Overview

• Eddington, directed by Ari Aster and starring Joaquin Phoenix, premiered in competition at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2025.
• Set in May 2020, the film uses the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic to explore themes of conspiracy, racial tension, and political polarization in a small New Mexico town.
• Joaquin Phoenix plays a sheriff grappling with paranoia and power struggles, alongside performances by Pedro Pascal and Emma Stone.
• Critics have highlighted the film's sharp social critique, with Aster blending neo-western elements and dark satire to reflect contemporary American challenges.
• Phoenix, in interviews, emphasized his detachment from social media and declined to comment on U.S. politics, focusing instead on the film's themes and his collaboration with Aster.