Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey gives UK poetry sales an epic boost

Poetry sales in the United Kingdom reached a record high in the first 30 weeks of 2026, reaching £8 million, with projections indicating it could surpass £15 million annually for the first time since records began. This surge in sales is largely attributed to the release of Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Anne Hathaway.

Following the film's release, print sales of The Odyssey increased by a staggering 1,400% in just four weeks, as of July 25, 2026. Editions of both The Odyssey and The Iliad have generated £980,000 in poetry sales, representing £1.20 for every £10 spent on poetry books in Britain. The film brought a new audience to the ancient Greek epic, accounting for a significant portion of this year's growth.

Print sales of The Odyssey across all editions are up 76% this year, according to Circana BookScan figures. While this surge is primarily driven by the popularity of ancient epics and modern, social media-friendly poets, traditionalists have questioned the classification of some contemporary works as poetry. Classicist Emily Wilson criticized Nolan's adaptation, stating that it lacks depth and convincing motivation for characters.

Despite this, audiobook versions of The Odyssey have seen a boost in interest, with Stephen Fry's reading entering the UK audiobook top 10.