The first feature-length film shot entirely with IMAX 70mm cameras, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is a cinematic event unlike any other. Now that Nolan has transformed the timeless saga into a visual spectacle, your expectations for what qualifies as epic cinema might be higher than Mount Olympus itself. Fret not; finding your next sword-and-sandals fix doesn't have to be as arduous as Odysseus's voyage home. We’ve got you covered with recommendations to keep the adventure going…

Troy

2004 Let’s kick things off with the obvious choice. Troy, a retelling of Homer’s Iliad, is the perfect companion piece to The Odyssey. From edge-of-your-seat action sequences to swoon-worthy romance, it has everything you could want in a sword-and-sandals epic. Like Nolan’s The Odyssey, it boasts a star-studded cast including Orlando Bloom as Paris, Diane Kruger as Helen of Troy, and a career-high performance from Brad Pitt as the doomed warrior Achilles. Fun fact: Nolan was originally attached to direct Troy, but the project was ultimately helmed by director Wolfgang Petersen. While Petersen delivered a solid blockbuster, after seeing Nolan’s vision for The Odyssey realised... it’s hard not to wonder, what if?

Rome

2005–2007 Without Rome, there would be no Game of Thrones. HBO and BBC’s ill-fated sword-and-sandals series is credited with paving the way for the big-budget, prestige television of today. Offering a gritty, realistic look at ancient Rome during its transition from republic to empire, the show had all the makings of a hit, yet was axed after just two seasons. Why? Well, it was a victim of its own production costs.Rome was simply ahead of its time, airing long before mega-budget TV was the norm, and if made in today’s streaming era, it would no doubt thrive. Regardless of its short run, if you love historical epics dripping with political intrigue, Rome is essential viewing.

The Prince of Egypt

1998 Who says a sword-and-sandals epic has to be R-rated—or live action, for that matter—to hit hard? If you’re searching for a genre masterpiece fit for the whole family, look no further than DreamWorks' The Prince of Egypt. Following Moses’s quest to liberate the Hebrews, it boasts a seriously stacked cast of voice actors (Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Stewart, Steve Martin, and Martin Short). Its acclaimed score was helmed by Hans Zimmer, while its power ballad, When You Believe, by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, took home the Oscar for Best Original Song.

Those About To Die

2024 From the director of Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow, Those About to Die brings blockbuster-level set design and storytelling to the small screen. Anthony Hopkins leads this sweeping drama, which dives into the corrupt underbelly of chariot racing and gladiator fighting. Unapologetically brutal and packed with gore, it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. But if you have the stomach for it, Those About to Die is a satisfying weekend binge-watch.