Nolan saw original Star Wars 12 times in cinema — it shaped The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan revealed to Jimmy Fallon that he watched the original Star Wars 12 times in cinemas as a seven-year-old in 1977, before the era of home video. He described being captivated by the film's "otherworldly aspect" — the feeling of being transported to another world — and said his upcoming film The Odyssey is an attempt to recapture that quality. As a child, he also made Super 8 Star Wars parodies in his basement with his brother.

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Christopher Nolan says he saw the original Star Wars 12 times in theaters, and that the movie has had a lasting impact on his filmmaking, leading all the way up to The Odyssey .

"Yeah, absolutely. The first Star Wars," Nolan said in response to Jimmy Fallon asking if it was true. "I mean, that was the event. I mean, it was pre-home video as well. So if you wanted to see it again... You know, there was no VHS machine or whatever. This is 1977. So I absolutely loved that movie and still love it. And yeah, 12 times. I was seven when it came out."

"I really loved the other otherworldly aspect... that you could go to the movies and the screen would kind of open up and just take you someplace, and you'd be in this other world for a couple of hours," Nolan continued.

Nolan has also previously said that he used to make Super 8 parodies of Star Wars in his basement with his brother, Westworld creator Jonathan Nolan, but that he'd be "too afraid to touch" the franchise. I say we give him a Star Wars movie. Why not?

"And I think a lot of the films I've made, definitely The Odyssey, is kind of an attempt to get back to that feeling of like, you know, anything can happen through that screen."

It's not hard to see the impact that a film like Star Wars had on The Odyssey, which is an all-out adventure epic with practical effects that may make you scream a bit (I mean, the pig scene, anyone?)

Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, who is just trying to get home after the Trojan War. Unfortunately, it isn't that simple, and the people he loves back home are besieged by suitors vying for his wife's hand. Oh, and, there's a cyclops.

The Odyssey is in theaters now. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming movies in 2026 and beyond, or, check out our list of movie release dates.

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