Magazine Dreams: release date, trailer, cast, reviews and everything we know about the Jonathan Majors movie

Jonathan Majors posing in silhouette in Magazine Dreams
Jonathan Majors in Magazine Dreams (Image credit: Sundance)

While much attention is being paid to Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Creed III, Jonathan Majors' 2023 lineup of movies also includes the drama Magazine Dreams, giving the rising star a well-rounded slate of big budget and indie movies.

The movie made some headlines after premiering at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, but for those not able to make it out to Park City or take part in the virtual aspect of the festival, here is what you need to know about Magazine Dreams ahead of it being made available to general audiences.

Magazine Dreams release date 

Having first screened at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, Magazine Dreams is finally slated to come out in movie theaters on March 21, 2025.

Magazine Dreams plot

Written by Elijah Bynum, Magazine Dreams focuses on one man's dangerous pursuit to become a professional bodybuilder while struggling with his own mental issues and the culture of toxic masculinity that surrounds the sport. Here is the synopsis provided by the Sundance Film Festival:

"Killian Maddox lives with his ailing veteran grandfather, obsessively working out between court-mandated therapy appointments and part-time shifts at a grocery store where he harbors a crush on a friendly cashier. Though Killian's struggles to read social cues and maintain control of his volatile temper amplify his sense of disconnection amid a hostile world, nothing deters him from his fiercely protected dream of bodybuilding superstardom, not even the doctors who warn that he's causing permanent damage to his body with his quest."

Magazine Dreams cast

Jonathan Majors is the star and main attraction of Magazine Dreams as Killian Maddox. Majors first came to some viewers attention with another Sundance movie, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, though his big breakouts came with a couple of TV shows. First, his Emmy-nominated performance in HBO's Lovecraft Country and then as He Who Remains in Loki, which laid the groundwork for his upcoming role in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quanutmania as Marvel supervillain Kang the Conqueror. He has also starred in Da 5 Bloods, The Harder They Fall and Devotion, with Creed III also coming out in 2023.

Other members of the Magazine Dreams cast include Hayley Bennett (Cyrano, Till), Taylour Pagie (Zola, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom), professional bodybuilder Mike O'Hearn, Harrison Page (original Quantum Leap, Better Things) and Harriet Sansom Harris (Hacks, Licorice Pizza).

Magazine Dreams trailer

Watch the Magazine Dreams trailer directly below:

Magazine Dreams reviews

Many critics have weighed in after watching Magazine Dreams at the Sundance Film Festival, with almost universal praise for Jonathan Majors' performance, including in WTW's own Magazine Dreams review. Overall, the movie is receiving strong notice as well, as it has an 83% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes (as of January 26).

Magazine Dreams director Elijah Bynum

Elijah Bynum, who both wrote and directed Magazine Dreams, is a relatively fresh name for movie fans. Magazine Dreams is just his second directing gig, with his lone credit prior being the 2017 movie Hot Summer Nights starring Timothée Chalamet and Maika Monroe.

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Michael Balderston
Assistant Managing Editor

Michael Balderston is What to Watch’s assistant managing editor and lead movie writer, covering movies coming to theaters, writing movie reviews and highlighting new and classic movies on streaming services; he also covers a range of TV shows, including those in the Taylor Sheridan universe, Slow Horses, Only Murders in the Building, Jeopardy!, Saturday Night Live and more, as well as the best ways to watch some major US sporting events.

Based outside of Washington, D.C., Michael's previous experience includes writing for Awards Circuit, TV Technology and The Wrap.

Michael’s favorite movie of all time is Casablanca, while his favorite TV show is Seinfeld. Some 2025 favorites include One of Them Days and Black Bag for movies, and The Pitt on TV. Follow on Letterboxd to keep up with what I'm watching.

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