Universal plans professional critic screenings for Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” skipping social media influencer events

Universal will screen Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film “The Odyssey” for professional critics rather than for social media influencers, a release plan reported June 25, 2026 by The Hollywood Reporter.

The report says Universal is making the change as part of the movie’s campaign strategy, choosing “professional critic screenings” instead of what the outlet describes as the usual “word-of-mouth screenings” that often involve social media creators.

The Hollywood Reporter’s account frames the decision around how early reviews and audience awareness will be generated. Rather than relying on influencer-hosted posts and immediate creator feedback, the studio will direct its early screening access to critics who cover films through traditional media channels, according to the outlet’s description of Universal’s approach.

The story is positioned as a deviation from common recent practice for major releases, where studios sometimes include social media influencers in early events designed to drive visibility during the pre-release period. In this case, Universal is reported to be narrowing the early-screening slate to professional reviewers.

Universal’s decision affects which groups are invited to view the film before the public release window. It also changes how early commentary is expected to circulate, with professional criticism taking the place of creator-led reaction as the primary source of early messaging.

The Hollywood Reporter did not indicate in its report that the film’s eligibility for reviews, critic access rules, or release timing will be altered beyond the change in screening participants. The article also does not attribute the decision to a specific regulatory or legal requirement, describing it instead as a planned shift in the marketing and review pipeline.

With influencer screenings removed from the pre-release process, the next step for audiences is the publication of critic reviews following the studio-organized screening events. The film’s wider rollout, including any red-carpet or promotional appearances, would continue to follow Universal’s separate publicity schedule.

For the industry, the move highlights ongoing adjustments to early-release strategies as studios balance traditional film journalism, influencer platforms, and audience discovery. By limiting screening access reported to professional critics for “The Odyssey,” Universal is indicating a narrower approach to the earliest stage of public conversation around Nolan’s next film.