Tom Cruise has publicly praised Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" after attending an early screening, taking to social media to thank Nolan, his producing partner Emma Nolan, and the cast and crew for "an amazing night in a movie theatre." His endorsement is notable given both stars are widely seen as vocal champions of theatrical cinema, and their support could bolster the film's box office prospects as it opens.

The Odyssey, out in cinemas from Friday, adapts Homer's epic and stars Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Jon Bernthal, Elliot Page, Travis Scott and Charlize Theron. It holds a 96 percent critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes and is the first feature shot entirely on Imax 70mm film. Cruise, known for delaying Top Gun: Maverick's release during the pandemic to preserve its cinema debut, has previously championed other Nolan films including Tenet and Oppenheimer, and is himself preparing for the October release of Digger, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu.