releases will play in theaters for a minimum of five weekends (or about 31 to 32 days) before they are released on digital streaming via premium video on demand. In 2027, Universal is broadening that window to seven weekends, which equates to about a 45-day theatrical window before the studio’s films arrive on PVOD.
However, Nolan — like Avatar director James Cameron — has a tremendous amount of clout in Hollywood. As such, he can dictate how long his films’ theatrical-to-PVOD windows will be because he is a major proponent of the theatrical experience. As a result, fans who want to watch Nolan’s films at home are usually in for a much longer wait before they arrive to purchase or rent on premium video on demand.
Look For ‘The Odyssey’ To Follow The Same PVOD Release Strategy As ‘Oppenheimer’
The Odyssey marks Christopher Nolan’s first film since the release of the big-screen biopic Oppenheimer, which was released in theaters in July 2023.
Not only was Oppenheimer a blockbuster release in theaters — it earned $330 million domestically and $646.7 million internationally for a worldwide box office tally of $976.7 million — it was nominated for 13 Oscars and won seven. In addition to winning Oscars for Best Picture and Best Directing for Nolan, Oppenheimer won statuettes for Cillian Murphy for Best Actor and Robert Downey Jr. for Best Supporting Actor.
Whether The Odyssey will have as big a showing at the Oscars as Oppenheimer is yet to be determined, but in all likelihood Nolan’s new big screen epic will follow the same PVOD strategy as his film predecessor.
Oppenheimer, which was again was released on July 21, 2023, took exactly four months (123 days, to be exact) before it was released on PVOD on Nov. 21, 2023. Should The Odyssey follow the same release strategy, then viewers can expect the film to arrive on PVOD on Tuesday, Nov. 17, exactly four months — or 123 days — following its July 17 theatrical release.
When The Odyssey arrives on PVOD, it will be available on such digital platforms as Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Prime Video and YouTube Movies & TV for anywhere from $19.99 to $29.99 to purchase or $14.99 to $24.99 to rent for a 48-hour period.
Matt Damon in “The Odyssey.”
Universal Pictures/Melissa Sue Gordon
‘The Odyssey’ Will Debut On SVOD On Peacock Will Also Take Longer Than The Norm
Since The Odyssey is a Universal Pictures release, NBC Universal’s Peacock subscription platform will have the film’s first Pay-1 window.
Normally, Universal’s films arrive on streaming video on demand on Peacock about a month after they make their debut on premium video on demand. But again, since Christopher Nolan’s films don’t follow the streaming release strategy that most other Universal films do, Peacock subscribers are in for a longer wait than usual before the film makes its SVOD on the platform.
As such, look for The Odyssey’s to follow Oppenheimer’s lead and have nearly a three-month window before it arrives on Peacock. Again, Oppenheimer made its PVOD debut on Nov. 21, 2023, but it didn’t arrive on Peacock until 87 days later, on Feb. 16, 2024.
Should The Odyssey follow the same SVOD release strategy, viewers can expect the film to debut on Peacock on Friday, Feb. 12, 2027, or 87 days after its PVOD release.
Rated R, The Odyssey is new in theaters everywhere.
