The Odyssey

The upcoming box office engagement between Christopher Nolan’sThe Odysseyand Denis Villeneuve’sDune : Part Threeis going to be a true cinematic event in 2026 . While closely half a twelvemonth disunite their release dates , withThe Odysseyreleasing on July 17 , 2026 , andDune : Part Threecoming out on December 16 , 2026 , both films are set up to be the cock-a-hoop of the yr , even if they wo n’t be square off head - to - head like2023 ’s historicBarbenheimershowdown . With Nolan still riding high off his Best Picture winnerOppenheimerand Villeneuve at the peak of his vocation , their 2026 spill should be monumental .

People compare Nolan and Villeneuve a slew , found on their love of film , the heroic scurf of their picture , and subordination of the filmmaking trade , so this will be an interesting comparison to see in 2026.The Odysseywill conform the Graeco-Roman Greek epical poemby Homer , which is one of humankind ’s oldest report . Dune : Part Threewill in reality accommodate the 2nd bookof Frank Herbert’sDuneseries , Dune : Messiah , and will be a verbatim subsequence to the Oscar - winningDune : Part Two . The OdysseyandDune : Part Threewill almost certainly cause some 2026 awards time of year bombilation , setting them up to vie at the box office and the Academy Awards .

2026 Features A Big Movie Battle Between Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey & Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 3

Both Should Earn Awards Season Buzz & Be Top Performers At The Box Office

The OdysseyandDune : Part Threewill both feature film performances by Zendaya and Robert Pattinson , setting up massive yr for them as well . Since Nolan and Villeneuve are considered two innovative masters of auteur film , there will be inevitable comparisons betweenThe OdysseyandDune 3 , even though they will not be released at the same time .

For Nolan , it does n’t get much full-grown than adapting an incredibly influential work likeThe Odyssey .

The Odysseyis poised to be a true cinematic feat on the level of Nolan ’s recent and classic works , stray from his iconicDark Knighttrilogy to his original filmsInceptionandInterstellar , and his diachronic heroic poem likeDunkirkandOppenheimer . For Nolan , it does n’t get much bigger than accommodate an incredibly influential work likeThe Odyssey .

Nolan’s The Odyssey Placeholder Poster

As forDune : Part Three , will should carry the momentum and critical acclamation ofDune : Part Twoon its back , its sacking is just as big , if not gravid , thanThe Odyssey . Nolan himself calledDune : Part TwoVilleneuve ’s own version ofEmpire Strikes Back , which total even more pressure to ensure thatDune : Part Threewon’t terminate up like the less favorableReturn of the Jedi . Dune has long been considered to be a hard Holy Scripture to accommodate for the screen door , as evidenced by the late David Lynch ’s attack in 1984 . Villeneuve , however , defied the odds with his impressive rendition in 2021 before making one of the good sci - fi moving picture ever withDune : Part Twolast year .

The Odyssey Or Dune 3 - Which Movie Will Be Bigger At The Box Office?

Nolan Has the Edge In Box Office Appeal

Both of theDunemovies have been critically acclaimed , receiving Rotten Tomatoes scores of 83 % and 92 % , respectively . That said , their box role performances have n’t needfully reflect their quality . 2021’sDunesuffered from pandemic - stricken box offices but still take out in more than $ 410 million . sand dune : Part Twobecame the 7th highest - gross motion picture of 2024 , earning just under $ 715 million worldwide . Although some people would callDune : Part Twothe best film of 2024 , even better than Best Picture winnerAnora , the box office and Academy Awards still seemed to devalue it to a degree .

This 28 - twelvemonth - old adjustment of The Odyssey is both my favorite and perfect for those waiting on Christopher Nolan ’s adaptation of Homer ’s famous epos .

The name Christopher Nolan has tremendous loge post appeal , similar to Quentin Tarantino , David Fincher , and Martin Scorsese . That alone should fill bum whenThe Odysseyreleases next summer , although it would have to be just as expert , if not better , than Oppenheimer to achieve its $ 976 million corner office total .

The Odyssey vs Dune 3, Nolan vs Villeneuve In 2026

Custom Image by Simone Ashmoore

Nolan has lead five movies that grossed more than $ 700 million , whereas Villeneuve has only mastermind one .

TheDunefranchise is still somewhat ecological niche despite being one of the giving blockbusters of 2024 , whileNolan could address a movie about just about anything and the great unwashed will still go to see it . to boot , Nolan has directed five movies that grossed more than $ 700 million , whereas Villeneuve has only direct one .

Why I’m More Excited For Dune: Part Three

Villeneuve Could Make The Best Sci-Fi Trilogy Of All Time

The Odysseywill doubtless be great , as with every Nolan film . The only real question is how large it will be . He ’s adapting a tale as quondam as time and one of the few Greek stories that actually have a happy termination . It ’s epic but predictable in its telling of a classic hero sandwich ’s journey . sand dune : Part Three , however , features Paul Atreides , who was a wedge in the first two film , in a unexampled , darker light , painting him more as a complex anti - fighter .

sand dune : Messiahis even harder to adjust than the originalDune , which bring to the suspense of whetherDune 3will be a masterpiece or a dud .

Dune 3should see and feel more modern , andVilleneuve is on the brink of make a sci - fi trilogy masterpiecethat could somewhat outflank the originalStar Wars . sand dune : Messiahis even hard to adjust than the originalDune , which impart to the suspense of whetherDune 3will be a chef-d’oeuvre or a miss .

Matt Damon as Odysseus in The Odyssey

Custom image by Max Ruscinski

Cast

An edited image of Paul from Dune: Part Two next to a sandworm

Custom image by Max Ruscinski

Matt Damon in the Odyssey

Headshot Of Matt Damon In The 74th Berlin International Film

Headshot Of Tom Holland In The 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards

Headshot Of Robert Pattinson In The Dior Homme Menswear Spring/Summer 2025 show

Headshot Of Anne Hathaway In The 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards

Dune 2021 Poster

Headshot Of Timothée Chalamet

Headshot Of Zendaya In The Los Angeles Premiere Of Amazon MGM Studios' ‘Challengers’

Movies

The Odyssey

Dune: Part Three