X
- 2024
- R
- Bleecker Street Media
- 1 h 56 m
- 2024
- R
- Bleecker Street Media
- 1 h 56 m
Summary After 20 years away, Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable. The King has returned from the Trojan War, but much has changed in his kingdom. His beloved wife Penelope (Juliette Binoche) is a prisoner in her own home, hounded by suitors vying to be king. Their son Telemachus faces death at t...
Directed By: Uberto Pasolini
Written By: John Collee, Edward Bond, Uberto Pasolini
- 2024
- R
- Bleecker Street Media
- 1 h 56 m
- 2024
- R
- Bleecker Street Media
- 1 h 56 m
The Return
66
5.6
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Summary After 20 years away, Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable. The King has returned from the Trojan War, but much has changed in his kingdom. His beloved wife Penelope (Juliette Binoche) is a prisoner in her own home, hounded by suitors vying to be king. Their son Telemachus faces death at t...
Directed By: Uberto Pasolini
Written By: John Collee, Edward Bond, Uberto Pasolini
Where to Watch
Coming Soon
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 26 Critic Reviews
66
62% Positive
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
38% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 26 Critic Reviews
66
62% Positive
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
38% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Sep 14, 2024
The Return is one of the few instances where we wish for more fiery blood and guts rather than less. Even so, this is a superior rendering of a well-worn tale
User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 37 User Ratings
5.6
35% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
43% Mixed
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
22% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 37 User Ratings
5.6
35% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
43% Mixed
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
22% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
May 10, 2025
A raw depiction of Odysseus's return to Ithaca after the Trojan War. It will appear spartan and move too glacially for most, however I enjoyed it as an avid reader of historical fiction and a fan of The Odyssey. Kudos to the filmmakers for giving it a shot (through the proverbial axe-hole).
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Jan 27, 2025
The Return is a rather dull film up until the part where Odysseus confronts the suitors. However, the confrontation sequence manages to redeem the film. Unfortunately, when the story strays from its mythological elements, it feels quite awkward and out of place.
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Sep 9, 2024
As tender and somber as it is thrilling, The Return proves a sword-and-sandals saga rooted in life’s biggest issues, all of them written on the unforgettable countenance of its illustrious star.
Sep 16, 2024
With bold performances, a strong vision for the source material, and a wise decision to focus on this under-represented portion of this narrative, The Return makes for an effective character piece that proves these stories are not only timeless, they’re as timely as ever.
Apr 11, 2025
The headline draw remains the headline draw – and sometimes it’s enough for two lead actors to animate, complicate and enrich a project by lending it all the mysterious gravity you could ask for.
Dec 9, 2024
The Return may render its mythological figures lifelike through flesh and blood, but nowhere inside that viscera lies a beating heart.
Sep 14, 2024
Stripping the narrative of its gods and monsters, and almost two-thirds of the chapters, is great but the vacuum isn’t filled with much more than his two magnetic leads and consistently sumptuous cinematography. The Return is gorgeous to behold, but there just isn’t enough there.
Sep 4, 2025
'The Return' takes an unusually intimate approach to Homer's epic. It works when Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche do their magic together, but it falters throughout the rest of the film, also displaying considerable technical shortcomings and veering closer to a more television-like production. Although there is a relatively interesting exploration of the consequences of indulging in violence and guilt, the film often digresses. We'll have to wait and see what Nolan does next with the same material.
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Mar 8, 2025
Unfortunately, this film is as bland as it's title. DRAMATIC - SLOW - FLAT - LIMITED The Return picks up the story of Odysseus at his lowest point: washed up on the shores of his island home Island, near death. One would think this is a great place to start a character arc... but it doesn't really go anywhere from there. Even with a stellar actor at its helm, The Return suffers from a snails pace and lack of excitement. Not every moment has to be Hollywood's high speed standard, but the story should have some ups and downs (Twisters is an excellent example of this). The Return flatlines, with little variation. Going in blind, I was expecting a bit more epic scale to this story of Odysseus. It didn't have to live up to those expectations, but its energy was fairly even all the way through. A different score and more dynamic cinematography would have helped introduce some levels and liveliness. The script is the real issue here - elusive with details and lacking character development. Odysseus is FLAT until the very end, rising from his stupor to give the thugs of Ithaca a bloodbath. Antinous was a far more interesting character as the antagonist than Odysseus himself. Fienne's acting felt limited by these character constraints in the script. From a production design perspective, they were on the right track. This film had the right style to fit the time period (except - what was that German guy doing there?!), but again it needed to be more epic. There were not enough inhabitants of the island for me to believe that he is a king. We needed to see more people then just a small village. Overall, The Return is not very dynamic. No doubt the cast gave it their all in each performance, but the story wasn't quite there to bring it all together.
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Dec 7, 2024
This mythological tale begins 20 years after Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) left Ithaca to conquer Troy. Back home, his wife (Juliette Binoche) waits for his return, while numerous suitors (many of them with gym bods) threaten the island's security and future. This is an intense story told with gravatas, which also translates to SLOW! The tedious pacing makes it feel like the film is running in slow motion. On the positive side, there are lovely locations captured by Marius Pamduru's beautiful cinematography. As expected, the performances of Fiennes and Binoche are subdued, yet powerful. Director Uberto Pasolini has created some compelling moments, but his allowance for such a dreadful pace keeps the story from being as effective as it could have been.
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Dec 30, 2024
I want to like it but it's too damn slow. Re-edit the movie to move the story along. Better explain the island's situation. Tell the story better. Don't put people to sleep.
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Sep 10, 2025
Sem senso algum da geografia do local, e dispondo de uma direção de corpos sofrível (mais parece um tatro amador, algumas vezes), se não fosse o talento do elenco em conferir dramaticidade e peso às falas, isso aqui seria ainda pior, mas não salva a bomba que é.
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Production Company
- Picomedia
- Rai Cinema
- Heretic
- Ithaca Films
- Kabo Films
- Marvelous Productions
- Redwave Films
- Greek Film Centre (GFC)
- Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT)
- Global Screen Fund
- Ministero della Cultura (MiC)
- Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC)
Release Date Dec 6, 2024
Duration 1 h 56 m
Rating R
Tagline Some legends are more than myths.
Awards
Hellenic Film Academy Awards
• 1 Nomination
