The Return

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2:15

The Return

R

Released Dec 6, 2024

1h 56m

Adventure

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

61 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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Stephen Romei

The Australian

This film is worth watching for the performances of Fiennes and Binoche and for its take on an ancient poem that just keeps on giving.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 21, 2025

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Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

It’s a marvellous performance by Fiennes – measured out in stealthy silences and terse admissions, and Binoche matches him all the way.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 19, 2025

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Ryan Lattanzio

IndieWire

Pasolini’s commitment to realism here -- despite as ever magnetic performances from his actors -- fails to get at the violent, dark heart of the classic story.

Rated: C

Dec 11, 2024

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Jim Schembri

jimschembri.com

Punchy stuff this, very well-directed by Uberto Pasolini with Fiennes in top form and looking respectably ripped alongside his much younger, torso-bearing co-stars.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 20, 2025

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Andiee Paviour

Nobody's Reading This But Me

Wizard of misery Ralph Fiennes goes to town on melancholia.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 20, 2025

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Wade Major

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

I wish it had the epic feel that the story warrants.

Jan 17, 2025

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Lizzie

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/28/24

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Chase

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

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/24/24

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k

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/19/24

Full Review

Daniel M

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/18/24

Full Review

kevin l

It was a slow movie. very basic story line

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/17/24

Full Review

Wendy

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/17/24

Full Review

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Uberto Pasolini

Director

Ralph Fiennes

Odysseus

Juliette Binoche

Penelope

Charlie Plummer

Telemachus

Marwan Kenzari

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Claudio Santamaria

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The Return: Featurette - Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche

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The Return: Trailer 1

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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 (Violence|Graphic Nudity|Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Adventure, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 6, 2024, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 27, 2024
Runtime: 1h 56m

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