Hollywood has pulled from many different sources over the years to bring exciting new stories to the big screen, although it can be sometimes surprising to see just how many movies have been inspired by Greek mythology over the years. This inspiration can be found in adaptations of classics like The Odyssey and The Illiad to modern reimaginings that are hardly recognizable as myths.
There are quite a few movies from the fantasy genre that use elements from Greek mythology, which range from epic tales of war to legendary stories of monsters and even ancient gods. We’ll be taking a closer look at a few of the best movies that draw from Greek mythology to tell stories using modern methods or reimagine classic tales for a new audience.
10 There Have Been Quite A Few Different Takes On The Legendary Story Of Hercules
Some myths have been adapted quite a few times over the years, with the story of Hercules especially appealing to fans of all ages. The original Greek hero was known as Heracles, although the Roman tale and use of the name Hercules have become more commonly used. This has led to a number of versions of the story of Hercules and his trials, both in live-action and animation.
Disney’s Hercules saw the young son of Zeus in training to become a hero and defeat Hades so he could achieve his place on Mount Olympus. Dwayne Johnson starred in a live-action adaptation of Hercules in 2014 that was based on Hercules: The Thracian Wars graphic novel, which explored the hero long after his labors as he struggled with the loss of his family.
9 Jason And The Argonauts Featured Stop-Motion Effects From Legend Ray Harryhausen
1963’s Jason and the Argonauts followed the titular hero and his crew’s journey to steal the legendary Golden Fleece so he can claim his throne. The film was directed by Don Jaffey who worked closely with stop-motion legend Ray Harryhausen to bring some of the mythological creatures that featured in the film to life on the big screen.
The movie has developed a cult following and is a showcase of movie history as well as an adaptation of a Greek myth. While a modern adaptation of the story was released as a TV mini-series in 2000, fans of the classics should definitely stick to the original.
8 Clash Of The Titans Turned The Myth Of Perseus Into An Epic Battle With Ancient Monsters
The Greek myth of Perseus was expanded on and exaggerated for 2010’s Clash of the Titans, which saw the hero caught up in a war against the gods of Mount Olympus. Persues’ journey to claim the head of Medusa/The Gorgon is adapted as he is forced to seek out a weapon to use against the ancient monster known as the Kraken.
Zeus and the other Olympians featured heavily in the movie as well, and Perseus’s battle continued in the 2012 sequel Wrath of the Titans as they all were forced to work together to stop the Titans of Myth after they escaped from Mount Tartarus. Of course, fans can also check out 1981’s Clash of the Titans that also featured work from Ray Harryhausen if in the mood for a classic instead.
7 Immortals Combined Various Greek Myths Together For A Battle At Mount Tartarus
2011’s Immortals starred Henry Cavill as Theseus, a human warrior who was chosen by Zeus to fight against a king who sought a weapon that could release the Titans kept captive in Mount Tartarus. While the movie didn’t focus on any specific tales in Greek mythology, the storyline was heavily influenced by icons like Zeus and the Greek pantheon.
Immortals also adapted bits of the myth of Theseus that included his legendary defeat of the Minotaur. The movie featured a familiar theme for movies based on Greek mythology. The Olympians were forced to battle with the Titans in the epic action-packed fantasy.
6 Pan’s Labyrinth Combined Elements From Greek Mythology And Fairy Tales In The Dark Fantasy
Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth takes its name from the Greek god of the wild known as Pawn, who resembles a faun or a satyr from mythology. While the main creature in Pan’s Labyrinth is known as Faun and is inspired by the Greek god Pan, there are a number of other influences in the movie alongside other fairy tales and creatures.
The movie also includes nods to other iconic works like Homer’s The Odyssey as well as the Greek myth of Cronos, although Pan’s Labyrinth still manages to create its own mythology that has made it a cult favorite of fans.
5 The Percy Jackson Franchise Featured The Greek Pantheon Of Gods And Their Kids
Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series introduced the titular hero as he discovered he was the demigod son of Poseidon. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief followed Percy as he joined other children of the Olympians in training their abilities so they could deal with the looming threat of Kronos.
The references to Greek mythology form the basis of many of the stories in the book series, although the cinematic franchise ended after the sequel, Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters failed at the box office. A series based on the books will stream on Disney+, which promises to stick closer to the source material.
4 The Lighthouse Is Inspired By The Greek Myths Of Both Prometheus And Proteus
Director Robert Eggers’s follow-up to his hit horror The Witch was 2019’s The Lighthouse, which starred Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe as lighthouse keepers who begin to lose their sanity during an extended storm season. The pair encounter mythological creatures like mermaids and an unknown entity that lives within their lantern room that further drives them to madness.
Dafoe’s character takes inspiration from the Greek myth of Proteus while Pattinson’s character experiences a fate straight from the tale of Prometheus, which is sure to shock viewers while watching the horrific fantasy (which could also be considered a terrifying psychological character study).
3 300 Is An Action-Packed Fantastical Reimagining Of The Spartan’s Battle Of Thermopylae
Frank Miller’s graphic novel was adapted by visionary director Zack Snyder in 2007’s 300, which explored Sparta’s King Leonidas and his small force of warriors that managed to hold off the entire Persian army during the historical Battle of Thermopylae.
Mythical creatures and prophetic oracles blended fantasy elements with the historical war epic for a unique action-packed take on the legendary tale that impressed movie-goers. A sequel called 300: Rise of an Empire was loosely based on the Battle of Artemisium and the Battle of Salamis with similar fantasy elements, although it didn’t resonate as much as the original.
2 Wonder Woman Is The Daughter Of Zeus Who Wields The Power Of The Olympians
2017’s Wonder Woman brought the titular DC superhero to the big screen as she left the Amazon’s island of Themyscira for the first time to aid man during the first World War, which also allowed her to uncover secrets about her own heritage.
Diana soon learned that she was the daughter of the Greek god Zeus, which she discovered after she entered into battle with her uncle Ares, the Greek god of war. The Greek gods also played a role in the larger DCEU as they helped fight against Darkseid and his attempted invasion of Earth, as revealed in Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
1 O Brother, Where Art Thou? Is A Reimagining Of The Odyssey Set During The Great Depression
The Coen Brothers’ O Brother, Where Art Thou is set during the Great Depression and follows a trio of escaped convicts. They travel across the country hoping to reach a buried treasure before a dam is destroyed and it becomes flooded and unreachable.
However, the movie is also a loose adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey and features a few fantastical elements like mysterious singing sirens and the one-eyed “cyclops” Big Dan Teague, all of which are just a few of the nods to the classic Greek myth.
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