Ari Aster‘s latest film, Eddington, released in 2025, has sparked curiosity about whether it is based on actual events. While the movie draws from real-life tensions and incidents, the story of Eddington itself is fictional, combining dark, intense themes with a setting inspired by contemporary political and social dynamics.
The film centers on Joe Cross, a New Mexico sheriff played by Joaquin Phoenix, who enters a fierce rivalry with Ted Garcia, the mayor of Eddington, portrayed by Pedro Pascal. Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests, the plot explores their escalating conflict as Joe runs against Ted for mayor, illustrating tensions simmering throughout New Mexico during this period.
Fictional Story with Deep Real-Life Roots
Though Eddington feels timely and connected to real incidents, it is not a literal recounting of true events. All characters, including Sheriff Joe Cross and Mayor Ted Garcia, exist only in Ari Aster’s imagination. Likewise, the crimes, protests, and conspiracies shown are invented storylines blending with actual historical moments for dramatic effect.
The film’s setting, the town of Eddington, New Mexico, is also entirely fictional. Aster created this town by drawing inspiration from several real New Mexico cities, filming scenes in Albuquerque and Truth or Consequences to capture an authentic Southwestern atmosphere. But the town’s political landscape, key figures, and social history were all developed as part of the movie’s unique narrative framework.
Despite its fictional status, Eddington deeply engages with real-world issues, using its story to reflect how events like the COVID-19 pandemic have affected small-town America. Through crime, social division, and escalating tensions, the film shows a microcosm of the broader political and cultural struggles still relevant today.
How the Pandemic and Politics Shaped Eddington’s Story
The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a major source of inspiration for Eddington’s storyline and setting. The film begins amid public debates on masking, vaccine skepticism, and social distancing, reflecting the intense controversies of early 2020. References to real political figures, such as governors Gavin Newsom of California and Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico—who even influenced specific fictional details—anchor the narrative firmly in the political climate of the time.
Eddington portrays various COVID-19 conspiracy theories through its characters, including discussions about the safety of mRNA vaccines and alternative treatments. The story captures the social protocols and anxieties that defined the pandemic experience for many Americans, enhancing its grounded tone.
Beyond the pandemic, the film also incorporates the social upheaval sparked by the Black Lives Matter movement following George Floyd’s death. Early scenes show Sheriff Joe Cross and his deputies watching news coverage of Floyd’s killing and the larger issues of police brutality. The subsequent protests reach the town of Eddington, presenting realistic portrayals of signs, chants, and the challenges faced by law enforcement during this nationwide reckoning.
Additional contemporary political elements weave through the narrative, including references to ANTIFA, Kyle Rittenhouse, the Trump presidency, and even sensational topics like killer hornets. These components build a textured picture of America’s turbulent political landscape in 2020.
A Personal Connection: Ari Aster’s Research in New Mexico
Ari Aster’s inspiration for Eddington goes beyond news headlines and political events. He wrote the script during the period it depicts, experiencing firsthand the anxiety and fear gripping the nation. Aster’s longtime familiarity with New Mexico, where he grew up and where much of his family still lives, played a crucial role in shaping the film’s setting and characters.
After initially drafting the script, Aster returned to New Mexico to deepen his research. He traveled through small towns, speaking with local sheriffs, mayors, and police officers to understand their perspectives on politics and pandemic challenges. These real conversations heavily influenced the film’s character development and story arcs.
“One of the best things that came out of the process was that I’ve always wanted to make a film about New Mexico. I grew up there. My family still lives there. I know New Mexico probably better than any other place. I was writing this script in a state of fear and anxiety about the world. I was writing it at the time the film was set, and I was really just trying to get it all on paper. We had reached a boiling point, and it felt like things were about to explode. It’s gone down to more of a simmer. It’s gradually just plateaued, so we’re just living with it. When I came back to rewrite the script, I went back out to New Mexico, drove around the state, and went to different small towns to talk to police and mayors. I went to different counties to talk to sheriffs, went to pueblos.” —Ari Aster
During these visits, Aster discovered a dynamic political landscape. New Mexico is a blue state overall, but its smaller towns mostly lean Republican, producing a complex mix of views and contradictions, especially in the pandemic’s context. For example, Aster found strong divisions over mask mandates and political leadership within the communities he visited.
“It’s a very specific, interesting place. It’s a blue state, but most of the smaller towns are red. And the governor of New Mexico is sort of a controversial figure. I did not find anybody who did not have very strong convictions about what was happening. Many of the characters in the film are modeled on different people I met.” —Ari Aster
The Real-Life People Behind Fictional Characters
Ari Aster met a sheriff serving a vast New Mexico county with a relatively small population who became the prototype for Joe Cross, Joaquin Phoenix’s character. This sheriff was engaged in a long-standing, heated feud with a local mayor, which inspired key parts of the film’s drama.
The mayor, described as a provocative figure, was known for controversial actions such as bringing a gun into town hall meetings and advocating for policies requiring citizens to be armed when attending. This mayor eventually won office, defying expectations and intensifying the political atmosphere that Eddington portrays.
“I’m going to make it so that if you come to town hall, you have to have to have a gun.” —Ari Aster quoting the mayor who inspired the character of Ted Garcia
“The sheriff and him were really at odds on a lot of things, especially mask mandates. Joe Cross is based on that man, even his wardrobe. I flew back out to New Mexico so that Joaquin could meet him and a few other people that I really liked, and we spent a day just driving around the county with the sheriff. He came to set several times to consult.” —Ari Aster
Joaquin Phoenix spent time with the actual sheriff, absorbing his mannerisms and character traits, which informed his portrayal of Joe Cross. The sheriff also advised the production team during filming, ensuring authenticity in how the political and social nuances were presented.
This connection between real-life figures and their fictional counterparts enhances Eddington’s depth, allowing the film to explore complex interpersonal conflicts and political discord with nuance and credibility.
Why Eddington Matters in Today’s Cinematic Landscape
With its grounding in recent history and vivid depiction of societal turmoil, Eddington stands out as a significant cinematic reflection of America’s 2020 challenges. Unlike Ari Aster’s previous, more surreal horror works such as Hereditary or Midsommar, this film takes a more restrained, neo-Western approach to portray deeply contemporary issues.
By combining fictional storytelling with strongly recognizable political and social themes, Eddington offers viewers a way to engage with recent events through a lens that examines the emotional and political divides shaping small-town America. This approach invites audiences to consider the complexity of these moments, while also recognizing the human stories beneath national headlines.
As debates around pandemic responses, racial justice, and political polarization continue, Eddington’s narrative and production choices ensure it remains a notable cultural artifact, reflecting the mood and friction of an era still unfolding.
Moving forward, Ari Aster’s method of blending firsthand research with imagination could influence more filmmakers to create stories that thoughtfully dramatize real-world experiences, helping audiences process complex, sometimes divisive historical events.
