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Historical film

The Return (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

The Return (2024) movie poster

The Return is a 2024 historical film directed by Uberto Pasolini, starring Ralph Fiennes as Odysseus, Juliette Binoche and Charlie Plummer. It is partly based on The Odyssey by Homer and Emily Wilson. It runs 1 hour 56 minutes and earned $3.7 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. Critics gave it 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Stream it on fuboTV and Hoopla, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
worldwide gross
$3.7M
Echo Score
65
Metascore
66
The Return (2024) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 56m (116 min)
Director
Uberto Pasolini
Genre
History
Original language
English
Studio
Heretic
Budget
$20M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Return About?

The premise of The Return without spoilers, adapted from The Odyssey by Homer and Emily Wilson. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

After twenty years away, Odysseus, played by Ralph Fiennes, washes ashore in Ithaca, weary and unrecognizable. Having returned from the Trojan War, he finds his kingdom vastly changed. His wife, Penelope, portrayed by Juliette Binoche, is besieged by suitors who seek to claim the throne and her hand in marriage. Their son, Telemachus, faces a perilous existence.

The Return Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • male nudity
  • male frontal nudity
  • male pubic hair
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  • bare chested male
  • fiennes and binoche
  • shaved chest
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  • ithaca greece
  • odysseus
  • female topless nudity
  • female nudity
+38 more
  • held prisoner
  • palace
  • pubic hair
  • killing
  • ashore
  • suitor
  • sex scene
  • washed ashore
  • washing ashore
  • based on greek myth
  • return from war
  • greek myth
  • odysseus character
  • greek island
  • reference to telemachus
  • woman on top sex
  • dog
  • mother son relationship
  • queen
  • king
  • prince
  • ancient greece
  • europe
  • greece
  • fistfight
  • washing blood off someone's body
  • return home
  • full frontal nudity
  • bow
  • antiquity
  • post traumatic stress disorder
  • suitors
  • war weariness
  • threat
  • ultimatum
  • challenge
  • dead body
  • ithaca
Where to watch

Where to Watch The Return

Stream it on fuboTV and Hoopla, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

The Return Cast & Characters

Ralph Fiennes leads the cast as Odysseus, with Juliette Binoche as Penelope and Charlie Plummer as Telemachus. Directed by Uberto Pasolini; 14 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

The Return Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Return 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 65/100, strongest in character & emotion (85) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

65 /100

The Return Echo Score Breakdown

The Return delivers compelling performances and striking visual design, yet its deliberate pacing and familiar plot elements limit its overall impact. The chemistry between the two leads grounds the film in emotional authenticity, and the austere landscapes provide a strong sense of place. However, slow narrative progression and moments of narrative predictability reduce engagement. On balance, the film offers moments of genuine intensity but struggles to maintain momentum across its runtime.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 70

    In terms of art and craft, the film presents an austere but coherent production aesthetic. The stark costume choices and rugged landscapes reinforce the mythic setting, while occasional editing lulls create uneven rhythm. Cinematography captures raw textures effectively, though desire for more dynamic visual variety persists. Overall, the design feels purposeful but at times restrained.

  • Character & Emotion 85

    When it comes to character and emotion, the performances imbue the central figures with tangible gravitas. The lead actors convey profound grief and resentment through measured exchanges, establishing palpable chemistry. Despite occasional moments of self-serious delivery, the emotional stakes remain clear throughout. The depth of the protagonists’ bond anchors the narrative and sustains empathetic connection even when pacing slows.

  • Story & Flow 50

    For story and flow, the narrative offers a familiar arc punctuated by a powerful climax. Slow-build pacing detracts from engagement, and recurring beats feel predictable despite occasional energetic sequences. Plot coherence remains intact, but limited originality hampers sustained interest. Overall, the film’s structure resolves effectively in the final confrontation but often struggles to maintain momentum between key events.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    In terms of sensory experience, the film employs a stark visual palette and judicious sound design to evoke its ancient setting. The hauntingly sparse score and effective ambient soundscapes enhance tension, while certain sequences leverage rugged textures to reinforce atmosphere. At times, the restrained aural and visual approach undercuts dynamism, yet it consistently supports the story’s austere tone.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    When it comes to rewatch factor, the film’s deliberate tempo and familiar narrative elements limit repeat appeal. Memorable performances and a striking final confrontation offer rewarding moments on subsequent viewings, but extended slow passages may diminish overall enjoyment. While viewers may revisit key emotional beats, the film’s steady pacing and predictability reduce its lasting replay value.

Plot

The Return Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Return from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

After two decades of relentless warfare and countless hardships stemming from the Trojan War, Odysseus finds himself washed ashore on his beloved island of Ithaca, completely stripped of his former glory. The once formidable warrior-king, portrayed by Ralph Fiennes, is now a mere shadow of his former self, burdened by both psychological and physical scars that reflect the tremendous toll of his journey.

Full summary

The whole story of The Return, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Return Box Office & Budget

The Return grossed $3.7 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, 19% of what it cost. $703,979 came from the US and Canada and $3 million (81%) from the rest of the world.

2024 box office

Worldwide gross

$3.7M

19% of its budget back

US & Canada
$704K
International
$3M
Budget
$20M
US & Canada 19% Rest of the world 81%
Videos

The Return Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 1 trailer, 2 teasers and 1 featurette.

Official Trailer
  • Teaser :15 Cutdown
  • Teaser :30 Cutdown
  • Featurette Featurette
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Return?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What significant event marks Odysseus's return to Ithaca?

Details

The Return Also Known As

21 alternative titles, including “Η Επιστροφή” and “Le Retour”.

Also known as
  • Η Επιστροφή
  • Le Retour
  • Itaca - Il ritorno
  • 王者归来
  • 王者歸來
  • La Odisea: El Regreso
  • EL REGRESO DE ULISES
  • 더 리턴
  • The Return, le retour d'Ulysse
  • Powrót Odyseusza
  • Dönüş
  • Возвращение Одиссея
+9 more
  • Повернення
  • Povratak
  • بازگشت, დაბრუნება
  • Trở Về
  • O Retorno
  • Întoarcerea
  • השיבה
  • Завръщането
  • Sugrįžimas

Seen The Return?

FAQ

The Return FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and the book behind it of The Return, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Return?

The Return runs 1 hour 56 minutes (116 minutes).

When was The Return released?

The Return was released on December 6, 2024.

Who directed The Return?

The Return was directed by Uberto Pasolini.

More films by Uberto Pasolini

Who is in the cast of The Return?

The Return stars Ralph Fiennes as Odysseus, Juliette Binoche as Penelope and Charlie Plummer as Telemachus, among 14 credited actors.

Where can I watch The Return?

In the US, The Return is streaming on fuboTV, Hoopla and Kanopy and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did The Return make at the box office?

The Return grossed $3.7 million worldwide ($703,979 domestic, $3 million international) on a budget of $20 million.

How is The Return rated?

The Return has 6.3/10 on IMDb and 66 on Metacritic.

Is The Return based on a book?

Yes. The Return is partly adapted from The Odyssey by Homer and Emily Wilson.

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