Overview
- Craig Brewer’s drama opened in U.S. theaters on Dec. 25 via Focus Features, centering on a Milwaukee Neil Diamond tribute duo.
- Critics commend Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman’s performances, while pointing to abrupt shifts between musical uplift and heavier drama.
- The film adapts Greg Kohs’ 2008 documentary, with Kohs as co-writer, and interprets the real story of Lightning & Thunder rather than strictly reenacting it.
- Coverage notes deliberate timeline compression and a few rearranged events for dramatic effect, even as major life events remain rooted in fact.
- Industry reporting projects a PVOD release in mid-January 2026 and a Peacock debut around mid-February, and Hudson has already landed a Golden Globe nomination.