Pedro Pascal stars in Ari Aster’s Western Eddington movie, a new release from A24 that brings contemporary tension to the big screen, set to arrive in United States theaters on July 18, 2025. The film pairs Pascal with Joaquin Phoenix as power struggles and societal fractures grip a small New Mexico town in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Fresh Look at the Eddington Trailer
The newly launched Eddington trailer reveals escalating hostilities between Pascal’s mayor and Phoenix’s sheriff, both presiding over a community where mistrust and anger run deep. Set in the turmoil of the pandemic, the preview showcases a town where neighbors are continuously at odds, providing insight into the intense atmosphere that drives the film’s narrative.
“In May of 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor (Pedro Pascal) sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, New Mexico,”
—Official synopsis
Star-Studded Cast and Characters
Beyond Pedro Pascal and Joaquin Phoenix, Eddington features a notable ensemble. Austin Butler, Emma Stone, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, Michael Ward, Clifton Collins Jr., Amélie Hoeferle, and William Belleau all contribute to the film’s depiction of a community on edge. Each character adds dimension to the tale of division and suspicion in the fictional New Mexico town.
Mixed Reactions Following the Film’s Premiere
Eddington premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, with reactions from critics sharply divided. Some reviewers, like Indiewire’s David Ehrlich, highlighted the movie’s satirical perspective on the pandemic era and its impact on modern society. Conversely, Kevin Maher from The Times remarked that Eddington
“unsure of what it wants to say.”
—Kevin Maher, The Times. With 49 current reviews, the film holds a 65 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Ari Aster’s History and Influences
Ari Aster, known for his films Hereditary (2018), Midsommar (2019), and the polarizing Beau Is Afraid (2023), once again finds his latest work drawing intense debate. Like Beau Is Afraid, Eddington splits opinions with its unique approach to contemporary themes of fear and societal breakdown.
“I felt like [Aster] wrote something that was all our worst fears as that lockdown experience was already a fracturing society,”
—Pedro Pascal, Actor
This perspective points to the film’s ability to resonate with those who experienced similar uncertainty and anxiety during the pandemic, as the narrative leans into collective unease and the point of no return for the community at its center.
Looking Ahead to the Film’s Release
Eddington arrives in theaters across the United States on July 18, 2025, distributed by A24. As word spreads and the public views the intense trailer, the anticipation grows to see how audiences will respond to a Western that spotlights the consequences of distrust and division, as embodied by a cast led by Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal.
