Tripwire Looks At Ten Other Adaptations Of the Odyssey…

Long Journeys

At the time of writing Chrisopher Nolan’s epic adaptation of The Odyssey is expected to generate more than a billion dollars in tickets sales internationally. In an era of dwindling big budget Hollywood successes this can only be seen as welcome news for the film industry.

Regardless, Tripwire’s contributing writer Paul N Neal thought it might be a fun and interesting opportunity look back and consider some of the other adaptations of Homer’s 2700-year-old poem.

Tripwire accepts this top ten may be open to debate. Constructive debate is always welcomed, and comments are actively encouraged.

Will you join us for the journey to number 1?…
10. Troy (2004)

Directed by accomplished director Wolfgang Petersen, Troy barely makes this top ten. Regardless of the countless memes on social media Troy actually adapts Homer’s The Iliad as opposed to The Odyssey. It does however feature the eponymous Trojan Horse. It qualifies on this list simply for featuring Sean Bean as Odysseus for a brief portion of the film and it is actually an enjoyable swords and sandals romp.

TRIPWIRE JUDGEMENT: Wonderfully directed, some cool fight scenes. The soundtrack was okay. It is not really the Odyssey! Not really. Yet some elements overlap, we’ll allow it.

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9. The Odyssey (1987)

The 1987 animated Australian adaptation may be the only a semi-accurate kids friendly approach to Homer’s original text. It is far from perfect, but it is noteworthy for endeavouring to be educational for a younger audience. Since 2002 it has been available to download via Apple TV and Amazon Prime in most regions.

TRIPWIRE JUDGEMENT: It is educational for young minds. What is not to love?

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8. SpongeBob SquarePants The Movie (2004)

Okay…  it sounds bonkers, but it honestly isn’t when you think about it.

The plot is just like The Odyssey. SpongeBob, like Odysseus, embarks on a crazy journey, and there are many challenges reminiscent of mythological challenges, such as manipulative sirens (an ice cream vendor) and a cyclops-like antagonist (a deep-sea diver) and more examples like this. A lot of intelligent film fans argue it counts. Plus, the voice cast and live action David Hasselhoff make it very, very funny.

TRIPWIRE JUDGEMENT: Utterly daft, but a lot of silly fun, and yeah, granted, “There are an unusual number of similarities.”

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7. Ulysses 31 (1981)

Tripwire’s countdown would not be complete without this much-loved animated curiosity. For a certain generation Ulysses 31 represents a fond dose of nostalgia of the after-school cartoons that were popular in the 1980s. The core plot is all there. Ulysses’ ship is named The Odyssey. All the monsters are present and correct and all the titular hero requires is to return to Planet Earth and his wife Penelope. It is a freakishly good adaptation, apart from the fact it was set is the 31^st century in the middle of the cosmos.

TRIPWIRE JUDGEMENT: Massive points for nostalgia alone, and anyone old enough will always remember the soaring opening theme tune and animation.

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6. The Simpsons (Season 13 – Episode 14)

“Tales from the public Domain” (2002)

It was always inevitable that the writers of the cultural juggernaut The Simpsons would adapt The Odyssey in their own inimitable way. Homer is arguably the most famous character from the series. The name alone demanded the writers went for it.

Quite predictably Homer is cast as Odysseus, Marge is cast as Penelope and her sisters Patty and Selma are the sirens. There is a great deal of other creativity on display, but It is likely best seen to be believed. The episode is available on Disney Plus.

TRIPWIRE JUDGEMENT: It is the Simpsons. If you buy into the madness it is rather fun.

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5. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Many film aficionados will argue that Stanley Kubrick’s seminal science fiction masterpiece is the greatest adaptation Homer’s epic poem. Certainly, it involves a lengthy journey. The malfunctioning red eye of Hal 9000 the onboard computer mirrors the challenge of the cyclops. Astronaut Dave Bowman returns transformed after his long journey. The blackness of space echoes the idea of the unending Greek seas, and of course it is titled a Space ODYSSEY.

TRIPWIRE JUDGEMENT: 2001 is arguably one of the most significant and historically important films ever made. It has ODYSSEY there on the poster. It must be inspired by the classic tale.

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4. The Odyssey (1997 Miniseries)

Airing in two parts and co-funded by no less than director Francis Ford Coppola this American NBC production should not be discounted. The cast included luminaries such Armand Assante, Isabella Rosselini and Christopher Lee. Plus, Eric Roberts.

The production won numerous awards and gaining very respectable viewing figures at the time. DVD copies can be found on eBay. It is honestly not as bad as it sounds.

TRIPWIRE JUDGEMENT: It may be a product of its time, but it actually stands up remarkably well in 2026.

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3. O Brother Where Art Thou (2000)

The Coen Brothers satirical musical comedy absolutely deserves to be on this list. It is a clear arthouse interpretation of the original text. George Clooney plays an escaped convict named Ulysses Everitt McGill. John Goodman plays a one-eyed mugger, or a cyclops if you will. The film is littered with parallels, and it is a remarkable film almost eclipsed only by a soundtrack every movie and indeed music lover should own.

TRIPWIRE JUDGEMENT: A clever arthouse masterpiece with an absolutely classic and original movie soundtrack.

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2. The Return (2024)

The Return qualifies for the number 2 spot for being a truly remarkable film. Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche shine in their respective roles as Odysseus and Penelope to produce a psychologically fascinating film. Whilst it may not have been a terribly profitable endeavour it is artistically a triumph. It concentrates much more toward the end of The Odyssey, but it is no the weaker for doing so. It is a film well worth the effort to seek out.

TRIPWIRE JUDGEMENT: A shining achievement. A hidden gem. A wonderful treasure of a film.

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1. Odysseus (The 2026 PSY Comics Deluxe Edition)

At no point did this list promise to exclusively cover film or television adaptations. Laurence Alison in collaboration with the hugely missed artist Vu Danh have produced Tripwire’s favourite adaptation of this timeless story. It has to be seen and read to be believed.TRIPWIRE JUDGEMENT: Just trust Tripwire on this. It you fancy Imax in comic format you cannot go too far wrong.***For those intrigued here is a link for the Odysseus Deluxe Edition Kickstarter:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bhuna/odysseus-in-defiance-of-the-gods-the-collection