Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey' boosts Homer book sales and sparks surge in learning Greek

Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey' has driven Homer book sales higher along with growing interest in learning Greek

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is continuing to make an impact beyond the box office, with the film driving increased sales of Homer’s epic poem and renewed interest in learning Greek.

The film has earned more than $650 million worldwide in its first two weeks in cinemas, making it the biggest live-action release of the year so far and putting it on course to pass the $1 billion mark.

Its success has also translated into growing interest in the original text. UK sales of Homer’s Odyssey have risen by 70% compared with 2025, while US sales are up 76% since the start of the year, according to Circana BookScan.

In France, daily Spotify listening hours for The Odyssey increased by more than 752 per cent in mid-July compared with the previous month.

According to Google Trends data cited by Preply and The Times, searches for "learn Greek" have increased by 5,000 per cent over the past fortnight.

Preply language trends expert Madeline Enos said, "Homer's Odyssey was composed in ancient Greek, which differs significantly from the language spoken in Greece today." She added that Ancient Greek allows readers to engage with Homer's original text, while Modern Greek helps people connect with contemporary Greek culture.

The film has also attracted criticism from some classicists. British-American scholar Emily Wilson wrote in the London Review of Books that the adaptation lacked the poem's emotional, political and ethical depth.

Despite her criticism, Wilson acknowledged the film's broader cultural impact. Speaking to The Times, she said, "The release of The Odyssey is still an event to celebrate" because it is "bringing audiences back to cinemas."

"Nolan is doing his best to get the general public reading again, and I am grateful," she added.