Welcome to Mythology Week, setting sail on the high seas of folklore in anticipation of Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey. We begin with a look at the best mythology movies of all time — also check out the best songs and TV shows based on mythology.

The full power of mythology sometimes feels beyond understanding. From the earliest days of humanity, people have created stories to explain the world and teach lessons; these works of fiction have shaped generations, first passed down through the oral tradition before the onset of written language… and, eventually, cinema.

Great mythology movies have been using classic tales for inspiration since the earliest days of the medium, the multiplex taking over for the campfire. Films removed from consideration include things like 300, as it’s based firmly in history, as well as narratives that felt much more like loosely defined folklore. (Apologies in the latter case to Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth.)

The resulting list reveals how much of today’s pop culture has been based on stories older than any of us. Stories older than most countries. Because the more you look at classic myths, the more you realize their capacity to not just shift our understanding of the universe, but our understanding of ourselves.

— Liz Shannon Miller
Senior Entertainment Editor