George Clooney singing in 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' Image via Buena Vista Pictures By Conor Sheeran Published Jul 28, 2026, 12:05 AM EDT Conor Sheeran is a Movies and TV features writer for Collider. He has a deep passion for cinema and watches everything from the biggest blockbusters to the smallest indies. While he specializes in movies and television, he has also written about politics, culture, and sports throughout his career. Based in New York City, Conor is also a massive fan of the New York Jets, Mets, and Knicks. He is still waiting for any of those teams to bring home a championship in his lifetime. A member of the National Writers Union and the International Federation of Journalists, Conor is a strong proponent of press freedom and collective action.
Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap Since its release, Christopher Nolan 's adaptation of The Odyssey has proven itself to be many things: a massive cinematic blockbuster (predicted to exceed $1 billion as its run continues), a faithful take on Homer's influential poem, and, perhaps most importantly, an invitation for moviegoers to revisit the ancient Greek epic. With reviewers and audiences alike raving about the film, The Odyssey is the type of film that leaves viewers wanting more tales of Odysseus, mythical beings, and perilous voyages. And while you might be tempted to look to movies like Troy or Clash of the Titans to scratch that itch, it's in another genre that you'll find the actual best follow-up.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? , the folksy 2000 comedy directed by the Coen Brothers and starring George Clooney, John Turturro , and Tim Blake Nelson , follows three escaped convicts as they journey through 1930s Mississippi in search of buried treasure. And beneath the Coen Brothers' trademark comedic exterior lies one of the smartest and most inventive adaptions of The Odyssey ever made. Clooney's character, Ulysses Everett McGill, is no Greek king; he is a fast-talking con man whose abilities are constantly called into question by those around him. However, both Clooney's Ulysses and Matt Damon's Odysseus are driven by one goal more than anything else: Getting home before it's too late.
George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Turturro in 'O Brother, Where Are Thou?' Image via Buena Vista Pictures Image via Buena Vista Film Distribution Image via 20th Century Fox Holly Hunter goes shopping with her children in O Brother, Where Art Thou? image via Buena Vista The Soggy Bottom Boys on stage in 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' Image via Buena Vista Pictures Close George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Turturro in 'O Brother, Where Are Thou?' Image via Buena Vista Pictures Image via Buena Vista Film Distribution Image via 20th Century Fox Holly Hunter goes shopping with her children in O Brother, Where Art Thou? image via Buena Vista The Soggy Bottom Boys on stage in 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' Image via Buena Vista Pictures Perhaps where O Brother, Where Art Thou? succeeds best is how naturally Homer's The Odyssey is woven into the film's story. The film uses the poem's more familiar beats as inspiration, translating the mythology into a language and setting that is more familiar. Many of The Odyssey 's most important moments, such as the encounter with the Sirens and Cyclops, are adapted cleverly but in a way that never feels as if the film is sa…