Old-school mythology has always provided creative fodder for writers, artists, and filmmakers.The Odysseyhas experienced more than a dozen screen adaptations over the last 100 years. An epic journey is the kind of story that never gets old. Mythological tales weave history and fantasy together to create moving sagas steeped in tradition, lore, and a wide array of religious practices.
The complicated interpersonal relationships between humans and deities in mythology pair perfectly with the miniseries format, which allows a story to be told in detail across multiple episodes. The miniseries is longer than a film but more concise than an ongoing series, which is why so many sweeping Homer-inspired tales opt for this format. An added bonus is that one can generally finish a miniseries in less than a day, if the viewer is inclined to do a little binge-watching. And what better adventure for binge-watching than an old-school epic?
7’L’Odissea' (1968)
The Odyssey
There are a lot ofmovies based on mythology, and Homer’sThe Odysseyis probably the most well-known mythological epic of all time. The most celebrated adaptation ofThe Odysseyis an Italian miniseries entitledL’Odissea. This eight-part television event originally aired from June 10, 2025 to July 09, 2025 in Italy, Germany, and France. It starred Bekim Fehmiu, one of the best internationally known Albanian actors, as Odysseus and was directed by Franco Rossi. CBS presented a dubbed version of the show to the United States in 1978.
The Most Faithful Adaptation of a Beloved Classic
Though American fans might be more familiar with the 1997 version ofThe Odyssey, the 1968 adaptation has been lauded by critics for over fifty years. Today, the miniseries has an 8.5/10 overall rating on IMDb. It isgenerally consideredto be the adaptation which most closely follows the structure of Homer’s original poem, even with the stylistic influence of 1960s Italy. “It includes all of the perspectives; most of the characters, places, and occurrences [of the poem]“writes Christian FischelinAncient World in Film and Television.The English dubbing has been lost to time, but subtitles still exist for English-speaking audiences who want to watch a classic.
6’Merlin' (1998)
Magic, intrigue, Camelot —Merlindelves deep into the more magical side of King Arthur’s Britain, telling the story of the legendary wizard himself. Viewers who have already binged all five seasons of the belovedBritish television seriesof the same name from 2008 might want to travel back a few years to check out this 1998 miniseries. The three-part adaptation stars Sam Neill (Jurassic Park) as Merlin, with Miranda Richardson (Sleepy Hollow) as Queen Mab and Helena Bonham Carter (Alice in Wonderland) as Morgan le Fay. James Earl Jones (Star Wars) also makes an appearance, as does a pre-Game of ThronesLena Headey.
Awards and Accolades
Merlinwas nominated for 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning in the visual effects, art direction, makeup, and costume design categories. It holds a 7.1/10 rating on IMDB and is a great introduction for those not overly familiar with the source material. “What’s great about thisMerlinis that even those who aren’t well schooled in the King Arthur/Camelot thing will find plenty to love,“writes Ray Richmond in Variety. The style of the show is definitely one that was cultivated in the 1990s and might feel outdated today, but it’s a nostalgic peek back at what were top-tier effects thirty years ago.
10 Great Movies Based on World Mythology
Mythology from around the world has been featured as the inspiration for several films, and these 10 are some of the best.
5’Jason and the Argonauts' (2000)
Jason And The Argonauts
Jason witnesses the death of his father at the hands of his uncle, Pelias. This forces him to flee his homeland, but he returns twenty years later to reclaim the throne. This two-part miniseries was produced by Hallmark Entertainment and includes some pretty familiar faces. Jason London (Dazed and Confused) plays the title role, with Dennis Hopper (Easy Rider) as Pelias. Angus Macfadyen (Braveheart) plays the god, Zeus, and Olivia Williams (Dune: Prophecy) appears as the goddess, Hera.
A Mythological Soap Opera
Jason and the Argonautsis not a groundbreaking miniseries. It’sover-the-topand some of the performances are disappointing, but it’s still a cozy watch for someone looking to fill a few hours with gods, goddesses, and melodrama. It feels like a product of its time, which could be nostalgic for audiences who grew up in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It’s a light commitment for light fare, with a runtime of only three hours.
4’The Mists of Avalon' (2001)
The Mists of Avalon
Based on the bestselling novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley,The Mists of Avalonbrings priestess Morgaine (known commonly as Morgan le Fay) to the forefront of Arthurian lore. The story explores themes of religious ideation and destiny, focusing on the women inKing Arthur’s life. The miniseries stars Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife) as Morgaine, with Samantha Mathis (Billions) as Gwenwyfar, Michael Vartan (Alias) as Lancelot, and Anjelica Huston (The Royal Tenenbaums) as Morgaine’s aunt, Vivianne, also known as The Lady of the Lake.
Mixed Reviews With Praise for the Cast
Originally airing on TNT in eight parts,The Mists of Avalonwas a huge television event at the time. Reviews were mixed, though many tipped more towards positive than negative. It was nominated for nine Primetime Emmy Awards and won in the makeup for a miniseries/movie category, but IMDB only gives it a 6.8/10 rating.Variety’s Steven Oxmancalls the teleplay “uninspired” but also admits that it is a great concept with a strong cast.
3’Helen of Troy' (2003)
Helen Of Troy
Helen, a key figure in thestory of the Trojan War, is brought front and center in this Homer-inspired miniseries. The tides of history turn when Helen, abducted and then married off to King Menelaus, falls in love with Paris of Troy. The two flee together, but war ensues — with heartbreak heavy on the horizon. The two-part series stars Sienna Guillory (Love Actually) as Helen and Matthew Marsden (Rambo) as Paris, with appearances by Stellan Skarsgård (Dune) as Theseus and Rufus Sewell (The Diplomat) as Agamemnon.
Some fans rememberHelen of Troyas a hidden gem, while others consider it stiff and boring. The series was generally praised for makeup and visual effects, but critics were not so pleased. “[It’s] personality-free folklore,“writes Michael Speierfor Variety, “A stiff portrait of mythology that hides within the comfort zones of elaborate costuming, special effects and accents.” Overall, the miniseries seems to fall somewhere in the better-than-nothing territory. If a viewer can overlook its flaws, the show might hold one’s attention for a lazy afternoon.
The 10 Best TV Shows Based on World Mythology
Stories of gods and heroes have inspired cultures from around the world, and these 10 TV series do a great job of capturing these ancient tales.
2’Maya and the Three' (2021)
Maya and the Three
The 21st century has seen a number ofanimated series based on mythology, including this delightful series created by co-writer ofThe Book of Life, Jorge R. Gutierrez.Maya and The Threeis set in pre-colonial Mesoamerica, where a warrior princess named Maya must find three warriors to fight alongside her in order to fulfill a prophecy and save the world. There are nine episodes total, and the narrative is steeped in Aztec, Caribbean, Mayan, and Incan lore/traditions. Zoe Saldaña (Guardians of the Galaxy) voices Maya, with Diego Luna (Andor), Stephanie Beatriz (Encanto), Queen Latifa (The Equalizer), and Rita Moreno (West Side Story) all voicing characters along the way.
100% Rating on Rotten Tomatoes
Mayal and the Threecurrently holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s been well-reviewed across the board. “The nine-part series layers color, ranging from earth tones to neon, on top of texture to ensure each frame is its own work of art,“writes Cristina Escobar for RogerEbert.com. “It’s an epic…“agrees Caroline Framke in Variety, “with a palpable love for its world that proves hard to resist.”
1’Moon Knight' (2022)
Moon Knight
Oscar Isaac fans will delight in this miniseries based on Marvel comics and produced by Disney+ during the height of comic book adaptations. Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac) has a sleeping disorder. As waking life and his dreams begin to blur, Steven makes an astonishing discovery: his name isn’t Steven, it’s Marc Spector. He is living with multiple identities within his consciousness, one of which is a vigilante named Moon Knight who inhabits Marc’s body.
Where Marvel Meets Mythology
Plenty of comic book characters have mythological roots andMoon Knightis counted amoung them. The character is based on the Egyptian god Khonshu, also known as the Moon God. Reviews for the Marvel miniseries are overwhelmingly positive. Even archeology and anthropology experts appreciate the work the creators put in to make the show feel authentic. “The six-part series has been well researched and remains quite faithful to the original mythology,“writes Claire Isabella Gilmour for The Conversation. The series has an 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
