Magazine Dreams
Genre: Drama / Psychological
Release Date: March 21, 2025
Platform: Theaters
Star Rating: 4/5
By Karl Simpson Jr.
“It holds up a mirror to how we value people—what we reward and what we ignore.”
MAGAZINE DREAMS, directed by Elijah Bynum, is a slow-burn, emotionally intense character study that follows one man’s relentless pursuit of validation—no matter the cost. It follows an amateur bodybuilder named Killian, played by Jonathan Majors, in an unforgettable performance that is as raw and moving as it is heartbreaking. The film dives headfirst into the devastating toll of obsession and isolation, trading plot twists for a lingering unease that sticks with you throughout every moment and second of the film’s duration. It definitely won’t be for everyone, but there’s something powerful in how quietly and strategically it wrecks you.
Of course, it’s impossible to talk about Magazine Dreams now without acknowledging what’s happened since its Sundance premiere. In early 2023, the film debuted to strong reactions, and critics immediately positioned it as an awards contender, especially Majors, whose performance had many calling it a career-defining moment. But that fantastic momentum came to an abrupt halt when Majors was arrested and later convicted in court of assault and harassment. Searchlight Pictures pulled the film’s release in the fallout, and its future remained uncertain until Briarcliff Entertainment acquired the film’s distribution rights. While this review focuses on the film itself, it is understandable if some choose not to watch it.
As stated earlier, Majors delivers one of the year’s most committed performances in the film. His portrayal of Killian is both terrifying and tender—this is a man constantly battling himself, caught between rage and vulnerability. Even as he unravels, becoming more unpredictable and volatile, the film never loses sight of his humanity. If anything, our empathy grows stronger the further he falls into chaos. That emotional complexity makes Majors’ performance unforgettable and arguably award-worthy.
While MAFAZINE DREAMS takes place in the world of bodybuilding, it is more interested in what that world represents. Killian is not just building and sculpting muscle—he is sculpting an identity built for people to admire but impossible to maintain. The film speaks to a much larger cultural obsession with perfection and visibility. It holds up a mirror to how we value people—what we reward and what we ignore. Killian’s need to matter and for people to remember him feels less like vanity and more like a desperate plea for connection.
The film has a lingering and looming threat of violence, but it rarely explodes. And that restraint feels very intentional. Some may be frustrated that the story does not ultimately build to a more traditional type of climax, but the quiet implosion at its center hits a lot differently. The real tension comes from watching someone uncontrollably teeter on the edge and never entirely fall. The real tension comes from exploring what it means to live with that weight daily. It is not about what happens but what it feels like to teeter back and forth between losing control and forcing yourself to hold it in.
MAGAZINE DREAMS is not a perfect film, but it is hard to shake afterward. It burrows underneath your skin with its quiet intensity and emotional honesty. Anchored by a haunting performance from Jonathan Majors, it explores the cost of chasing approval at the expense of authenticity and how easy it is to lose yourself. Some will definitely find issues with it, but this film has something honest and lasting to say for those willing to sit in discomfort.
