‘The Odyssey’ full movie leaked online; Millions watch pirated copy before it’s removed

Christopher Nolan's ‘The Odyssey’ has become the latest big-budget Hollywood release to be hit by piracy after a high-quality version of the film was illegally uploaded online while it continues its successful theatrical run.

The leaked copy spread rapidly across social media before being removed, raising fresh concerns about copyright protection in the digital age.

The full-length film, which runs for 2 hours and 53 minutes, appeared on an anonymous account on X on July 25. According to reports, the account shared a direct link to the movie, allowing users to watch it online before it was taken down. By the time the post was removed and the account suspended, it had already attracted nearly 2.1 million views.

The incident prompted a swift response from Universal Pictures, which confirmed that it immediately began efforts to remove the unauthorised upload from the platform.

In a statement to Deadline, the studio said, "We became aware of the unauthorised posting of the film and immediately initiated takedown protocols. We take copyright infringement seriously and will pursue all appropriate remedies to protect our content and intellectual property rights."

The studio, however, has not disclosed whether it intends to take legal action against the person or group responsible for leaking the film.

Rickroll prank floods social media

As news of the leak spread, social media was flooded with posts claiming to offer access to the pirated copy. While some users attempted to share the film, others turned the situation into an internet prank.

Several videos appeared to begin with ‘The Odyssey's’ opening moments and studio logos, only to abruptly switch to Rick Astley's 1987 hit Never Gonna Give You Up. The bait-and-switch tactic, commonly known as a Rickroll, fooled many users expecting to watch the leaked film.

Despite the piracy setback, ‘The Odyssey’ continues to perform strongly in cinemas around the world. The film, which was shot entirely using IMAX cameras, has continued to attract audiences and remains one of the biggest theatrical releases of the year.

In recent years, several blockbuster releases have surfaced illegally online through social media platforms and file-sharing websites. Titles such as ‘Barbie’, ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’, and ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ have all been affected by leaks, with full or partial copies appearing online before studios managed to remove them.