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The news of the successful book series Percy Jackson & The Olympians getting a Disney+ TV adaptation has sparked people's love for Greek mythology again. Greek mythology has inspired interest in people from films and TV shows to books for decades.
Rick Riordan, the author of the books, is writing the TV show version that is currently being filmed, so the wait for some new Greek mythology content will take a while. However, Redditors have shared their other favorite Greek mythology/ancient Greek films and TV shows, providing fans with some recommendations while they wait.
Hercules (1997)
Disney adapted the story of the Greek demigod hero Heracles into a kid friendly animated movie. It tells the story of Hercules, as he falls to Earth and must find his way back home to his father, Zeus, through a series of trials and tribulations.
While the movie is not true to Greek mythology at all, to the point of using the wrong version of Heracles' name, it is still an enjoyable watch. User pzzaco said, "for visual appeal, music and that Disney magic of course [it is good], but it takes wayyy too many inaccuracies with the actual myths." The film had to be made family-friendly, and ancient mythology is anything but that. However, the animation style and the catchy musical numbers helped fans fall in love with the film, nonetheless.
Immortals (2011)
Immortals is a modern attempt at a mythology retelling. Focusing loosely on the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, it follows the mortal man, Theseus, as he's chosen by the Gods to fight King Hyperion and find the mystical weapon - the Epirus Bow.
While the story strays from the original myth, the film is still enjoyable. One Redditor said, "Probably the best looking Greek mythology film." With its beautiful cinematography, set design, and props, it is a gem to watch. For a non-horror film, it is gruesome and violent, making it not for the weak-of-heart. Henry Cavill in the main role puts on an amazing performance in this less than accurate mythology film.
Medea (1969)
Made by the Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini, the film retells the myth of Medea. After a powerful sorceress helps Jason find the Golden Fleece, she gets scorned by Jason and the King. In return for her banishment, she enacts her furious revenge upon them.
Redditor oh_orpheus says they "love how immersive it is", a trademark of Pasolini. His cinematography, like always, is beautiful to watch. It's helpful to have some prior knowledge of the source material beforehand, as Pasolini jumps right into the myth with little background information, but his experimental take on the original story of Medea is one for cinephiles.
Hercules In New York (1969)
Hercules In New York isn't so much based on Greek mythology, but takes elements of stories and places it in the modern day. Hercules, bored with life, travels down to modern New York for a much-needed change. But Zeus starts sending Gods down to Earth to bring him back home.
While the premise may sound ridiculous, once it gets started it sucks the viewer in. Arnold Schwarzenegger is perfect in the role of Hercules: his charm matches that of a god and his strength matches that of a fighter. SardiaFalls said it "has the best acting and Hercules actor's accent is...impeccable." With Arnold Schwarzenegger for Hercules, the casting is as perfect as it can get.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
The Coen Brothers created the musical comedy, O Brother, Where Art Thou? Loosely based on Homer's Odyssey, it follows Ulysses, Delmar and Pete after escaping prison and trying to journey towards some hidden treasure. Of course, things aren't as easy as it seems, and they run into a series of folk elements.
George Clooney plays a great Odyssey alongside a cast full of wonderful actors. User Kingdomspearl said, "a great film in terms of the acting, score, cinematography, and the way it reshapes the setting and still stays true to the source." Due to its musical genre, it is definitely a brave retelling, but everything is pulled together to create an interesting and beautiful film. It's still highly praised for sticking to the source material so well.
The Odyssey (1997)
The Odyssey is a three-hour-long TV miniseries from 1997 that tells the story of Homer's poem depicting the journey of Odysseus as he travels back home after the Trojan War. Taking him 10 years to reach his destination, his journey is filled with many adventures and fights.
The original story is long and full of a complex plot that makes it almost impossible to translate it to screen, but this miniseries does amazingly well at including a majority of the source material, making it one of the few Greek mythology screen adaptations to do so. It's visually stunning, and the actors are so well cast in their roles that everything falls into place. Redditor RealisticDelusions77 says "The homecoming section was really intense."
Clash Of The Titans (1981)
Clash of the Titans may be known more for it's 2010 remake, but the original is still strongly loved. Telling the story of the Greek myth of Perseus, the mortal son of Zeus, who falls in love with Princess Andromeda and must overcome mystical obstacles to win her hand.
The film is helped by animator Ray Harryhausen, blending magical stop-motion sequences with live-action. The cast is amazing in their roles, all big-name stars who would go on to do so much more. The story has its own charm, giving itself a sense of nostalgia. The journey is full of fun and exciting moments that any mythology lover would enjoy. Redditor Kendoval made it simple, "Honestly, a great movie."
Jason And The Argonauts (1963)
The original 1963 film, Jason and the Argonauts, is a retelling of Jason and the Golden Fleece. Jason sets sail with Greece's best fighters on hand to find the magical Golden Fleece. Along their journey, they face multiple mythological monsters that they must fight.
Although the film is now decades old, it still stands as an entertaining watch. The special effects for the film were made by Ray Harryhausen, the great stop-motion animator. Redditor Orleanian said, "the creature effects blew my mind even in the 80s," proving that the special effects are still appreciated to this day.