The Return

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The Return

R

2024

1h 56m

Adventure

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

95 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

100+ Verified Ratings

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 the hands of these suitors, who see him as merely an obstacle to their pursuit of the kingdom. Odysseus has also changed--scarred by his experience of the Trojan war, he is no longer the mighty warrior from years past--but he must rediscover his strength in order to win back all that he has lost.

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Critics Consensus

The Return removes the mythology from Odysseus' homecoming along with some of the fun, but Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche's terrific performances keep this drama absorbing.

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Ty Burr

Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack)

Dec 6, 2025

3.5/4

t’s a haunting, primal first feature about two young brothers and the reappearance of their long-absent father.

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Ben Nicholson

Sight & Sound

Nov 5, 2025

Eschewing the fantastical voyages not only allows Pasolini to ground his version of the story in a more realistic setting but brings the psychology of the characters to the fore.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Apr 15, 2025

4/5

The main draw is the cast, with Ralph Fiennes sinewy and racked by self-doubt and guilt as Odysseus, returned from war after a 20-year absence, and a compelling turn from Juliette Binoche as Penelope. Both are terrific, but Binoche is the standout.

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Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

Jul 6, 2026

4/5

Ralph Fiennes is a stoic figure full of lamentation in this contemplative, almost dreamy depiction of Odysseus' return to Ithaca to reclaim his kingdom after the Trojan War.

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Stephen A. Russell

sbs.com.au

Jun 9, 2026

Pasolini tips us headlong into this thorny conundrum in a theatrical rendition full of Shakespearean gravitas. If you love the drama, The Return has it in abundance.

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Apr 2, 2026

5/10

I find it forgettable when it loses the trace of epicness, which ultimately ignores the mythological possibilities of Homer's original work. [Full review in Spanish]

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Lizzie

Dec 28, 2024

Loved it. Roofing story of myth, made modern onscreen.

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Chase

Dec 24, 2024

Strong flick. Could’ve benefited from being slightly shorter.

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k

Dec 19, 2024

Slow-burn, humanizing story that remained true to the original work while not getting bogged down in the heroic/mythical aspects of the epic. Incredible acting, beautiful filming. Slow pace, but kept you at the edge of your seat the entire time. It felt so real. This is how the story should be done

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Daniel M

Dec 18, 2024

Another Oscar Contender for "Best Pitcher", "Best Actor, & Actress",Best Screen Play"!

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kevin l

Dec 17, 2024

It was a slow movie. very basic story line

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Wendy

Dec 17, 2024

Such a good movie. not getting nearly enough hype. Great acting! Great retelling of a story.

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Uberto Pasolini

Director

Ralph Fiennes

Odysseus

Juliette Binoche

Penelope

Charlie Plummer

Telemachus

Marwan Kenzari

Antinous

Claudio Santamaria

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The Return: Featurette - Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche

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Synopsis

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 the hands of these suitors, who see him as merely an obstacle to their pursuit of the kingdom. Odysseus has also changed--scarred by his experience of the Trojan war, he is no longer the mighty warrior from years past--but he must rediscover his strength in order to win back all that he has lost.

Director: Uberto Pasolini
Producer: Uberto Pasolini, James Clayton, Roberto Sessa, Giorgos Karnavas, Konstantinos Kontovravkis, Stéphane Moatti, Romain Le Grand, Vivien Aslanian, Marco Pacchioni
Screenwriter: John Collee, Edward Bond, Uberto Pasolini
Distributor: Bleecker Street
Production Co: Redwave Films
Rating: R (Language|Graphic Nudity|Some Sexual Content|Violence)
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 6, 2024, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 27, 2024
Runtime: 1h 56m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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