The Odyssey’s Most Popular Quote Confirms The True Genius Of Robert Pattinson’s Performancelouu

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Christopher Nolan’s The OdysseyChristopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek poem has been nothing short of a cultural phenomenon. Anticipation mounted for The Odyssey ahead of its release as it promised to be a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience—filmed on IMAX 70mm across six countries. Further, the cast list read as a who’s-who of Hollywood A-listers, including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, and Zendaya. Theatrical showings sold out far in advance of the film’s debut.

The Odyssey earned sweeping critical and popular praise upon its release, with a 94% critical score and 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The Screen Rant review dubbed it a perfect 10/10, saying “The Odyssey is all the overwhelming cinematic experience that was promised.” The film is already highly favored to win big at the 99th Academy Awards, still seven months out.

The Odyssey has received attention for its large-scale production and use of practical sets and real locations. However, the film’s central performances are not to be overlooked. Damon proves he was the right choice for Odysseus, expertly shouldering the nearly three-hour epic. Hathaway delivers an emotionally resonant performance as the queen of Ithaca. Meanwhile, Zendaya received a rare “perfect” from Nolan for her divine depiction of Athena (via People).

Among the plethora of strong showings from the cast, Robert Pattinson stands out for his take on the villainous Antinous. Hathaway’s favorite line, which has become a viral sensation, highlights the genius of Pattinson’s performance.

Why Antinous’ “Get These Beggars Out Of Here” Has Become The Odyssey’s Biggest Meme

In the final act of The Odyssey, Penelope (Hathaway) invites all of her suitors to the castle and claims that she will marry the first to complete her challenge. Determined to usurp Ithaca, Antinous (Pattinson) pleads with the queen to pick a suitor, though none can complete her challenge. Odysseus, who has disguised himself as a beggar, says that he has yet to attempt the challenge. “Can somebody get these beggars out of here?” Pattinson spits through manic laughter.

Of the film’s many gorgeous lines, some translated directly from Homer’s original epic, this simple moment has become one of the most popular quotes. Entire social media accounts are dedicated to this one line. The meme is often used as a reaction to people online fishing for attention or favors in some manner. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Hathaway said Pattison’s catchy line has become one of her favorites. “People are using that one [quote] savagely, and I’m here for it,” Hathaway joked.

The line is perfectly meme-able. It is short, catchy, and versatile. It can be used in a variety of situations and is well suited for short-form social media such as TikTok or X. However, the line would not have gone viral had it not been for Pattinson’s specific delivery. Pattison’s almost cartoonish cadence as he emphasizes the word “beggars” makes a simple line exceptionally memorable. People have delighted in reproducing and parodying the line delivering. His viral quote highlights the genius of Pattison’s permanence as a whole. The actor manages to turn a B-story villain into one of the film’s main events.

Robert Pattinson’s Performance As Antinous Is Unlike Anything Else In The Odyssey

Image via MovieStillsDB

Pattinson’s performance stands out in The Odyssey. The cast generally acts in accordance with the source material. Their performances are worthy of what one may expect for Homer’s epic. Each performance, even that of the witch Circe, is grounded and realistic. The actors perform as an ensemble. While some never share the screen together—such as Zendaya, who only acts against Damon—each performance feels like a piece of a whole.

Pattinson, on the other hand, portrays Antinous as an exaggerated, pompous, and even comedic character. In the battle scene between Odysseus and the suitors, Antinous is hilarious as he cowers and whines at the other men to kill the king. When he is verbally sparring with Prince Telemachus (Holland) he is unnervingly twisted and menacing.

Pattinson rapidly shifts from jovial to threatening, in some cases simultaneously performing the opposing dispositions. The actor’s cartoonish performance perfectly communicates Antinous’s slimy and nefarious nature. His purposefully uneven performance is far more effective than a straight reading of the character would be.

It is no surprise that Pattinson is able to deliver a manic villain. Though known for more heroic roles such as Twilight and Mickey 17, the actor is well versed in evil characters. He played a wicked preacher in The Devil All the Time, sparring against Holland. In fact, Holland has recalled that he was relieved to hear Pattinson would be playing Antinous, knowing the actor would deliver a worthy adversary in The Odyssey.