Matt Damon Says Running in Sandals Made The Odyssey a ‘Heavy Advil’ Movie

Matt Damon says filming Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey was physically demanding, with many cast members suffering back pain from running in sandals on hard stone surfaces.

Speaking on SiriusXM’s Radio Andy, Damon, 55, said the realistic sandals worn during action scenes left actors with sore, scuffed feet, but the biggest problem was back pain. “It was a heavy Advil movie,” he said, describing the weeks spent filming the action sequences.

The film features a large ensemble cast, including Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Elliot Page, John Leguizamo, Samantha Morton, and Mia Goth.

Nolan also insisted actors avoid wearing modern footwear such as Ugg boots on set. In an interview with CBS Mornings, he said items like slippers or even someone eating chips off-camera can break the immersive atmosphere he tries to create for actors.

Despite the demanding shoot, The Odyssey has been a box office success, earning $264 million worldwide, including $124.5 million in North America. According to Rentrak, its $249 million global opening set a new record for a Christopher Nolan film, surpassing The Dark Knight Rises. The Odyssey is now playing in theaters.