Synopsis
Trailers
Reviews (124)
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D
Call me old fashioned, but if the movie is mainly Ian McKellen monologuing, and they put him with a scene partner that lets him cook. I like that movie.
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C
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I
There are multiple verbal mentions of Google and googling in this but the one time we see a character doing an internet search (which they explicitly refer to later as googling) they are using a website called, if I remember correctly, “Globalscourex”
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Ddemi adejuyigbe 8 月 23, 2026
Soderbergh is my number one, but I am a little cooler on this than my friends. Still a fan, as is expected for a movie whose setup is equally taken from Portrait of A Lady on Fire and The Intouchables. Spiritually French, this film. McKellan is fantastic, and this movie is all about him, but I don’t feel like Michaela Coel gets much to do (or be) here! Shame. Soderbergh has never been ashamed of modernism and I love him for it but boy what a shock to see Ian McKellan doing Cameo. Smiled at the locked off car shot shot set to some David Holmes jazz. That’s my Sodey!
346 1 -
D
If nothing else, it’s always wonderful to see a new Steven Soderbergh movie with some actual life in its bones. After the airless spy games of “Black Bag,” the postmortem gimmickry of “Presence,” and the limp gyrations of “Magic Mike’s Last Dance,” the prolific filmmaker’s run of small and increasingly sterile genre exercises was starting to feel like a waste of his un-retirement. I never would have guessed that the answer to Soderbergh’s listlessness might be an 86-year-old man, but Ian McKellen — delivering what’s easily his most essential screen performance since “The Lord of the Rings” — is so full of vim and vigor in “The Christophers” that he threatens to revitalize his director by osmosis. McKellen stars as…
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PPatrick Willems 8 月 23, 2026
Ian McKellen: *grumble grumble grumble* Me: *furious applause, wiping away tears of joy*
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A
A terrific two-hander from Steven Soderbergh, anchored by Ed Solomon’s great screenplay and outstanding lead performances from Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel. McKellen gets the showier role, full of monologues and witty one liners that he delivers with his usual aplomb. But it’s Coel who impresses possibly even more with her subtler performance, where she is mostly called upon to calmly and silently react to McKellen’s antics. Then when the script finally gives her her big speech, well, it’s the best scene in the movie. It has a lot to say about art, who “owns” it, and a great artist’s legacy. It’s simultaneously funny, smart, and moving. It’s one of the highlights of 2026 so far. Included in list: 2026 Movies Ranked
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G
For more than an hour, the verbal waltzing by both Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel is some of the best line reading in any film in 2026. Both actors are flat out cooking with grease. I’m not sure that Steven Soderbergh hits a home run here, but sometimes a ground-rule double can still clear the bases. Best of 2026 (ranked)
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M
The Christophers is a movie about art in which the predominant image of art is the backs of paintings. That is how “The Christophers” themselves are introduced; hidden under a tarp, stacked in a box. That is how they are shown over and over again, almost every time they appear onscreen. That is how they are found by Lori toward the end of the film. That is how they are shown in the sequence where Julian finally paints several of them. In The Christopers’ final scene, Lori opens a gift that turns out to be a painting. She unwraps it, back facing up, then very dramatically turns it around. It’s one of the very few times in the movie Soderbergh…
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M
As this legitimately clever story begins to unfold it initially seems like director Steven Soderbergh made a talkier, smaller-scale spiritual sequel to his Ocean’s 11 heist films. And if The Christophers was just a straight-forward thriller, and it would have been a nifty little entertainment. But screenwriter Ed Solomon repeatedly surprises us with one plot twist after another. He and Soderbergh really invest in Sklar and Lori’s twinned biographies of artistic passion and pain, until the film becomes far richer than a simple crime story. Full review at ScreenCrush.
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T
This film would be a dull pointless tale about little more than a disgruntled artist, a pragmatic forger, and greedy children, if it wasn’t for one thing and that is Ian McKellen Basically his fantastic faultless delivery of his verbose prose is a wonder to experience and carries this entire film He is like a sun burning brightly at the heart of this movie and his character is both enthralling and hilarious thanks to his natural ability to be so…
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H
I liked this. I’m truly unfamiliar with Ian McKellen outside of Magneto, but he was fantastic in this. Michaela Cole was very good as well. Outside of the James Corden jump scare this was very enjoyable. I don’t think this would be for everyone. I could see some saying it was slow; which the first act definitely felt that way. But it breezes through by the end. A solid ending goes a long way for a movie. 81/100 2026 RANKED
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JJonnyA 8 月 22, 2026
Long monologues and conversations punctuated by actions that are not explained in said monologues or conversations, Christopher’s is almost a chamber pieces, with two locked in leads, one a younger artists and the other a retired grump. The younger one there to make a forgery, a copy, an imitation. Interesting coming from a film maker from what little I understand is “retired” but also working in his retirement and making things as small and quick as possible. In asked how…
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N
liked it
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D
This would’ve made an excellent audiobook.
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I
James Corden was an actual jumpscare to me, but otherwise a very enjoyable movie
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V
Hearing Ian Mckellen say “tech bro” was a highlight for me. Overall great premise, loved the cinematography and how the light in the townhouse changed throughout the story, but I wish we got to see more of Michaela Coel!
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Z
Ian McKellen absolutely on fire
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S
I feel both actors were bringing so much to their character, in their own way and that was what this movie made stand out. The theatricality of McKellen and the smaller performance of Coel worked really well for me. The story wasn’t that original or exciting, but the movie did succeed in what it tries to do. Oh and James Cordon… really felt like an ugly stain on a beautiful paining here
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M
Yap contest
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T
The chemistry between McKellen and Coel is top tier. Watching the ins and outs of their relationship, the moments of strength and vulnerability. Fabulous. Also McKellen is hilarious. Who knows how many more real films he’ll get to make. So glad this will be part of his filmography.
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A
One of my favorites this year. Soderbergh is one of my favorite directors, and this is all shot so gorgeously. We spend so much of this film in cramped spaces but it always feels kinetic and exciting. Michaela Coel continues to be a superb talent. And seriously, one of the most gorgeous actors to appear on a screen. I haven’t seen Ian McKellen in much outside of his nerdy roles. So seeing him effortlessly give texture and complexity to this…
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S
Michele Coel and Ian McKellen….the chemistry they share, I could just watch them for hours. Went in blind and was pleasantly surprised to find Steve Soderbergh is the director, beautiful film.
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K
Hulu
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P
Brilliant.
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M
I enjoyed this – It was fun and slow burn intense but also smart and funny, I loved the script and the back and forth. I do love how Soderbergh shoots his movies!! Michaela Coel once again was incredible. I will have to try and see her on the West End. Sir Ian was great but no surprise. His acting is effortless. Very privileged to have see him perform live and meet him. That scene where he experiences the pure…
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Sschebby 8 月 22, 2026
I sat in India’s business class seat while her and Val were back in coach. Watched this first. Enjoyed it somewhat!
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E
Soderbergh is a master at pacing and keeping things interesting and this movie struggles a bit on both fronts.
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S
Magneto will return in Doomsday
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H
Soderbergh strikes again – one of the best films of last year, yet almost completely slept on by both the mainstream and arthouse worlds. Soderbergh must be getting used to this strange in-between existence he has now, ignored by the critics and almost unknown to the general public while recognized within the filmmaking world – especially by actors – as among the very best. The Christophers is a brilliant two-hander which showcases the talents of Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel…
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F
I thought this was excellent. Coel and McKellen perfectly cast. Very moving.
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A
Michaela Cole and Ian McClellan was an unexpected gift onscreen. Amazing chemistry.
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C
Michaela coel 🤩
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K
For
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89/100
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R
This made me very sad. But amazing performances from the both of them. Ian McKellan is more than just a superhero movie actor
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S
Ian McKellen is a legend and Michaela Coel is excellent. An unlikely pairing makes for an interesting relationship and character study. A fine film by Steven Soderbergh.
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C
Much less than this without Lord Ian
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R
Disappointing. Michaela Coel’s character oscillates between being a snide, haughty know it all and a total void of personality. This isn’t helped by the fact that Coel herself has the charisma of a pile of sawdust. McKellen is charming on occasion but going way, way too hard and is mostly just exhausting. Soderbergh also makes some bizarre directing decisions. At multiple points the camera is clearly shaking in somebody’s hands and it was so distracting. You really couldn’t pay for…
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S
Such a shame that Soderbergh makes this and then starts talking about embracing AI. Classic case of the artist having no seeming connection to the art in question. Which is crazy because this is a movie all about the special connection between an artist and their work. I’m a big fan of the theory that art is co-constituted by the audience and the work itself. That for something to be art is not a category or label, but rather a…
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K
Really straightforward, just a couple great actors on a great set trading barbs while Soderbergh stands there with his camera. One of his best for my money. I should start dressing like Julian Sklar.
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M
Not Soderbergh at his best, but I still enjoyed this. Great performances from the gorgeous Michaela Coel and Ian McKellen, sadly had to see James Corden share a screen with them
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B
Slick and cool just like every soderberg seems to be, and it ends in a really good place that made me enjoy the movie even more. Some really great performances at the center but I could have done without so much overacting from the children
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L
I appreciate any opportunity to see michaela on my screen
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O
More of a play than a movie.
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Mmima kirigoe 8 月 22, 2026
The Chreksidious: Part 1 i liked the grandpa but i fell asleep sorry
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D
I’m sure this was good and fine but it never really grabbed me the way I wanted to, I was kinda bored. I’ll try again next month maybe
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M
ny to london flight
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LLena 8 月 22, 2026
“How do you introduce the cheese into the omelette?” Let’s go ahead and kick off that Oscar campaign
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M
Liked and appreciated this a lot. If not for one specific line of dialogue that 95% of people sadly won’t object to or even notice, I probably would’ve rated it even higher. Got more out of it than I expected.
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S
Michaela Coel en Ian Mckellen schitteren. Wat een uitstraling heeft zij ( zo een speciale gezichtsbouw). Ian Mckellen is grandioos als de uitgebluste schilder die alleen nog maar voer lijkt voor aasgieren in zijn directe omgeving. Heel fijn scenario dat uitmondt in een mooi passend einde. De muziek geeft de film nog meer dat speciaal sfeertje. Heel aangename ontdekking. Ik ben wel fan van die kleinere films van Steven Soderbergh: ze blijven uit de grootste spotlights maar blijken dan veel beter en plezanter te zijn dan veel gros dat de grootste spotlights opzoeken.
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L
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M
Heard a lot about this film. It’s certainly interesting and immersive. A young artist finds herself embroiled in a family endeavour that requires her to be in close quarters with a legendary artist. We know there’s history between these two but we don’t know what it is. The performances are impeccable. Ian McKellen is so good and curmudgeonly and aggravating. He can hold the screen and monologue like no other. Michaela Cole is so stoic and says so much…
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M
There were so many details that just made sense in this movie. Research well done about artists’ lives. I’m glad to see for once artists not being represented as this big walking stereotype.
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W
A love letter to artists, to art, to mentors and to the craft. I haven’t cried watching a movie in a long time but the “Man in Cloud” room with his video recordings and the painting he gifted Lori had me bawling. Beautiful movie, I loved it but will probably never be able to rewatch this 😭
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N
Great chemistry between McKellen and Coel! Ab underrated gem by Soderbergh! One of McKellen’s best performances not related to Marvel and Middle Earth
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G
So cute
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S
Charming and sharp.
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J
Ian McKellen’s performance carries more weight than anything else. Felt like it left something on the table despite the great emotions it stirred
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R
Fascinating quiet movie about a ‘genius’ artist at the end of his life and a painter who’s lost her way in the cruel art world. Loved the dynamic between Coel and McKellen. You can see her seething disdain for this man, as well as her attempts to pretend to be nice. And McKellen brings his sardonic, loathsome best to his character. He’s so full of himself, yet he secretly knows he’s not likeable. The push and pull between them is…
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T
The trauma I’ve been suffering is still fresh from commissioning an artist to paint a painting for my living-room that is up and feeling unfinished. I don’t know if I needed to watch a movie about a couple of painters and a bunch of unfinished paintings. But here we are.
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M
Slept through it on a plane ride… but it gets an extra half star bc it was one of those plane rides that was only 25% full, and I had a whole row to myself
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K
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C
Stevie Sodapop dropping banger after banger
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M
One of those movies that makes you wanna discuss every creative decision made in it and what it says about art in general.
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W
If you like talking youll love this
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L
somebody bomb james corden also i genuinely could listen to ian mckellen talk for hours i love him so bad
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R
ars gratia artis
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B
Look, we all love Ian McKellen, but it’ll be nice to see him giving a bit more subtler performance, and not go so theatrical everytime, even tho I know the role demanded it. On the other hand, I feel Cole’s character was underserved in the film. I wish we could’ve gotten her reasoning amd motivation a lil bit more for painting. But overall, a solid drama and deft directing from soderberg.
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T
how did soderbergh make this beautiful movie about art and forgery and legacy and greed and the commodification of art just to turn around and embrace ai slop. I’m sick
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B
More Michaela Coel content please
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E
Ian McKellan: giving perhaps his best performance on film James Corden: honestly doing a pretty good job, but is tonally in a completely different film Michaela Coel: has top billing, but just silently hangs out for 90 minutes
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S
Decent little chamber piece about how we create (and destroy) art as a means of expressing, and shielding, ourselves from the world.
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W
2020s Soderbergh is so unstoppably fun that even James Corden is good in this.
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M
Love a good two hander. Soderbergh slickness with 2 actors i love will always be a couple hours well spent. The children were perfect dunces, too.
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W
Fuck, man! Soderbergh is throwing some heat these days! Like Black Bag, it’s this gorgeous small film that doesn’t move like anything else, and somehow got on absolutely no one’s radar. We should all be talking about Ian McKellen finally getting an Oscar like there’s nothing else going on in the film world, and yet… This is a dark horse Oscar contender that deserves to have more fanfare surrounding it. McKellen, Coel and writer Ed Solomon deserve nods. And this might be my favorite David Holmes score since Ocean’s Twelve. Hopefully, now that it’s on Hulu, people can stop sleeping on it.
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G
very pleasant to watch , adoro velhinhos ranzinzas
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AAnanth 8 月 22, 2026
Kind of inconceivable how he made this and then decided to immediately after do AI John Lennon. Even wilder that the writer (one of) of Now You See Me parts 1 and 2 is capable of such a brilliant screenplay.
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J
a arte e seus mistérios
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SSamina 8 月 22, 2026
Aaah I really wanted to love this but it didn’t hit for me! I didn’t feel emotionally connected to any of the characters and I was constantly struggling to understand what Coel’s character wanted. I was really missing that. And also I was put off by the constant tone changes, randomly slapstick at times and it just felt so jarring. The premise and themes it’s dancing around are super interesting, I think a stronger commitment to tone would have helped it land way better.
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B
Uh, wow, didn’t expect this to be so good! Kind of confusing what the tone was to start (that’s why it isn’t 5/5) but it really got good with having the Artist come alive again, getting his passion back. Something else I was blown away from was the shear amount of work gone into the backgrounds: there where 50~ or so unique pantings shown off, and several large paragraphs of text that are just breezed through. It was really weird…
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L
Perongeluk bij deze film belandt en (daardoor?) positief verrast!!
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L
loss and heartache and self doubt and greed and perspective and honesty and dishonesty and desire and longing and belonging and sadness and joy and passion and purpose and the past and the present and love and death , hurled at the screen, a thousand words a minute by the superb Ian McKellen and the outstanding quiet power of Michaela Coel , questioned what is art , what makes and artist , what is value and what is real slightly predictable , well timed small heartwarming twist in the end, I am left with a warm fuzzy not entirely unwelcome sadness and lots of thoughts 🎨
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A
Michaela Coel and Ian McKellen are simply amazing.
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S
Had potential but never really landed for me.
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K
Ian McKellen at his finest, and Michaela Coel is excellent! Great cast all around and a wonderful story of art as expression
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A
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😛
I loved this. Beautiful. A little devastating. The push and pull between both leads was incredible. Michaela and Ian really nailed it. I love this movie. Maybe it’s the three free tequila ginger ales I got when I got bumped into first class, but I still loved it.
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Y
Everyone is in awe of Ian McKellen, as they should be. But I wish Michaela Coel had more to do than spend 90% of the movie watching him act.
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F
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C
I was locked in for the first half, and then it just became a character study of Ian McKellen’s character, which, despite his amazing performance, wasn’t as good as the forgery plot.
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P
“Because in the end that is what it is all about: being remembered by others” (ofzoiets, ik kan de hele quote nie onthouden) Genoten
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J
The Michaela and Ian double act. The best thing he’s done in ages – and those damn cheek bones of Michaela’s are mesmerizing
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S
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Llemonyoshi 8 月 21, 2026
I interpret this as a movie about empathy. That empathy can give people a voice; That empathy can be channeled into art; That empathy can heal. This movie doesn’t have some huge finale, some “satisfying” stinger, some big twist. It’s a very grounded and human story, and it sticks to that. The film invites a conversation around art, and how we view it, and engage with it. But, also how we treat each other. Is something art if it’s done…
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D
Absolutely adored this
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D
Two incredible performances from the leads amongst another mostly forgettable Soderbergh film.
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L
Well I could was Ian McKellen and Michaela act against each other all day Please banish James Corden to the pigs of acting hell
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B
Restrained, but just overflowing with love of craft and memory. You can feel it behind every obnoxious, bloviating monologue coming out of Ian McKellen’s mouth, just how heartbroken he is- he’s a bitter ex to his craft. Micheala Coel has one of the most striking faces I’ve seen in recent film, she plays this role with such quiet confidence, earned from being extremely proficient in her work. Together they make such a great duo. I would never call this film…
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E
I watched my sister paint a painting that I adore. Ive told her I want it and she said “sure”. While I watched it being painted, visiting for a week at a time, over the course of six years and counting, Ive grown rather fond of all the layers underneath. The painting im gonna get is gonna be a magnificent piece of art layered upon even more magnificent pieces of art.
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D
It’s a lonely road being the world’s only Soderbergh sceptic, but I thought this was utterly DELIGHTFUL. His best movie for me, and instantly one of the great British movies by an American director. Give it all the acting awards. Performance of a lifetime from McKellen. Coel every bit as good. (Nice score too). Giving a 4.5 to a film also starring James Corden. If I can change, you can change.
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D
They call me a hack. A pig even. Offended somehow, as if we’ve got some sort of personal relationship. You don’t think it’s a personal relationship? Art? No. It’s a man alone in his room. Me in this room. I have a relationship with the canvas. And when I’ve said what I’ve got to say to it, it goes. Where do you think it goes? Steven Soderbergh continues to impress me with how unpredictable he is and how he manages…
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T
This is my second movie this month in which Michaela plays an artist who’s kinda forced into doing something she doesn’t want to do.
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R
an easy watch and there’s definitely parts of this i like — who doesn’t want to see ian mckellen monologue — but the plot is meaningless nonsense and it feels almost unbearably afraid of taking any risks. it brushes by a point i really like, that we need to demystify the artist, but then it completely loses that. really enjoyed coel’s restrained and careful performance here.
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J
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E
had me on the edge of my seat the whole time, really liked the old guy being old and cranky
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A
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M
I’m on an airplane somewhere around maybe Brazil or so, headed south, just watched this on the Delta seatback iPad with cc on and I’d have a hard time explaining why I’m crying. Visually modernized BBC Play for Today that swirls around some of my deeper concerns. Missed this when it appeared on the big screen in Ann Arbor for all of 2 days.
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T
Oh, the pure emotion. Once this got going it felt like I was in the eye of a hurricane. Michaela Coel and Ian McKellen are an unstoppable duo, well punctuated by the most insufferable onscreen children with the worst names imaginable. This was such an honest exploration of the pain of moving on and getting older and being vulnerable throughout life. Spectacular.
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D
The subject matter and story of this was really interesting, Michaela Cole I love you but I just don’t really understand why you’re in a serious movie like you’re supposed to be funny also the new face drop was unnerving I’m sorry. I also like am perpetually annoyed by movies about art that don’t even really engage with being about art or showing the art or just having a few vague sentences about the art process. Ian was great. Idk…
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K
Inintéressant au possible, l’intrigue notamment ne nous laisse absolument rien de croustillant à nous mettre sous la dent, on ne sent pas non plus une quelconque expérience cinématographique de la part de Soderbergh comme il peut en avoir l’habitude, donc l’ennui est total à tous les niveaux. Le seul qui sauve un tout petit peu la baraque c’est lan McKellen, mais sa performance tourne vite en rond.
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R
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Oonakay 8 月 19, 2026
bad
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B
Ian McKellen is a icon
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N
Beetje voorspelbaar
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L
Painting is hard. Respect.
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J
Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel are clearly having far too much fun getting away with murder. The Christophers is a sly, elegantly crafted caper that lets its two terrific leads volley barbs and secrets with delicious chemistry, all wrapped in Steven Soderbergh’s effortlessly cool style.
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J
Forgot to log all the movies I watched flying to / from Seattle last weekend. Really rocked with this, perfect plane movie. Made me think about how unique and special Soderbergh is. How following him has been a part of my life since I first became interested in movies. How much I’ve loved his post retirement run. And then I remembered the fucking John Lennon AI doc and got sad.
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S
It was great, just wanted more I think. Not sure where exactly.
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P
I enjoy Ian mckellen in anything but this was just fabulous
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G
Stephen Soderbergh, who directs, continues to be curious about answers on truth & lies. It’s an art thief’s caper. Ian McKellen plays Julian Sklar, an ageing artist living in a London townhouse, come studio, & Michaela Coel plays Lori Butler, an art-restorer & frustrated young artist living in a studio squat. She is recruited by McKellen’s children, a classic villain comedy stereotypical duo, played by James Corden & Jessica Gunning, to make forgeries of the titular Christophers, Julian’s great unfinished paintings series, to sell…
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I
honestly this one is definitely going into the best of the year as well. gets into one of my favorite concepts of art which is that of auteurship. this girl gets hired to copy her idols paintings, then somehow exceeds her master. its really awesome, and michaela and ian are going nutty mode.
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- Synopsis
- The estranged children of a once-famous artist hire a forger to complete his unfinished works so they can be "discovered" and sold after his death.
- Director
- Steven Soderbergh
- Writer
- Ed Solomon
- Studio
- Department M, Butler & Sklar Productions
- Country
- UK, USA
- Language
- English
- Year
- 2025
- Runtime
- 100 mins
- Canada07 Sep 2025
- USA22 Mar 2026
- Hong Kong06 Apr 2026
- USA13 Apr 2026
- USA14 Apr 2026
- Israel12 Jul 2026
- USA10 Apr 2026
- Canada17 Apr 2026
- UK15 May 2026
- Turkey22 May 2026
- Greece28 May 2026
- Australia04 Jun 2026
- France10 Jun 2026
- Bulgaria19 Jun 2026
- Israel09 Jul 2026
- Belgium29 Jul 2026
- Netherlands30 Jul 2026
- USA12 May 2026
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