I’m going to be real with you: when I saw the notification that Charli XCX was leading an A24 movie, my brain did a full restart. Is this going to be a masterpiece or a glorious trainwreck? After watching the trailer and poster reveal for The Moment, I’m leaning toward “glorious trainwreck”—but in the way only A24 can pull off.
The studio just dropped the first footage, and it’s loud. Like, sensory-overload loud. Hitting theaters on January 30, 2026, The Moment isn’t just a vanity project; it looks like a panic attack set to a beat drop.
Pop Star as the Main Character (Again?)
We’ve seen the “troubled pop star” trope a million times—Vox Lux, The Idol (yikes), A Star Is Born. But this hits different because Charli XCX is literally living this life right now. The premise is simple: a rising star preps for her arena tour debut while the industry tries to eat her alive.
It sounds cliché on paper, but the execution? The trailer footage is frantic. It’s shot by Sean Price Williams, the cinematographer behind Good Time, which explains why everything looks like it was filmed inside a kaleidoscope during a panic attack. It’s gritty, neon-soaked, and sweaty.
Charli isn’t just acting; she produced this thing with David Hinojosa. And the script, co-written by director Aidan Zamiri and Bertie Brandes, feels ripped from a group chat I’m definitely not cool enough to be in. Zamiri, who directed Charli’s music videos, knows exactly how to frame her chaotic energy.
That Cast List Is… A Choice
Can we talk about this cast? Because my timeline is currently fighting for its life trying to process it.
We have Alexander Skarsgård (okay, prestige), Rosanna Arquette (legend), and… Kylie Jenner? Yes. That Kylie Jenner. Seeing her name next to indie darlings like Rachel Sennott (Bodies Bodies Bodies) and Kate Berlant is the kind of casting chaos that feels engineered to break the internet. Is Kylie playing herself? A rival? A hallucination? The trailer keeps it vague, but her presence alone signals that this movie is obsessed with the idea of celebrity as much as the reality of it.
Also, hype check for iconic comedian Jaime Demetriou and fashion It-girl Hailey Benton Gates. It’s like A24 raided a Bushwick afterparty and said, “You’re all in a movie now.”
The Poster Screams “Brat”
A24 dropped two posters, and one of them is straight-up Brat coded. You know the aesthetic—that aggressively lime green, lower-case text vibe that Charli made her entire personality for the last album cycle. It’s meta. It’s self-aware. It’s marketing genius.
The film also features music by A. G. Cook, Charli’s longtime collaborator. So, even if the movie is a mess narrative-wise, we know the soundtrack is going to slap.
The release date—January 30, 2026—is interesting. It’s smack in the middle of the post-awards season dead zone, which usually means one of two things: the studio is dumping it, or they know it’s a cult classic that doesn’t need Oscar buzz to sell tickets. Given the “Party 4 U” singer’s fanbase, I’m betting on the latter.
Is this Charli’s 8 Mile? Or her Glitter? I have no idea. But I’m seated.
5 Things We Picked Up From the Trailer
- It’s a Panic Attack: The visual style, shot by Good Time DP Sean Price Williams, is frantic, gritty, and claustrophobic—matching the pressure of the protagonist’s arena tour prep.
- The “Brat” Aesthetic Lives: One of the official posters directly references Charli’s Brat album art, confirming the film is an extension of her current artistic era.
- Kylie Jenner’s Acting Era: The reality star makes a surprising appearance in the cast list, signaling the film’s meta-commentary on fame and image.
- A. G. Cook on the Beat: The score is composed by Charli’s PC Music collaborator A. G. Cook, guaranteeing the soundscape will be as hyper-pop and distorted as the visuals.
- Director Debut: This is the first feature for Aidan Zamiri, known for his music video work with Charli and FKA Twigs, explaining the film’s highly stylized, rhythmic editing.
FAQ
Is this a documentary or a fictional movie?
It is a fictional narrative feature. While it mirrors Charli XCX’s real life as a pop star, she is playing a character in a scripted drama, not documenting her actual tour.
What is the song in the trailer?
The trailer features original music composed for the film, likely by A. G. Cook and Charli XCX, though an official single hasn’t dropped yet. It leans heavily into the distorted, hyper-pop sound of her Brat era.
Why is Kylie Jenner in an A24 movie?
Kylie Jenner’s casting appears to be a meta-choice, playing into the film’s themes of celebrity culture, image curation, and the blurring lines between “influencer” and “artist.”
Is Charli XCX quitting music for acting?
No. While she has several film projects lined up (including 100 Nights of Hero and I Want Your Sex), she is still actively producing music, and this film integrates both her acting and musical talents.
