7 Most Epic Greek Mythology Movies & TV Shows to Watch Before ‘The Odyssey’

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Everyone expects The Odyssey to be a success, and Universal Studios is working hard to make sure it is. As a unique marketing strategy, they’re showing the first six minutes of the film before IMAX 70mm re-screenings of Sinners and One Battle After Another. This clever move is designed to build excitement and hopefully lead to record-breaking box office numbers for Christopher Nolan.

This movie is based on the classic Greek story of Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, the king of Ithaca. The film follows his difficult ten-year journey home after the Trojan War, as he struggles to return to his wife, Penelope (played by Anne Hathaway). The film also stars Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, and Jon Bernthal.

‘Electra’ (1962)


Lopert Pictures

The film Electra begins with the murder of King Agamemnon by his wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover, Aegisthus. Agamemnon’s daughter, Electra, is forced into marriage with a poor farmer to prevent her from claiming the throne. Driven by a desire for revenge, she begins plotting against those who killed her father, and a plan is put into action when her brother, Orestes, secretly returns home.

This lavish production of the classic play truly shines thanks to Irene Papas, a celebrated Greek actress who many believe deserved more recognition for her work. She masterfully portrays a character who is cold, calculating, and determined to get revenge. Yannis Fertis also delivers a strong performance as a character who is blissfully unaware of the tragedy about to unfold, and his carefully planned downfall is captivating to watch.

Electra premiered at the 1962 Cannes Film Festival, winning the award for Best Cinematic Adaptation. It also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. This film is the first in director Michael Cacoyannis’ series of Greek tragedies, followed by The Trojan Women and Iphigenia.

‘Blood of Zeus’ (2020 – 2025)


Netflix

Blood of Zeus is an animated series set in ancient Greece. It follows Heron, a young man who discovers he’s the demigod son of Zeus. When giants and demons threaten to overthrow Zeus, Heron steps up to defend the land, facing many challenges along the way.

Shows like this in the 1980s were known for lots of jokes and physical fights. But the creators of this series, brothers Charley and Vlas Parlapanides, use action sparingly. Luckily, the show makes up for it with great conversations and clever plotting. Interestingly, the character Heron is unique to this series (and who even needs Hercules?), but stories about similar demigods appear in many versions of Greek mythology.

It’s hard to find a more critically acclaimed show than this one. All three seasons received a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The writing by Charles and Vlas Parlapanides was recognized with a Writers Guild of America nomination, and composer Paul Edward-Francis earned an Annie Award nomination for his outstanding music.

‘Clash of the Titans’ (1981)


Warner Bros.

In the film Clash of the Titans, Perseus, the son of Zeus, is given a dangerous mission: to save the city of Argos and Princess Andromeda from the vengeful sea goddess Thetis, who is punishing Queen Cassiopeia for her pride. To do so, he must also overcome a seemingly impossible challenge – defeating the monstrous Medusa and bringing back her head. Will Perseus succeed?

If you enjoy exciting, well-made adventure stories full of courage and trickery, definitely check out Clash of the Titans. The movie also features surprisingly good dialogue, and there’s an interesting story behind it: Orion Pictures wouldn’t fund the film unless Charles H. Schneer, the producer, cast Arnold Schwarzenegger as the main character. Schneer disagreed, believing Schwarzenegger couldn’t deliver the character’s complex lines effectively.

Despite the film’s challenges, Harry Hamlin’s performance as Perseus became well-known and defined much of his career. He even reprised the role by voicing the character in the video game God of War II. The story continued beyond the original movie, with a novelization by Alan Dean Foster published in 1981 and a four-issue comic book series, Wrath of the Titans, released in 2007, set five years after the film’s events. However, it’s best to avoid the 2010 remake starring Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson.

‘The Odyssey’ (1997)


NBC

Christopher Nolan’s new film is the eleventh retelling of Homer’s classic story. He’ll face a challenge surpassing earlier versions, particularly the 1997 TV miniseries The Odyssey, which featured a memorable performance by Armand Assante as Odysseus.

Though many remember Robert Assante for his iconic portrayal of John Gotti – a role that proved difficult for John Travolta to follow – he also delivers a powerful performance in this miniseries. The cast as a whole is strong, featuring actors with a variety of impressive qualities, from physical stature to distinctive voices.

Honestly, this show wouldn’t be what it is without the amazing direction of Andrei Konchalovsky – he really deserved that Emmy! While the visuals aren’t quite on the level of what we expect from Christopher Nolan’s next film, I think everyone should check this ’90s show out. It’ll give you a solid understanding of the story before the big blockbuster hits in summer 2026, and I think that’ll make the experience even better.

‘Troy’ (2004)


Warner Bros.

I recently watched the movie Troy, and it really drew inspiration from Homer’s The Iliad. The story kicks off when Menelaus, played by Brendan Gleeson, and his brother Agamemnon, portrayed by Brian Cox, decide to invade Troy after Helen, the Queen of Sparta and Menelaus’ wife, is taken by Paris. Leading the Greek forces, including a powerful group called the Myrmidons, is the incredible warrior Achilles, played by Brad Pitt.

The visually stunning film Troy, nominated for an Academy Award for Costume Design, feels like a firsthand recording of the Trojan War. It’s a feast for the eyes and the intellect, as director Wolfgang Petersen explores the classic conflict between survival and doing what’s right. Watching Achilles change and grow, both as a warrior and a person, is captivating, and Brad Pitt delivers a powerful performance, even with some shortcomings in the screenplay.

There’s a director’s cut of the film available, but many believe the original version is better. Warner Home Video spent over $1 million on this extended cut, which adds nearly 30 minutes of footage, bringing the total runtime to 196 minutes – significantly longer than the 163-minute theatrical release.

‘Xena Warrior Princess’ (1995 – 2001)


Universal Television

Originally a spin-off of the series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess centers on Xena (Lucy Lawless), a skilled warrior seeking to atone for her past misdeeds. Accompanied by her steadfast friend Gabrielle (Renée O’Connor), she travels the land, battling injustice and defeating villains.

This thrilling series is well-written, thanks in part to Terence Winter, and features a fantastic cast including Karl Urban and Bruce Campbell. What makes it especially compelling is its unique mix of history and mythology. The show creates a fascinating world where different religions can coexist, like the Greek and Norse gods living side-by-side.

Despite being a spin-off, Xena: Warrior Princess, created by Sam Raimi, actually surpassed the popularity of the show it came from. By its second season, it became the highest-rated drama in syndicated television in the US, and stayed among the top five shows for its entire six-season run.

300’ (2006)


Warner Bros.

Zack Snyder faced some challenges in the 2010s and 2020s, but he achieved significant success in the 2000s, largely due to the movie 300. This epic action film offers a dramatic, though not entirely accurate, depiction of the Battle of Thermopylae, a key conflict in the Greco-Persian Wars. The story centers on King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and his brave band of 300 Spartan warriors who face off against the powerful Persian King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and an enormous army of 300,000 soldiers. It’s an unbelievable situation, isn’t it?

Based on Frank Miller’s 1998 comic book, the story is wonderfully over-the-top, and that’s part of what makes the movie so enjoyable. However, the real strength of 300 is its stunning visual effects. It’s one of the most visually impressive films ever made, especially considering almost all of it was shot indoors on a soundstage. And you’ll be hard-pressed to find an actor with a more sculpted physique than Gerard Butler in this movie!

The movie’s success is likely due to director Zack Snyder closely following the original comic book, much like the film Sin City. Snyder has often been criticized for weak scripts, but by staying true to the source material, he avoids those issues this time. Maybe adapting more comics could be a good strategy for him.

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2025-12-16 15:41