Last night, I was invited to a prescreening of Power Ballad — the new film from director John Carney that hits theaters nationwide on June 5, 2026 — and I walked out of that theater on a complete high. Not just because it was a great movie (it absolutely was), but because it reminded me why I love going to the movies in the first place.
Now, if you know me at all, you would know Sing Street is one of my all-time favorite movies — I am not exaggerating, it is on a very short list — so when I found out John Carney had a new film coming out, I was already fully on board before I even knew what it was about. Add Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas to the mix? Consider me sold, front and center, popcorn in hand.
What Is Power Ballad About?
Here is the setup, and I promise it is even better than it sounds on paper.
Rick Power (Paul Rudd) is a past-his-prime wedding singer — still talented, still charming, but clearly past the moment when the world was paying attention to him. At a gig, he crosses paths with Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas), a fading boy-band star who is also trying to figure out where he fits in a world that has moved on. The two bond over music and a late-night jam session, and for a moment it feels like something real is forming between them.
Then Danny takes one of Rick’s songs — and turns it into the massive hit that reignites his own career. Without giving Rick the credit he deserves.
What follows is Rick’s journey to reclaim what is rightfully his, even if that means risking the relationships and the life he has built around him. At its heart, Power Ballad is a story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition. It is set across both the lush, atmospheric landscapes of Ireland and the energy of America, and the visual contrast between the two worlds gives the film a texture and soul that is unmistakably John Carney.
The Performances Are Incredible
Let me just say it clearly: Paul Rudd is magnificent in this role. He brings so much warmth and relatability to Rick that you root for him from the very first scene. There is a quiet dignity to the character — Rick is not bitter, he is not a villain in his own story, he is just a man who wants the world to see what he sees in himself. Rudd makes that feel real and earned, never over the top.
Nick Jonas also completely delivers as Danny. He plays the fading star with a vulnerability that I honestly did not expect, and his chemistry with Rudd gives the film its emotional engine. These two together are just magic on screen.
And another performance I have to mention is Peter McDonald as Sandy. I loved him. Sandy is the kind of character who sneaks up on you, and McDonald plays him with such specificity and heart that by the end of the film, you just love him. He is a scene-stealer in the very best way.
It Is So Much More Than a Feel-Good Movie
And here is the thing — going in, I expected a fun, feel-good musical comedy. I got that. But I also got something so much more layered than I anticipated.
Power Ballad is funny, yes. It will make you laugh out loud. But underneath all of that, it is asking some genuinely thought-provoking questions. What do we owe the people who helped shape us? What happens when ambition gets in the way of integrity? How do we reckon with the gap between who we are and who we hoped we would become by now?
John Carney has always had a gift for hiding real emotional weight inside beautiful, music-driven stories — that is exactly what made Once and Sing Street so unforgettable — and he does it again here. You walk in thinking you are getting one kind of movie, and you leave having felt things you were not entirely prepared to feel.
The music in this film is catchy and will get into your head. Whether it is set against the rolling green of the Irish countryside or the buzzing rhythm of an American city, every musical moment lands. The style of the film — visually, tonally — is gorgeous, and it is a reminder that John Carney makes movies that feel like no one else’s.
Why You Need to Take the Time to See This
Look, I know life is busy. I know the to-do list never ends and finding two hours to sit in a theater feels like a luxury you cannot always afford. I am telling you anyway: make time for this one.
Power Ballad is the kind of movie that gives you something. It gives you music that stays in your head, characters you genuinely care about, laughs that come from a real place, and a story that lingers after the credits roll. It is the rare film that manages to be purely entertaining and quietly meaningful at the same time — and those films deserve to be seen on a big screen, with great sound, in the dark, the way movies were meant to be experienced.
This is a film for anyone who has ever felt overlooked. For anyone who has ever wondered if the work they put into something really mattered. For anyone who just wants to feel good for a couple of hours while also being reminded that the world is a little more complicated and beautiful than it looks on the surface.
I will one hundred percent be seeing Power Ballad again when it officially opens on June 5. That is not something I say lightly — but this movie earned a second viewing before I even made it to my car.
Go see it. You will not regret it.
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