‘Magazine Dreams’ Opens to Mixed Reviews, Spotlighting Jonathan Majors’ Performance

The long-delayed film explores masculinity and mental health, but critics are divided on its narrative depth and execution.

Jonathan Majors delivers an intense and unsettling performance as Killian Maddox, a troubled bodybuilder navigating societal and personal struggles.
The film, delayed after Majors’ 2023 domestic assault conviction, is now seen as part of his attempt to rebuild his career.
Critics have praised the film’s cinematography and aesthetic focus on the bodybuilding world, but noted its narrative as overburdened and shallow.
‘Magazine Dreams’ draws comparisons to ‘Taxi Driver’ and ‘Joker’ for its depiction of a volatile, isolated protagonist, though some argue it lacks their depth.
The film has faced criticism for its exhausting tone, lack of character nuance, and unrealistic absence of consequences for the protagonist’s violent actions.