Movies Update: Cyclopses and Sirens and Matt Damon, oh my!
“The Odyssey” is here.
Movies Update
July 17, 2026

Hey, movie fans!

That one movie that some of you bought tickets for a year ago? It’s finally opening.

Christopher Nolan’s IMAX-filmed, star-studded, epic take on Homer’s “The Odyssey” has arrived. And our chief critic, Manohla Dargis, loves it. In her review, she writes that the movie is “one of the most Nolan of Nolan spectacles in its thematic concerns, formal playfulness, kinetic thrills and unabashed showmanship.”

If you’re looking for more on “The Odyssey,” we’ve got you covered. Our reporter Melena Ryzik spoke to Nolan about the tremendous feat of filming the entire movie with heavy, noisy IMAX cameras. We looked at a 2,400 year-old sanctuary to Odysseus that was unearthed by archaeologists. Plus, we have a quiz to see if you can spot the classic Greek originals in these film adaptations.

Enjoy your journey and enjoy the movies!

MOVIE REVIEWS

Two actors look at each other in a school doorway.

Netflix

‘Heartstopper Forever’ Review: Facing a Grown-Up Reality

The glossy Netflix series graduates into adulthood with this movie starring Kit Connor and Joe Locke as a couple with thoughts of college ahead.

By Chris Azzopardi

An image of the director Luis Valdez, looking at the camera with one hand on his chin.

Frasier Bradshaw/Film Forum

‘American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez’ Review: A Rebel With a Cause

The documentary about the stage and screen director is unabashedly celebratory, and leaves you wanting to see more.

By Ben Kenigsberg

Two men stand looking at the camera. One is wearing a hoodie and a durag, and the other is wearing large glasses and a rolled knit cap.

Andscape

‘They Fight’ Review: It Might Have Been a Contender

This real-life inspired boxing drama has muscular ambitions, but too little finesse.

By Lisa Kennedy

Two people stand in front of a bright blue door. One holds flowers and looks down, hair covering her face. The other stands with arms crossed, eyes closed, and faces the sun.

Oscilloscope

‘The Kidnapping of Arabella’ Review: Stolen Childhoods

A disturbed young woman tries to heal her past by abducting a rebellious child in this strange and intermittently touching road movie.

By Jeannette Catsoulis

A girl in a striped sweater holds up a hobbyhorse in a kitchen.

Sumerian

‘Horsegirls’ Review: Finding Her Stride

An autistic woman finds independence by training for a hobbyhorse competition in this sweet-and-sour coming-of-age film.

By Beatrice Loayza

NEWS & FEATURES

Article Image

A.T. Pratt

Times Insider

Wait, Moviegoing Isn’t Dead? Our Critic Explains.

The Times’s chief film critic, Manohla Dargis, discusses what is driving the youthquake in moviegoing, and what she thinks it portends for the film industry.

By Sarah Bahr

A person falls onto a crash pad.

Chris Maggio for The New York Times

Don’t Try This at Home: How Performers Turn Stunts Into Movie Magic

At the International Stunt School in Seattle, veterans of TV and film teach newcomers the art of falls, fights and fire.

By Chris Maggio and Erynn Lamont

In a scene from “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass,” Jon Hamm holds a newspaper and lifts his hand to his glasses.

Sony Pictures Classics

How Good Is Jon Hamm at Playing Jon Hamm?

Inside the high-wire act of casting celebrities to play themselves, including in movies like “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass.”

By Matthew Huff

Two young men smile and gaze into each others eyes while dancing closely at a lively, colorful party with people celebrating around them.

Netflix

‘Heartstopper Forever’: What to Know Before Seeing the Movie

The Netflix series and its feature-length finale are based on the graphic novels by Alice Oseman. Here’s a reminder of the events of the characters and where their stories left of.

By Shivani Gonzalez

An animated scene shows a girl in a strapless top with the vast ocean behind her.

Disney

Kids Can’t Stop Watching ‘Moana.’ There’s a Scientific Explanation.

The 2016 release has become the most watched movie on Disney+. Parents and experts explain why kids can’t get enough.

By Sarah Bahr

Mr. Neill wears a dark sweater over a white dress shirt and grins.

Nick Haddow/Penske Media via Getty Images

Sam Neill, Leading Man in ‘Jurassic Park,’ Dies at 78

He appeared in more than 150 films and TV shows over a five-decade career, but was perhaps best known for his star turn in the dinosaur blockbuster.

By Natasha Frost and Zachary Woolfe

STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS

A man with long blond hair wearing a weathered metal helmet and medieval armor stares intensely, with a river and dense green jungle in the background.

Werner Herzog Film

Five Free Movies to Stream Now

This month’s picks include epics from Werner Herzog and Akira Kurosawa, along with one of the most quintessential New York movies.

By Brandon Yu

In a movie scene set in a forest clearing, three dinosaurs menace a man in a fedora, plaid shirt and gray pants with a black bag worn crosswise.

Universal Studios/Amblin Entertainment

Where to Stream Sam Neill’s Best Performances

From his global breakthrough in “Jurassic Park” to the more recent “Peaky Blinders,” the actor’s range was always on display.

By Maya Salam

A man and woman sit close together at a bar space, one holding a beer. The woman holds his hand and looks at him, while Jenga blocks are on the table in front of them.

Focus Features

Five Horror Movies to Stream Now

This month brings a catastrophic crush, underhanded ushers and a sinister St. Nick.

By Erik Piepenburg

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