Over 100 films have The Odyssey reference you will have seen but never realised

The Odyssey may be one of the oldest stories ever made, yet for many Christopher Nolan’s brand-new film is the first time they are experiencing the iconic story of Odysseus’ voyage home following the Trojan war.

The adaptation has been a huge hit so far, grossing nearly its entire $250 million budget in just the opening weekend, and the film’s use of IMAX has been selling out cinemas around the world (even if there’s only 41 worldwide that can show it in Nolan’s intended format).

When watching The Odyssey however it’s easy to forget the pure number of films and stories that have been influenced by Homer’s poem over the years, whether directly or indirectly. Many though don’t realise that they have probably seen a reference to The Odyssey in well over 100 films going back over a decade.

After watching the Nolan adaptation fans online are realising that the TSG logo, a company behind some of the biggest Hollywood films of the last ten years, is a direct reference to The Odyssey.

This depicts a man in bronze shooting an arrow through 12 axes, the task that Anne Hathaway’s Penelope gives to her suitors in The Odyssey where none of them are even able to string Odysseus’ bow let alone shoot through the axes. TSG entertainment is a financing firm whose logo vignette you will have seen in the intro of their 100+ movies since 2013.

These films include X-Men: Days of Future Past, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, The Maze Runner, Deadpool and Wolverine, Logan, Jojo Rabbit, and 28 Years Later.

One fan posted a gif of the intro on X to announce that they were off to see The Odyssey, sparking a viral a-ha moment of fans realising they had seen the intro numerous times without connecting the dots.

A tweet with over 2.5 million views simply said: “What the hell I just realized this is Odysseus lmao.”

Another replied saying: “Most gagged I’ve been in a good while… how have I been watching this logo in front of movies all my life and never made the connection?!”

A third fan quoted the gif and said: “JUST REALIZED WHAT THIS LOGO MEANS AFTER DECADES,” whilst a fourth said: “I have been Odyssey-literate the entire lifespan of this vanity card, and not once have I given a moment’s thought that it’s a reference. I’m a fool.”

The Odyssey: Origins of the ancient poem and the filming locations

Written: Between 725 BC and 675 BC, so more than 2,500 years ago

Based on a true story? Mostly no (cyclops aren’t real). Historians are unsure if the Trojan War really happened

Who wrote The Odyssey? Homer, but historians don't know much about him and debate if he is a single person or a group of poets

How long is the movie? 2hrs, 52mins - best go to the loo beforehand

Where was the movie filmed? The Hellenic Film Commission explained Nolan and co filmed at several locations in the Peloponnese, including Nestor’s Cave, Voidokilia Beach and Almyrolaka Beach, which are all on the island of Pylos; Methoni Castle, at a port town of the same name in southwestern Greece; and Acrocorinth, a monolith overlooking the ancient city of Corinth.

According to Vogue, filming also took place in Morocco, in Marrakech, Tahanaoute, El Haouz, Essaouira and Ouarzazate. The cast and crew were also spotted on the Sicilian island of Favignana, while they filmed in Iceland for the underworld scenes.

Continuing their whistlestop tour of Europe, the Odyssey team also filmed in Scotland, along the Moray Firth Coast and at Findlater Castle and Culbin Forest.

The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm vs normal cinema screens: Helpfully, the film's website shows different versions of the trailer in six different formats, all with different aspect ratios. You can see the difference between IMAX 70mm (warning you now, there are only three IMAX 70mm screens in the whole of the UK) and the standard 35mm format.

The Odyssey is in cinemas now.