Greek mythology has inspired generations of filmmakers, from Pasolini to Deraspe. With Christopher Nolan set to direct The Odyssey – starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Matt Damon, amongst others – film buffs are once again obsessing over stories from Greek myth. Hollywood has long been drawn to tales of gods, monsters, and doomed heroes, but many adaptations end up more clumsy than classical. Troy (2004), for instance, reduces Homer’s Iliad to a blood-soaked soap opera, with a brooding Brad Pitt miscast as Achilles.
However, amid the misfires, here are four films that stand out for reimagining Greek myth in bold, inventive, and unforgettable ways.
Medea (1969, dir. Pier Paolo Pasolini)
Based on the Greek myth of Medea, Pasolini’s film stars opera legend Maria Callas in her only non-operatic acting role, as the powerful sorceress who sacrifices everything for her husband, Jason (played by Italian Olympian Giuseppe Gentile), who betrays her for another woman. Pasolini plays with audience expectations with dream sequences, surreal imagery, and disorientating jump cuts. It’s haunting and hypnotic, though best appreciated with some prior knowledge of the myth.
Buy a copy of Medea on DVD here.
Disney’s Hercules (1997, dir. John Musker & Ron Clements)
An instant classic from Disney’s hand-drawn era, Musker and Clements’ joyful, irreverent take on the Heracles myth is bolstered by gospel-infused tunes, zippy humor, and some memorable vocal performances – including from Tate Donovan (Hercules), James Woods (Hades), Danny DeVito (Philoctetes – ‘Phil’ for short), and Susan Egan (Megara). Nearly 700 artists and animators helped bring this colorful, fast-paced romp to life, turning Greek myth into a feel-good family favorite.
Buy a copy of Hercules on DVD here.
The Coen Brothers’ O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000, dir. Joel Coen)
Set in Depression-era Mississippi, Joel and Ethan Coen’s retelling of Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey follows three escaped convicts searching for hidden treasure, weaving a compelling critique of 1930s America into a narrative rich with references to the themes and characters of the ancient Greek original. George Clooney’s Ulysses Everett McGill mirrors Homer’s Odysseus, encountering sirens, a Cyclops (John Goodman as a one-eyed mugger and Ku Klux Klanner), and more along the way. The Coens blend myth, Americana, and satire to create something both timeless and distinctly modern.
Buy a copy of O Brother, Where Art Thou? on DVD here.
Antigone (2019, dir. Sophie Deraspe)
Sophocles’ tragedy is reborn in present-day Montreal. Writer-director Sophie Deraspe centers the story on a refugee family from Kabylia. After the brutal deaths of her parents, Antigone (Nahéma Ricci) faces new trauma when her brother Eteocle (Hakim Brahimi) is shot and killed by police and her other brother, Polynice (Rawad El-Zein), is arrested for assaulting an officer. Determined to protect what’s left of her family, she sets a bold rescue plan in motion. This urgent, emotionally charged film captures the spirit of Sophocles’ original, while offering a sharp critique of systemic injustice and immigrant life in North America.
Buy a copy of Antigone on DVD here.
As important and popular filmmakers like Christopher Nolan return to these ancient stories, audiences can expect even more bold, genre-defying interpretations of Greek mythology on screen.
Want to explore more adaptations of classic literature? Check out our 10 Best Movies Based on Books and see how timeless stories have found new life in film.