“It’s Not a Documentary” - Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Clap Back at ‘The Odyssey’ Costume Backlash

Published 01/17/2026, 9:14 AM EST

Hollywood loves a spectacle, especially when it involves legendary epics, star-studded casts, and directors who treat history like a canvas rather than a rulebook. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey promises all of this, teasing audiences with glimpses of Greek armor that sparked curiosity and critique alike.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have now joined the conversation, adding their takes to the online chatter. Between myth, imagination, and cinematic bravado, the upcoming film is already a conversation starter, where creative license flirts with headline wars.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck defend The Odyssey costumes with humor and truth

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Matt Damon and Ben Affleck met The Odyssey armor backlash with philosophy and perspective. When KenJac, aka Jack Kennedy and Robby, joked that the costume resembled a barrel on Project Big Screen, Damon and Affleck wasted no time setting the record straight.

"It's not a documentary, because people also punish you if your movies are boring and lame. I think you're barking up the wrong tree with a filmmaker like Chris Nolan, where you're gonna criticize the movie," Affleck added perspective in a Project Big Screen interview. Both actors emphasized that Nolan prioritizes narrative drama over historical textbooks.

  Damon defended Nolan on the Project Big Screen interview, saying "creative license" is essential, otherwise audiences would hate the movie, and while the director meticulously researches, some selective alterations are necessary for visual clarity and immersion. 

The controversy ignited when trailer and set photos showcased Damon in armor and extras in trousers that historians deemed off-period. The helmet drew particular ire, described more as superhero chic than Homeric authenticity.

Tom Holland Promises Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Is “unlike anything we’ve ever seen” – And He’s Never Been Prouder

As critics squabble over tusks and threads, the film’s staggering budget signals a bigger game: Nolan’s epic vision demands stars, spectacle, and cinematic fireworks that dwarf costume quarrels.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey proves epic budgets make armor debates irrelevant

Beyond costume debates, The Odyssey has captured attention for its jaw-dropping $250 million-plus budget, surpassing The Dark Knight Rises. Christopher Nolan continues his love affair with IMAX, promising a sensory experience that fuses historic myth with cutting-edge filmmaking technology.

Every dollar spent signals ambition: to create a cinematic world where visuals, scale, and drama overwhelm the audience. In this context, minor costume inaccuracies seem trivial compared to the director’s pursuit of grand, immersive storytelling.

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The massive budget also funds a constellation of talent, from Damon to Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, and Charlize Theron. Returning Nolan collaborators balance fresh pairings, heightening anticipation for the July 17, 2026, release.

In a film where spectacle is currency, costumes are a single thread in a vast tapestry of ambition. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s defense underscores a cinematic philosophy: fidelity matters, but only until it collides with storytelling grandeur.

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What are your thoughts on Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s defense of The Odyssey costumes versus historical accuracy? Let us know in the comments below.

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Shraddha Priyadarshi

1414 articles

Shraddha is a content chameleon with 3 years of experience, expertly juggling entertainment and non-entertainment writing, from scriptwriting to reporting. Having a portfolio of over 2,000 articles, she has covered everything from Hollywood’s glitzy drama to the latest pop culture trends. With a knack for telling stories that keep readers hooked, Shraddha thrives on dissecting celebrity scandals and cultural moments.

Edited By: Itti Mahajan

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