The 3 best movies based on Greek mythology

For centuries Greek mythology has inspired books, movies, paintings and has had a presence in nearly every field of human endeavour, so it’s no wonder that Hollywood still to this day, produces movies inspired by or based on it. Even the Marvel Universe has Greek DNA embedded in its heroes and their journeys, Greek gods, goddesses and demigods have interacted with our imaginations for centuries, laying out foundation stories for the beginning of earth and the human experience.

Often allegorical, other times didactic and symbolic of greater meanings and archetypes, Greek mythology has remained relevant in modern times, and continues to fascinate audiences young and old.

The following Top 7 movie adaptations of Greek mythology have been compiled by Collider magazine:

Black Orpheus (1959)

A retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, set during the time of the Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro. In the heady atmosphere of Rio’s carnival, two people meet and fall in love. Eurydice, a country girl, has run away from home to avoid a man who arrived at her her looking for her. She is convinced that he was going to kill her. She arrives in Rio to stay with her cousin Serafina. Orfeo works as a tram conductor and is engaged to Mira – as far as Mira is concerned anyways. As Eurydice and Orpheus get to know one another they fall deeply in love. Mira is mad with jealousy and when Eurydice disappears, Orfeo sets out to find her.

‘Troy’ (2004)

An adaptation of Homer’s great epic, the film follows the assault on Troy by the united Greek forces and chronicles the fates of the men involved.

Clash of the Titans (1981)

Perseus must battle Medusa and the Kraken to save the Princess Andromeda. Perseus is the favored son of the god Zeus, but he has unwittingly ticked off the sea goddess Thetis . Just to make things worse, Perseus falls in love with the lovely Princess Andromeda, who used to be engaged to Thetis’ son, Calibos (Neil McCarthy). Soon Perseus is off on one quest after another, with Zeus helping, Thetis hindering, and lots of innocent bystanders getting stabbed, drowned, and squished.