Poetry sales in the United Kingdom have seen a significant upswing in 2026, driven in part by Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of Homer’s ancient epic, *The Odyssey*. According to data from NielsenIQ, poetry sales surpassed £8 million in the first 30 weeks of the year, marking a 13.3% increase compared with the same period in 2025. If this trend continues, annual sales could exceed £15 million for the first time since accurate record-keeping began, potentially reaching up to £17 million.

The renewed interest in *The Odyssey* has played a major role in the growth of the poetry market. Following the release of Nolan’s film adaptation, starring Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway, UK print sales of the poem rose by 1,400% over the four weeks ending 25 July compared to the same period the previous year. Editions of *The Odyssey* and Homer’s other epic, *The Iliad*, have collectively generated nearly £980,000 in sales so far this year, accounting for approximately 12% of all poetry book purchases in Britain.

Nolan’s film also enjoyed a successful global launch, earning £198 million at the box office during its opening weekend in late July. The impact of the film extends beyond the UK: in the United States, print sales of various editions of *The Odyssey* have increased by 76% in 2026, according to Circana BookScan.

Though the impact of *The Odyssey* is substantial, the broader poetry market remains strong even when excluding sales of the ancient epics. Poetry sales overall are up 7.2% from last year and appear positioned to achieve the highest annual total on record, eclipsing the best years between 2023 and 2025. This growth is largely attributed to the popularity of socially driven, commercially oriented poets often referred to as Instapoets. Canadian poet Rupi Kaur, known for her 2015 collection *Milk and Honey*, set a previous UK sales record with £1.2 million in 2017, a figure that Homer’s works are beginning to rival.

In contemporary British poetry, Donna Ashworth has emerged as the bestselling living poet of the decade. Her 2025 collection, *To the Women*, has sold nearly 34,000 copies this year. However, some critics question the categorization of Ashworth’s aphoristic writing as poetry, suggesting it aligns more closely with self-help literature. Another standout newcomer is Lucas Jones, a London-based actor and poet, whose debut collection *I Still Believe in Miracles* has generated £400,000 in sales to date, making it 2026’s bestselling poetry title by value.

Emily Wilson, whose 2017 translation of *The Odyssey* has benefited significantly from the film’s popularity, recently voiced strong criticism of Nolan’s adaptation. Writing in the *London Review of Books*, Wilson argued that the movie “lacks psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth,” describing the script as “abysmal” and the characters as unconvincing. She also lamented the absence of key narrative elements such as sex scenes and expressed dissatisfaction with the film’s portrayal of food.

Audiobook versions of *The Odyssey* have similarly experienced a surge. Narrations by Stephen Fry and Ian McKellen rank among the most popular on platforms like Spotify in the UK and in the US audiobook charts, respectively. This renewed engagement with both ancient and contemporary poetry underscores a broader revival of interest in the genre, propelled by a combination of cultural events and social media-driven trends.