'No Greeks were actually used in the making of this film': Fans troll ‘The Odyssey’ trailer

If you've been scrolling through X or Reddit today, chances are you've come across someone talking about ‘The Odyssey’. 

The first full trailer for The Odyssey has become one of the most debated movie trailers of the year, with social media flooded by criticism over everything from the casting and costumes to the dialogue and visual style.

Adding fuel to the discussion, estimates from third-party browser extensions suggest the trailer has picked up far more dislikes than many expected.

Since YouTube no longer displays dislike counts publicly, these figures cannot be verified through the platform itself.

So, why are fans unhappy?

A quick scroll through X, Reddit and YouTube comments shows that many viewers expected a more traditional take on Homer's legendary tale.

Instead, some felt Nolan's version looked too modern for an ancient Greek epic. Others questioned whether the costumes, armour and production design reflected Greek history, while a section of viewers criticised some of the casting choices.

The dialogue has also become a major talking point. Several fans felt the conversations sounded too contemporary rather than fitting the tone of a mythological story that dates back thousands of years.

Social media reactions are brutal

The criticism has been loud, with some viewers holding nothing back.

“There should be a disclaimer in the opening credits stating, "No Greeks were actually used or considered in the making of this film,” wrote one user.

"Dear Hollywood. If you have a problem with John Wayne playing Genghis Khan of MONGOLIA… But not with Lupita playing Helen of TROY… I got news for you. You are racists," said one user.

Another commented, "What is this hot garbage? Everyone seems miscast and nobody looks Greek. The armor is like some pseudo-hi tech medieval cosplay. Troy is like Babylon. The Trojan Horse is like a Temu 'Year of the Fire Horse'. The nature, light and ambience look like Iceland in February. WTF??"

A different viewer criticised the writing, saying, "This looks like modern crap and terrible writing portraying as an Epic, it doesn't have any heart or soul to it. Feels off. 'You're pining for a daddy, you didn't even know'? 'My Dad is coming home'? What a terrible fucking lines for a Greek epic. That's modern day BS."

Another user focused on the costumes, writing: "armor looks like it was made by a 5 year old w paper machet, a greek soldier looks hindu lmao. what utter dogshit."

Some reactions were shorter but equally blunt.

"What an insult to Greek culture!"

"I'm so tired of the constant race swapping of established main characters."

Despite the backlash, the trailer has also found plenty of supporters.

Many fans believe it is far too early to judge the film from a few minutes of footage. Others have praised Nolan's large-scale practical filmmaking, the IMAX cinematography and his decision to offer a fresh interpretation rather than recreate earlier versions of ‘The Odyssey’.

Several users also pushed back against some of the criticism online, arguing that historical epics have always taken creative liberties and that the film should ultimately be judged when it reaches cinemas.

What's the film about?

Based on Homer's ancient Greek poem, ‘The Odyssey’ follows Odysseus as he attempts to make his way back home after the Trojan War. His journey is anything but simple, taking him through dangerous islands, mythical creatures and impossible challenges that test both his courage and determination.

Christopher Nolan has described the project as one of his biggest filmmaking challenges. The film has also made history by becoming the first commercial feature to be shot entirely using full-frame IMAX film cameras.

Who stars in The Odyssey?

The film boasts one of the biggest ensemble casts of the year.

Matt Damon leads the story as Odysseus, alongside Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Mia Goth, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie and Elliot Page.

The film is set to arrive in cinemas worldwide on 17 July 2026.