Last week, I had the honour of representing JoBlo once again at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. This was my second year covering the festival, and I have to say, going to Austin has always been special to me. I remember, as a film fan in the ’90s and 2000s, reading the early days of film news coverage on the original websites and always being impressed by how many of my favorite writers came from Austin. It seemed like the film nerd capital of the world, yet I never actually made it out to Austin until relatively late in my career. Of course, the town never disappoints, as it’s a party-hardy city if ever there was one (I ate lots of BBQ and drank lots of whiskey, that’s for sure).

Another thing about Austin is how hardcore the movie fans are, with the screenings I attended at SXSW being some of the more raucous in recent memory. I still have a few reviews to catch up on, but I managed to catch most of the big titles (read my reviews HERE), and I wanted to highlight five of my favourites from the fest.

Monitor:

I’m actually surprised no distributor has picked this one up yet, as it feels like the kind of horror flick that could turn into a big franchise for an upstart distributor. It’s a slasher movie for the digital age, with a group of streaming video moderators who find themselves targeted by a malevolent presence that travels via streaming video. It’s produced by the people behind the Smile franchise, and I still think it’s only a matter of time before someone picks this up for theaters.

Hokum:

This is Neon’s big horror movie for the summer, with it directed by acclaimed Irish helmer Damian McCarthy. While I don’t think I would call this one really scary, it’s still a beautifully crafted ghost story, anchored by a superb performance by the great Adam Scott, who’s having a much-deserved moment in the sun with Severance.

Obsession:

Of all the movies I caught at SXSW, this feels like the one that has the most potential to become a major hit. Focus is giving it a wide release in May, and it absolutely slayed the audience I saw it with. It’s the story of a lovestruck lad who makes a wish that proves to be a nightmare for everyone it touches. Obsession has loads of gore, some pitch-black dark comedy, but also a provocative storyline that will no doubt prompt much discussion.

Power Ballad:

A few of my fellow critics at SXSW were ribbing me a bit for my love of John Carney’s Power Ballad, but what can I say? I’m a sucker for Carney’s movies (Once and Sing Street are my favourites), and to me this is one of his best. Paul Rudd is at his absolute best as a singer who finds one of his compositions stolen by a pop star. It comes out this summer from Lionsgate, and I hope it’s a hit.

Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice:

I saved the best for last. I’m a sucker for action movies, and director BenDavid Grabinski made a great one, with James Marsden showing serious action chops opposite Vince Vaughn in a double role. This actually hits Hulu on Friday, which is a shame, as it’s the kind of movie that deserves to make $100 million in theaters. Such is our time, I guess.

Which one of these movies are you most hyped to see? Let us know in the comments.

The post SXSW: What Were The Best Movies We Saw At The Fest? appeared first on JoBlo.

REVIEW: There are very few directors out there whose work I look forward to more than John Carney. I’ve never disliked any of his movies (Flora and Son was a recent delight), and two of them (Once and Sing Street) are among the best movies ever made about music. His latest, Power Ballad, is another gem, anchored by one of star Paul Rudd’s best performances. He also shows off a surprising flair for singing, harkening back to an unheralded early role where he once (very convincingly) played a washed-up rock star on the late, great Veronica Mars.

In Power Ballad, Rudd plays Rick, a gifted singer-songwriter who once fronted a pop band but fell in love with an Irish woman, Rachel (Marcella Plunkett), and abandoned his rock star dreams for a quiet life as a family man in Ireland. There, he’s a loving husband who dotes on his daughter Aja (named after the Steely Dan album?), played by Beth Fallon. He even gets to keep playing music, serving as the lead singer for a top-notch wedding band, where he sings (quite well) all the old classics people want to hear.

It’s when he absolutely kills a gig at a high-end wedding that he meets Nick Jonas’s Danny, who was once in a boy band and is now struggling with a solo career. After performing together, the two spend the rest of the night drinking and jamming, but when Rick shares a great song he’s been tinkering with for years with Danny, he doesn’t know what he’s in for.

Power Ballad walks a fine line. In any other movie, Nick Jonas’s Danny would be a villain, callously stealing Rick’s song. But Carney’s movies are more nuanced. While not excusing the act, we see Danny grappling with the notion that his talent isn’t quite as vast as he once thought, and that his career is on the verge of ending if he’s not able to capitalize on his former boy-band fame soon. He deludes himself into thinking what he’s doing isn’t wrong, and Carney never portrays him as wholly unsympathetic. Yet, he also doesn’t excuse how callous Danny becomes once the song is a smash hit, and how he lacks the scruples to admit his wrongdoing, with him easily swayed by his sleazy manager—Carney favorite Jack Reynor as Mac.

Jonas is well cast in a role that demonstrates his singing ability but also a degree of vulnerability, as you never truly hate Danny. Yet it’s a showstopping movie for Paul Rudd, who has one of the best roles of his career as Rick. Rudd is one of the most sympathetic, likeable leading men working, and the fact that he plays Rick as not necessarily vengeful—just bent on getting some kind of acknowledgment—is perfect. But Carney also doesn’t let Rick come off as too idealized, with him succumbing to some bitterness early on when he realizes his song really was good enough to become a phenomenon, but that he’ll never get his moment in the sun. Marcella Plunkett is wonderful as his loyal, loving wife, while Beth Fallon is a find as his daughter.

Best of all, though, is Peter McDonald as Rick’s lifelong sidekick, Sandy, who plays in the wedding band with him and—while a bit of a silly shambles—always has his back. That’s really what you get in a Carney movie: a collection of people who represent the best parts of life rather than the worst. It’s this quality that always makes his movies feel like a breath of fresh air, and the SXSW audience I saw this with ate it up. Hopefully it does well enough that Carney can keep making these movies for a long time—he’s quietly becoming one of the best directors of our era.

Power Ballad

AMAZING

9

The post Power Ballad (SXSW) Review: Paul Rudd has one of his best roles in John Carney’s charmer appeared first on JoBlo.

Let’s rock

Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas play desperate musicians in the new comedy Power Ballad. However, only one will have a hit song in his holster, and one will use it to his benefit. We recently debuted the dueling posters from Power Ballad, in which Rudd and Jonas are mid-swing with their guitars. They are dynamic images, and now, we see what caused the rift between the two characters as Lionsgate releases the trailer this morning.

In addition to Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, Power Ballad stars Peter McDonald, Marcella Plunkett, Havana Rose Liu, Jack Reynor, Rory Keenan, Keith McErlean, Paul Reid, Beth Fallon, and more. John Carney (Once, Sing Street, On the Edge) directs Power Ballad from a script by Peter McDonald. 30West fully financed and executive-produced the film.

The Liner Notes

The official description from Lionsgate reads:

From writer-director John Carney (Sing Street, Once), POWER BALLAD stars Paul Rudd as Rick, a past-his-prime wedding singer who 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. The film had its World Premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival on March 1, 2026, and will make its North American Premiere at SXSW on March 14, 2026. 

Stay tuned for the review from our Editor-in-Chief, Chris Bumbray, who will be attending the screening at SXSW.

Competition may be stiff for the comedy as it opens up against Amazon MGM Studios’ Masters of the Universe, the anticipated reboot of the popular 80s fantasy action property from filmmaker Travis Knight, as well as Warner Bros and Legendary’s hybrid live-action animated title, Animal Friends.

So, what did you think of the trailer? Will you be seeing this in theaters? Let us know!

Power Ballad starts playing in theaters on June 5, 2026.

The post Nick Jonas steals Paul Rudd’s song in the trailer for Power Ballad appeared first on JoBlo.

It’s time for SXSW! Once again, film fans will be gathering in Austin, Texas, for a week of cool, largely genre-focused movies looking to build a bit of buzz before many of them come out over the next few months. SXSW has steadily been rising in reputation, with it perhaps most famous for being the place where eventual Oscar-winner Everything Everywhere All at Once had its world premiere. This will be JoBlo’s second time covering the fest, as we attended last year, where we caught the world premieres of The Accountant 2, Another Simple Favor, Death of a Unicorn, and more.

SXSW is interesting in that it seems to be a better place for studios to launch crowd-pleasers than a high-end indie market, with last year’s probably best film at the festival, The Rivals of Amziah King, yet unreleased. Yet genre indies do get sold there, with Good Boy having been a pretty big acquisition last year, and it did solid box office when it came out last summer. With that in mind, here are some of the movies we’re most eager to see this year.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

Radio Silence returns with a sequel to their survival horror flick, with Samara Weaving reprising her star-making role as a young woman marked for death by a family who wanted to use her as a satanic sacrifice. Fresh off killing her way out of that situation, her character is forced to participate in another “kill or be killed” game by another clan, which includes such genre stalwarts as Elijah Wood, David Cronenberg, and Sarah Michelle Gellar. Plus, Kathryn Newton co-stars as Weaving’s sister, who is forced to join the hunt. The last one was a blast, so here’s hoping the sequel is just as good.

They Will Kill You: 

Oddly, this seems to have the same premise as Ready or Not, in which a young woman (in this case, Zazie Beetz) is hunted by a satanic cult that lives in the high-end hotel she’s just been hired at. Patricia Arquette co-stars. This comes from WB/New Line, who have had a strong run of horror movies as of late, so this might be another crowd-pleaser, although it’s odd that this and Ready or Not 2 are opening so close to each other (they hit theaters only one week apart).

Over Your Dead Body: 

Samara Weaving seems to be the MVP of this year’s SXSW, with her showing up in not one, but two movies. This one pairs her with Jason Segel in a remake of the Norwegian action-comedy-horror flick The Trip. In it, Segel and Weaving play a couple who are each planning to murder the other on a weekend trip to the country, only to join forces against a bigger threat. This has action scenes by 87North and is directed by The Lonely Island’s Jorma Taccone, who also helmed MacGruber.

Pretty Lethal: 

Another 87North production, this one focuses on a troupe of ballerinas forced to rely on years of brutal training to survive a team of armed men. Maude Apatow, Lana Condor, and Uma Thurman star.

Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice: 

Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, and Eiza Gonzalez star in this buddy action movie about two hitmen, the woman they both love, and… a time machine? The trailer for this one looked like a lot of fun, and it’s nice to see Vaughn return to action, having slayed in the now-classic Brawl in Cell Block 99.

Power Ballad: 

One of my favorite directors, John Carney (Sing Street, Once), returns with another music-driven comedy in which Paul Rudd plays a frustrated singer-songwriter whose composition is stolen by a pop star (Nick Jonas). I love Carney, and I love Rudd, so this one is an easy must-see and may well end up as my favorite of the fest (there’s never been a Carney movie I didn’t love).

Hokum: 

Adam Scott stars in this Neon-distributed horror film about an author (played by the great Adam Scott) staying in a hotel in Ireland that might be haunted. Scott is having a much-deserved moment in the spotlight thanks to Severance, so I’m eager to see him stretch. Also, Neon has become a trusted name in horror.

Obsession: 

Curry Barker’s film was a sensation at TIFF’s Midnight Madness, where I (regrettably) missed out on seeing it. I’m looking to remedy that, and Focus is using SXSW as a platform to launch a movie they surely hope will become the next indie horror smash, with it getting a prime summer release date.

Normal: 

Bob Odenkirk makes a welcome return to action in Ben Wheatley’s small-town-set shoot-’em-up. Odenkirk plays a temporary sheriff who discovers the town he’s posted in harbors a deadly secret. I actually caught this one at TIFF (read my review), so this will be a repeat viewing for me — albeit a welcome one. It’s even showing on 35mm film!

I Love Boosters: 

Boots Riley returns with his much-anticipated follow-up to his indie hit Sorry to Bother You. Not much is known about this one, but it stars Keke Palmer and Demi Moore, and is being positioned as a huge release by Neon.

Which movie are you most eager to see? Let us know in the comments!

The post SXSW 2026 Preview: 10 Huge Movies We’re Excited To See appeared first on JoBlo.

What’s Power Ballad About?

“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,” read the movie’s official synopsis. “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. The film is a feel-good story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition.”

What Do the New Character Posters Show?

Today’s dueling posters for Power Ballad find Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas looking like genuine rock stars from two different sides of the tracks. The first poster shows Rudd’s Rick wearing a black leather jacket and matching shades, a jet-black electric guitar slung over his shoulder as he prepares to smash it against a stage. The other poster, featuring Jonas’s Danny, features the musician-turned-actor wearing a black t-shirt and shades, with an acoustic guitar poised to meet an untimely end when it’s smashed to pieces.

Who Else Stars in Power Ballad?

In addition to Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, Power Ballad stars Peter McDonald, Marcella Plunkett, Havana Rose Liu, Jack Reynor, Rory Keenan, Keith McErlean, Paul Reid, Beth Fallon, and more. John Carney (Once, Sing Street, On the Edge) directs Power Ballad from a script by Peter McDonald.

As far as premises for an R-rated comedy go, Power Ballad could be my jam. Paul Rudd is always charming, and Nick Jonas is a treat whenever he pops up in something I’m watching. I’ve been waiting for the better part of two years to learn more about Power Ballad, and everything I’m hearing sounds like music to my ears. I’m eagerly awaiting a trailer, which by all accounts should drop sooner rather than later.

The post Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas Rock Out in the First Posters for John Carney’s Power Ballad appeared first on JoBlo.

Scout a picturesque cliffside and fire up the wind machines because Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas are ready to feel the wind in their hair while serenading audiences for the musical comedy Power Ballad. The film starring Rudd (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) and Jonas (Jumanji: The Next Level, Midway) revolves around a wedding singer (Rudd), a rock star (Jonas), and the song that divides them. The project hails from 30West and Anthony Bregman’s Likely Story.

John Carney directs Power Ballad from a script he co-wrote with Peter McDonald, who wrote and directed the comedy short Pentecost and co-wrote The Bachelor Weekend with John Butler.

“We are so excited to bring John Carney’s next film to Cannes. John has a magic ability to weave great music into wonderfully engaging and universally relatable stories that make audience emotions run high,” said Alex Walton of WME. “Power Ballad is fun and heartwarming – themes that audiences crave today.  His unique vision, coupled with the global appeal of Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, will give buyers exactly what they’re looking for.”

After busting ghosts alongside the stars of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Rudd is wrapping up two of his latest film projects, Death of a Unicorn and Friendship. Alex Scharfman’s Death of Unicorn focuses on a father-daughter duo, Riley (Jenna Ortega) and Elliot (Paul Rudd), who hit a unicorn with their car and bring it to the wilderness retreat of a mega-wealthy pharmaceutical CEO. The comedic horror film also stars Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, Richard E. Grant, Jessica Hynes, Anthony Carrigan, and Steve Park.

Rudd’s Friendship film comes from Andrew DeYoung. The comedy revolves around a new neighbor threatening Craig Waterman’s quiet life, and Craig struggles to protect his family’s security. Kate Mara, Meredith Garreton, Josh Segarra, and Jack Dylan Grazer also star alongside Rudd in the upcoming feature.

Will Paul Rudd slappa da bass for Power Ballad? Is Nick Jonas ready to channel his rock star past into his new character? What do you think the song they’re warring about sounds like? I’m hearing a mixture of White Snake’s “Here I Go Again” and REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” but we’ll need to wait and see.

The post Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas raise their horns for Power Ballad, a musical comedy about musicians warring over a song appeared first on JoBlo.