Magazine Dreams
Directed byElijah Bynum
Written byElijah Bynum
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAdam Arkapaw
Edited byJon Otazua
Music byJason Hill
Production
companies
Distributed bySearchlight Pictures
Release date
  • January 20, 2023 (2023-01-20) (Sundance)
Running time
124 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Magazine Dreams is a 2023 American drama film written and directed by Elijah Bynum. The film stars Jonathan Majors, Haley Bennett, Taylour Paige, Mike O'Hearn, Harrison Page, and Harriet Sansom Harris.

Magazine Dreams had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2023, and received positive reviews from critics. Originally slated to be released theatrically on December 8, 2023, by Searchlight Pictures, the film has been removed from its release schedule in response to both the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike and assault allegations against Majors.

Premise

Magazine Dreams follows aspiring bodybuilder Killian Maddox (Majors), who struggles to find human connection in this exploration of celebrity and violence. Nothing deters him from his fiercely protected dream of superstardom, not even the doctors who warn him of the permanent damage he causes to himself with his quest.[2]

Cast

  • Jonathan Majors as Killian Maddox, an aspiring bodybuilder
  • Haley Bennett as Jessie, a grocery store worker and Maddox's love-interest
  • Taylour Paige as Pink Coat, a prostitute
  • Mike O'Hearn as Brad Vanderhorn, a professional bodybuilder and Killian's idol
  • Harrison Page as William Lattimore, Killian's grandfather
  • Harriet Sansom Harris as Killian's counselor
  • Bradley Stryker as Ken Donaghue, a roofing and plumbing worker who assaults Killian
  • Dan Donahue as Dr. Prescott, Killian's doctor
  • Craig Cackowski as a bodybuilding contest judge who placed Killian poorly
  • Andrea Figliomeni as waitress who tells Killian his date had to leave

Production

In October 2021, Jonathan Majors joined the cast of the film, with Elijah Bynum directing from a screenplay he wrote, with Majors also serving as an executive producer, and Jennifer Fox and Dan Gilroy serving as producers.[3] In July 2022, Haley Bennett, Taylour Paige and Mike O'Hearn joined the cast of the film.[4]

In preparation for the role, Majors ate 6,100 calories a day for four months and would body-build for six hours every day to obtain and maintain the extreme muscular physique of his role.[5]

Release

Magazine Dreams had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2023.[6] For the premiere, the production team declined to provide a print of the film with open captions, and when the alternative device provided to juror Marlee Matlin malfunctioned, the jurors collectively walked out of the initial screening. According to a statement from Sundance, the device was repaired and the jurors were able to screen the film later, as a group.[7] The following month, Searchlight Pictures acquired distribution rights to the film.[2]

The film was originally scheduled to be released theatrically on December 8, 2023,[8] but in October 2023, Searchlight's parent, Walt Disney Studios, removed the film from its release schedule in response to both the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike and assault allegations against Majors.[9][10] Following Majors' conviction for assault and harassment in December of that year, The Hollywood Reporter said it was "unlikely" that Searchlight would still release the film, either theatrically or direct-to-streaming.[11]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 84% of 92 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.10/10. The website's consensus reads: "Its dramatic form may get a little wobbly during certain reps, but Jonathan Majors' incredibly committed performance makes Magazine Dreams well worth a watch."[12] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 72 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Magazine Dreams". Sundance Film Festival. Archived from the original on January 12, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 14, 2023). "Searchlight Pictures Muscling Deal For Elijah Bynum's 'Magazine Dreams,' Sundance Pic With Tour De Force Jonathan Majors Performance". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  3. ↑ Kroll, Justin (October 21, 2021). "Jonathan Majors To Star in 'Magazine Dreams' With Jennifer Fox And Dan Gilroy Producing". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  4. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 6, 2022). "Taylour Paige & Haley Bennett Join Jonathan Majors In 'Magazine Dreams'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  5. ↑ Sharf, Zack (January 21, 2023). "Jonathan Majors Ate 6,100 Calories a Day for Four Months to Transform Into a Bodybuilder for 'Magazine Dreams'". Variety. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  6. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 7, 2022). "Sundance Film Festival Lineup Set With Ukraine War, Little Richard, Michael J. Fox, Judy Blume Docs; Pics With Anne Hathaway, Emilia Clarke, Jonathan Majors; More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  7. ↑ Siegel, Tatiana; Donnelly, Matt; Lang, Brent (January 21, 2023). "Sundance Jury Walks Out of 'Magazine Dreams' Premiere After Festival Fails to Provide Captioning for Juror Marlee Matlin (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  8. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 24, 2023). "Searchlight Sets December Release For Jonathan Majors Sundance Title 'Magazine Dreams'". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  9. ↑ Lang, Brent (October 27, 2023). "Disney's Live-Action 'Snow White' Delays to 2025, Jonathan Majors' 'Magazine Dreams' Pulled Off Calendar". Variety. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  10. ↑ McClintock, Pamela (October 27, 2023). "Disney Delays 'Snow White' and 'Elio' a Year, Removes Jonathan Majors' 'Magazine Dreams' From Calendar". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  11. ↑ Couch, Aaron; McClintock, Pamela (January 10, 2024). "Jonathan Majors' 'Magazine Dreams' Unlikely to Get Searchlight Release After Star's Conviction". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Magazine Dreams". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Magazine Dreams". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
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