Eddington (film)
| Eddington | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Ari Aster |
| Written by | Ari Aster |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Darius Khondji |
| Edited by | Lucian Johnston |
| Music by | |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | A24 |
Release dates |
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Running time | 149 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Eddington is a 2025 American action comedy film written and directed by Ari Aster, and starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O'Connell, Micheal Ward, Austin Butler, and Emma Stone. Incorporating genres of neo-Western and political films with darkly comic elements, the film follows the political and social turmoil in the fictional city of Eddington, New Mexico, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2025, and will be released in theaters by A24 on July 18, 2025.[3]
Premise
In May 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff (Phoenix) and mayor (Pascal) sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, New Mexico.[4]
Cast
- Joaquin Phoenix as Joe Cross, Eddington's sheriff and a mayoral candidate
- Pedro Pascal as Ted Garcia, Eddington's incumbent mayor who is running for reelection
- Emma Stone as Louise Cross, Joe's wife
- Austin Butler as Vernon Jefferson Peak, a radical cult leader
- Luke Grimes as Guy, an officer at the Eddington sheriff's office
- Deirdre O'Connell as Dawn, Louise's mother
- Micheal Ward as Michael, a young sheriff's trainee
- Amélie Hoeferle as Sarah
- Clifton Collins Jr. as Lodge
- William Belleau as Officer Butterfly Jimenez
- Matt Gomez Hidaka as Eric Garcia, Mayor Garcia's son
- Cameron Mann as Brian
- Landall Goolsby as Will
- Elise Falanga as Nicolette
- Robert Mark Wallace as Warren
Production
Ari Aster wrote a script for a contemporary Western film that he had at one point considered making as his directorial debut. He tried to make it for about five years before deciding to make Hereditary and Midsommar first.[5] While promoting his third film, Beau Is Afraid, Aster indicated that his next film would likely be a Western and that he had updated it to take place during the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7] Emma Stone and Christopher Abbott were attached to star in the film in January 2023,[8] and Aster also planned to collaborate with Joaquin Phoenix again for the film. Aster and Phoenix were scouting New Mexico shooting locations in August 2023.[9] In March 2024, Phoenix, Stone, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O'Connell, Micheal Ward, and Clifton Collins Jr. were added to the cast, with Butler taking over Abbott's role.[10][11] The film was produced by Square Peg and A24, who also financed the film with IPR.VC.[10][12] Filming took place from March through May 2024 in Albuquerque and Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.[13][14]
On April 9, 2025, it was announced that Bobby Krlic would compose the film's score, after previously collaborating with Aster on Midsommar and Beau Is Afraid.[15] On May 7, it was announced that Daniel Pemberton would also be composing the film's score alongside Krlic.[16]
Release
Eddington premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2025.[17] The film also played in Australia at the Sydney Film Festival on June 12, 2025,[18] and at Revelation Perth International Film Festival on July 5, 2025.[19] It will also open 29th Fantasia International Film Festival on July 16, 2025.[20]
Eddington is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 18, 2025.[21]
Reception
Critical reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 67% of 55 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Eddington carries a stellar cast, fearless direction by Ari Aster and an off-kilter story, but its tonal misdirection will often leave viewers wanting."[22] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 64 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[23]
In June 2025, IndieWire ranked the film at number 74 on its list of "The 100 Best Movies of the 2020s (So Far)."[24]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival | 24 May 2025 | Palme d'Or | Ari Aster | Nominated | [25] |
References
- ^ "EDDINGTON". British Columbia Film Classification Office. June 25, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ^ "EDDINGTON". Festival de Cannes. May 16, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "The films of the Official Selection 2025". Festival de Cannes. April 10, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
- ^ Eddington. Retrieved April 10, 2025 – via a24films.com.
- ^ Smith, Jeremy (April 20, 2023). "Ari Aster and Joaquin Phoenix Are Already Set for Another Project Together". /Film. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Rothkopf, Joshua (March 28, 2023). "Ari Aster Has Something Funny to Show You. Don't Be Scared". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023.
- ^ Monda, Antonio (June 11, 2023). "Ari Aster: "Io ho paura". Intervista al nuovo re dell'horror" [Ari Aster: "I'm scared." Interview with the new king of horror]. la Repubblica (in Italian). Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Raup, Jordan (January 16, 2023). "Ari Aster Plans New Film with Emma Stone and Christopher Abbott Attached". The Film Stage. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Sim, Jonathan (August 11, 2023). "Eddington: Joaquin Phoenix and Ari Aster Seen Scouting for New Movie". ComingSoon.net. Evolve Media. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ a b Shanfeld, Ethan (March 12, 2024). "Ari Aster Casts Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal in Next A24 Movie Eddington". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (March 21, 2024). "Ari Aster's 'Eddington' Adds Four To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Dalton, Ben (November 6, 2024). "How European fund IPR.VC is harnessing investment knowledge for the film sector". Screen International. Media Business Insight. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Stock, Christina (March 17, 2024). "Feature film 'Eddington' filming in New Mexico". Roswell Daily Record.
- ^ "Eddington". Production Listing. February 12, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ "Bobby Krlic Scoring Ari Aster's 'Eddington'". Film Music Reporter. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
- ^ "Daniel Pemberton Co-Scoring Ari Aster's 'Eddington'". Film Music Reporter. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
- ^ Gleiberman, Owen (May 16, 2025). "'Eddington' Review: Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal Square Off in Ari Aster's Brazenly Provocative Western Thriller, Set During the Pandemic the Film Says Made America Lose Its Mind". Variety. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
- ^ "Eddington". Sydney Film Festival. May 13, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
- ^ "Revelation Perth International Film Festival". www.revelationfilmfest.org. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Fantasia's 29th edition to open with Ari Aster's Eddington". Fantasia International Film Festival. June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
- ^ Ritman, Jonathan (February 4, 2025). "Ari Aster's 'Eddington,' Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone, Heads to EFM as A24 Eyes Cannes Debut and Summer Release (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
- ^ "Eddington". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ "Eddington". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ "The 100 Best Movies of the 2020s (So Far)". June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ^ "The films of the Official Selection 2025". Festival de Cannes. April 10, 2025. Archived from the original on April 10, 2025. Retrieved April 27, 2025.