Trojan prince Paris falls in love with the beautiful Queen Helen, wife of the Spartan king Menelaus, and secretly takes her back to Troy. Enraged, Menelaus vows to bring his wife home and take revenge on the Trojans, turning to his brother Agamemnon for support. Greece’s greatest warriors, including Achilles and Odysseus, join a vast army that sets sail for the shores of Troy.

Troy takes a detailed look at the Trojan War itself — the events that took place before Odysseus began his long journey home. Fans of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey may find it especially interesting because it features many familiar characters. At the same time, the story is presented in a more realistic and grounded way, without gods or mythical creatures, and focuses on the large-scale conflict between the Greeks and the Trojans.

After the Trojan War and many years of wandering, an older and exhausted Odysseus returns to his native Ithaca, where almost no one recognizes him anymore. Much has changed during his absence: numerous suitors seeking Penelope’s hand have taken over the palace and are pressuring her to choose a new husband, hoping to seize control of Ithaca through marriage.

This film focuses on the final stage of Odysseus’ story — his return to Ithaca after many years of travel and hardship. The main difference is that The Return works as a more mature and psychologically grounded story about a hero who has grown old and exhausted over the years. It does not focus on a continuous journey, encounters with different creatures, or a constantly changing cast of new characters.

Con man Everett McGill escapes from a chain gang with two other prisoners to find a hidden treasure worth one million dollars before the area is flooded by the construction of a dam. Along the way, they meet a host of unexpected characters and become caught up in a series of strange and unpredictable events.

This is a loose adaptation of The Odyssey, with the story moved to 1930s America and the warrior king replaced by a chain-gang prisoner. Fans of Homer’s epic will find plenty of modern counterparts to the creatures and characters from the original poem, all reimagined in a new setting. The Coen brothers’ film is a lighthearted musical comedy and a good choice for anyone who wants to see a familiar story from a different perspective.

Crop failures and relentless dust storms threaten humanity’s survival on Earth. Former NASA pilot Joseph Cooper joins a team on a journey through space, hoping to find a habitable planet and save those left behind on Earth, including his own family.

This epic science-fiction film from the same director follows a very similar structure: the hero leaves his family behind and sets out on a long and dangerous journey. The main difference is that here the characters travel between planets and galaxies. On an emotional level, the film is also very similar, exploring lost time, a long separation, and the hero’s determination to return to his children.

Roman general Maximus is a legendary commander and one of Emperor Marcus Aurelius’s closest allies. After the war ends, he dreams of leaving military service behind and returning home to his family. However, court intrigue and a struggle for power cost Maximus his position, and he is forced into slavery, where he is trained to fight in deadly battles in the gladiatorial arena.

Gladiator will appeal to viewers who were drawn to The Odyssey by its celebrated warrior hero, grand scale, historical setting, and powerful desire to return to his family. Like Odysseus, General Maximus is exhausted by years of war and wants nothing more than to return home. However, political intrigue sends him through a series of trials and forces him to fight for survival.

King Arthur’s young nephew, Sir Gawain, longs above all else to earn the glory of a true knight. One day, during a feast at the castle, a mysterious Green Knight appears and challenges every warrior present. Determined to prove his courage, Gawain sets out on a thrilling and mystical journey through unfamiliar lands.

This is another adventure film based on a medieval poem about a legendary knight, filled with a mystical atmosphere, travel, and intriguing characters. The film has a slower, darker pace and places greater emphasis on the psychology of its main character.

Seeking to conquer Greece, Persian king Xerxes gathers a vast army and demands absolute submission to his rule. The courageous King Leonidas, accompanied by three hundred of his finest warriors, marches to Thermopylae to stop the Persian advance.

Another strong recommendation set in Ancient Greece, where a mighty hero stands against the overwhelming forces of the Persian army. Although there is no long journey or struggle to return home, the film, much like The Odyssey, features heroic battles and legendary warriors, presenting the ancient world in a more grandiose and exaggerated style.