This SpongeBob Movie Is A Must-Watch Before Christopher Nolan's Odyssey (Seriously)

After endless rumors about whether Christopher Nolan was directing a vampire movie or a "Blue Thunder" remake, we now know that his 13th film is an adaptation of "The Odyssey." Homer's epic poem is, of course, an archetypical myth that has influenced countless artists throughout the centuries, including even the Coen Brothers. Granted, Nolan's own reinterpretation isn't changing the character's names or bringing the story to the U.S., and it's unlikely to feature Tim Blake Nelson and John Turturro singing a banger song, either. Instead, we're getting a grand blockbuster full of spectacle worthy of the best IMAX screens, with lots of practical effects and big battles.

This is to say, Nolan's film adaptation of "The Odyssey" may come closer to capturing the sheer scale and scope of Homer's original work than any one before it. And yet, it's also far from the only way to experience this story. Homer's tale remains relatable millennia after its inception, and it's all too recognizable even when you hide and tweak most of the surface details. You could, for example, change Odysseus from a Greek king and war hero into, say, a sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea.

That's right. Amongst the many films influenced by Homer's "The Odyssey," one of the unlikeliest ones is "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie." The film was initially meant to serve as an ending to the cartoon of the same name created by Stephen Hillenburg, which became a cultural phenomenon after premiering in 1999. It follows SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) and Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) as they embark on an epic adventure full of sea monsters, a cyclops, mermaids, angry gods, and a David Hasselhoff.

It may not seem like it at first glance, but "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" is a must-watch before Nolan's "The Odyssey." Really.

In Homer's "The Odyssey," Odysseus goes on a long and epic quest in order to go back home to his loved ones, and at one point, he angers Poseidon, god of the sea, who accuses Odysseus of murder. SpongeBob never kills anyone, but "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" does follow him on a long quest away from his home after he incurs the wrath of Jeffrey Tambor's King Neptune (the Roman equivalent of Poseidon).

Like Odysseus, SpongeBob embarks on a journey with friends and a cool vessel — a burgermobile. Along the way, he also faces off against deep-sea monsters and a cyclops (i.e. a human in an old-school diver suit). It's not like the franchise hadn't included unusual references before, either. After all, one of the best episodes of "SpongeBob SquarePants" ends with a "Nosferatu" joke, while another essentially adapts "Lord of the Flies." Still, to have an entire kids film riff on "The Odyssey" is weird and funny.

SpongeBob eventually makes it home thanks to some divine intervention, as Scarlett Johansson's Princess Mindy (whose name sounds like it could be short for Minerva, the Roman equivalent of Athena) gives him a Bag of Winds. If you consider that SpongeBob's biggest love is his job, then Plankton (Mr. Lawrence) taking over the Krusty Krab and Bikini Bottom at the end of the movie is like Odysseus finding his home overrun by suitors wanting his wife's hand. The film even has a narrative framing device similar to that of a poet reciting an old tale to an audience, as it's really an in-universe movie being watched by a group of pirates. So, before Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" arrives, make sure you watch what is surely a funnier cinematic adaptation with more singing and burgers.