I will continue to update this post as reviews come in.
Rotten Tomatoes: Fresh
Critics Consensus: N/A
| Critics | Score | Number of Reviews | Average of Rated Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Critics | 89% | 45 | 7.20/10 |
| Top Critics | 75% | 8 |
Metacritic: 73 (14 Reviews)
Sample Reviews:
Wenlei Ma, The Nightly (AU) 3.5/5 – Power Ballad lives up to the promise of its name and reflects what you want from that particular genre of song, which is to feel something, to be swept along and to be invigorated.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian 4/5 – Once again, Irish writer-director John Carney delivers an aspartame rush of enjoyment with this terrific comedy of bromance and betrayal in the world of music.
Matt Singer, ScreenCrush 8/10 – Not just a case of a director rehashing his greatest hits.
Tim Grierson, Screen International – Power Ballad invents implausible scenarios to bring the men together, resulting in a showdown that is not nearly as illuminating or cathartic as Carney assumes.
Chris Barsanti, Slant Magazine 2/4 – Like the fraught relationship between its two musician characters, the film never finds the right groove.
Zachary Lee, RogerEbert.com 3.5/4 – It reminds us that there’s a difference between knowing lyrics in your head and treasuring a song in your heart.
Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter – Like the catchiest pop hits, it’s a little bit familiar, a little bit unexpected and utterly, thrillingly satisfying.
Owen Gleiberman, Variety – What makes “Power Ballad” a terrific film is how much we believe this story. Rudd makes Rick a fully felt presence, a gifted musician with a dad-rock swagger.
SYNOPSIS:
When Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny (Nick Jonas) during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves – even if it means risking everything he cares about. From writer-director John Carney (Sing Street, Once), POWER BALLAD is a feel-good story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition.
CAST:
- Paul Rudd as Rick Power
- Nick Jonas as Danny Wilson
- Peter McDonald as Sandy
- Marcella Plunkett as Rachel
- Havana Rose Liu as Marcia
- Jack Reynor as Mac
DIRECTED BY: John Carney
SCREENPLAY BY: John Carney, Peter McDonald
PRODUCED BY: Anthony Bregman, John Carney, Peter Cron, Rebecca O’Flanagan, Robert Walpole
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Cathleen Dore, Dan Friedkin, Micah Green, Daniel Steinman
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Yaron Orbach
PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Anna Carney
EDITED BY: Stephen O'Connell
COSTUME DESIGNER: Triona Lillis
MUSIC BY: John Carney, Gary Clark
RUNTIME: 98 Minutes
RELEASE DATE: May 29, 2026 (Limited) / June 5, 2026 (Wide)
by chanma50