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Initially, Magazine Dreams (2023) drew my attention as a bodybuilding film. Little did I realize that bodybuilding is not what this movie is about. Instead, it is a grim narrative on the dangers of loneliness. Killian Maddox (Jonathan Majors) is a bodybuilder with intense aspirations of becoming a revered "Mr. Olympia", willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve this goal. Unfortunately, his troubled youth and his declining mental state hinder his progress and send him on a path to utter madness. Maddox only has one person in his life that he truly loves: his grandfather. Other than that, he has no friends, and no (successful) love interests either. Due to his growing loneliness, he tries to write to his hero, Brad Vanderhorn, but is ignored by him too. This film begs a necessary question: How much can a person truly tolerate being alone before they get consumed by their obsessions and thoughts? The answer that the film provides is quite dark, but also representative of what it means to be human.

Wow saw this at Sundance. Honestly had no idea what this was going in. This was intense! Jonathan Majors is great, no surprise there. He is totally believable as Killian, a probably somewhat developmentally disabled amateur bodybuilding competitor. It ranges from cringeworthy to edge of your seat to weird to shocking to horrifying. Such an amazing performance.

The cinematography was claustrophobic and off putting and the music was often jarring, with dramatic shifts that mirror Killian's mental state.

I don't want to give any spoilers, but this wouldn't be one to take your grandma to. It gave me Nightcrawler vibes in the way it just keeps escalating and getting more frantic and surreal, mixed with a little Bullhead. Unless that sounds like something your grandma would be into, in which case, take her, she'll love it!

Jonathan Majors is incredible in this. His performance is so powerful, it pulls you in and makes you really feel what his character is going through. There are a bunch of scenes that hit hard emotionally, and it's all because of how committed he is.

The movie dives into some really heavy and complex themes, and when it works, it really works. But the last act gets a bit messy. It tries to cover too much at once, especially when it comes to unpacking such a complicated and violent character. It feels like the movie loses focus a bit near the end.

Still, it's absolutely worth watching for Majors alone and the bold ideas it tries to explore.

Hear me out-Jonathan Majors might just be the best thing to happen to Black Hollywood since Denzel Washington. The man is seriously gifted. He can act, he has the physical presence, he's versatile, and most importantly-he's never boring. I honestly can't think of another Black American actor right now who can command the screen the way he does.

In this movie, Majors took a relatively simple script and turned it into a gripping, edge-of-your-seat experience. Every scene was hauntingly captivating. The director did a great job maintaining suspense, constantly shifting the tone and direction. What started off as a bodybuilding tale of grit and determination turned into a revenge drama-and then escalated into something way darker. It was intense.

I genuinely don't understand why Jonathan isn't landing all the top-tier Black roles. Compared to some of his peers like Anthony Mackie or Michael B. Jordan, he brings a different level of depth and complexity. He deserves way more recognition.

The only thing that held back this incredible performance was the script itself. After building so much tension and anticipation, the climax completely fell flat. All that buildup, all that powerful acting-only for it to lead nowhere. It felt like a major disservice to both Jonathan Majors and the audience.

This is one of those films one should be prepped for an intense experience and I'd compare it to Tom Hardy in Bronson or Deniro in Taxi Driver.

The main reason to see this film is the star Jonathan Majors that carries this film beyond the obvious Art imitates Life which is sad because the guy can act.

The subject and plot is all over the place on this twisted journey but it's worth it.

The director Elijah Bynum is definitely talented even if the plot meanders it still keeps one bolted to your chair witnessing vast layers of body obsession, mental illness, child abuse and steroids abuse but much like downward spiral films like Bad Lieutenant there is a point to this mad journey.

The dream hallucinations mixed with violent reality creates a bizarre scenery that might feel scattered to some yet this director has talent. And Jonathan Majors carries this film along with deep emotional expressions with eye and vocal detail that makes one either believe this is his true self or one heck of an acting job.

Hopefully this actor gets his personal issues in check and balances his anger as he might be the next Tom Hardy / Denzel Washington.

Go into the film with some expectations of a wild emotional rollercoaster ride as it's definitely not light weight film.

Very curious to see what this director does next as he seems to have a talent for attracting great actors esp his last film Hot Summer nights with Timothee Chalamet and Maika Monroe was also well done.

7 stars for star actor.

Had high hopes for this film since it was originally shown when Jonathan Majors was on the rise to fame. Marvel and a great colead role in Creed 3, i was bought in on the buzz.

His acting chops are still put to use here and he carried the movie for as long as he could. Unfortunately the overall plot just lacks. The direction was lackluster. A lot of seeds are planted that never lead to anything. Just a lot of showcasing to how bad the main character's state of mind is.

Could've been shorter. Could've done something with all the subplots that were happening but I could see this film being shown at HS Gyms to show the dangers of bodybuilding with a big poster that says "Steroids bad"

Stick to creatine, whey isolate and wait for this to be available on streaming.

This movie was unpredictable from beginning to end in the best way. I didn't expect it to have as many funny moments as it did either, funny due to how socially awkward the protagonist is. That was a nice balance to how otherwise dark other scenes in the movie were. I was so thankful it ended on a rewatchable note because I was originally afraid it would be one of those movies you can only watch once. It was honestly a brilliant film. So many omg moments and Jonathan Majors was no where to be found, all I saw was Killian Maddox and his relentless pursuit for greatness, connection, and belonging. I appreciated the way it handled mental health struggles.

What can I say , movies to me are meant to take me out of reality and transport me into other worlds as I escape my own issues and problems , not to mention battles with reality.

That being the case this movie does just that although it specifically took me into a place that mad me very uncomfortable not in a bad way just in a way that I wanted a lil more payoff that I feel I didn't get .

Majors does a great job carrying this weight around and giving ,I believe an honest and compelling performance. It just needed a tiny bit more action at certain spots that could have taken this movie to the next level . Again a worth while movie theater experience.

Jonathan Majors Filmed in 2023. I finally got an opportunity to view his new film 🎥 "Magazine Dreams" 2/1/25 An ambitious production . It was opening night at the #PAFF (Pan African Film Festival and The featured actor's Beautiful Girl Friend : Megan Goode introduces Jonathan Major's to the Podium to give us a story . It was very Professional and "Hollywood". Remember we are at The Culver Theater in Culver City California.

Once the film begins we are no longer in Culver City but we are now in the Mind of the main character Killian Maddox. His mind is a Dark place as portrayed by Majors and directed by Elijah Bynam. I found both the acting and direction to be tight. I got lost in this character's obsession with Competitive Body Building and his favorite Celebrity body builder Brad Vanderhorn . ( played by Michael O'hearn ) Killian is caretaker of the aged Vietnam Veteran that was his Caretaker after his parents were killed in an accident. Killian is Troubled. Antisocial, Anger issues, steroid addiction, and sexual dis function. Everyone was good . The thing about this film is His character is damaged, his Grandfather is all he has and the Director is masterful in making us equally uncomfortable. Boy was I relieved when the credits rolled . I just wanted Killian to find his way so bad. Because the acting was Solid, butThis film was so bad. Reminds me of Taxi Driver. Lonely; Tense; Victimization; SelfAbuse; Brooding; Idolizing; MeToo;Abandonment;Creepy; Sad.

Killian Maddox dedicated himself to bodybuilding and dreams of one day leaving his mark on the sport and the world. With a traumatic childhood and struggling to connect with others, Killian forges forward toward his goal with reckless abandonment.

This movie takes a very artistic approach to bodybuilding. The story has many different things occurring quickly, with little backstory given to the protagonist, making it a challenge to follow. The two-hour and four-minute runtime is wild, from intense lifting to posing to twists and unexpected turns. This movie is not for everyone but might be worth a stream for someone looking for something different and artistic.

I had been wanting to see Magazine Dreams for a very long time, ever since hearing it described by my favorite movie podcasters who caught it on the festival circuit a couple years ago. I had no idea it had been picked up for theatrical distribution, so its seemingly sudden appearance completely took me by surprise.

Jonathan Majors's performance as Killian Maddox, an aspiring yet struggling bodybuilder, is truly next level here. Killian is a fractured man, at moments childlike and charming, at others he's like a pot of water boiling over. This can make him unpredictable scene to scene. Easily the most effective scene was his dinner date with the girl from the supermarket. Talk about a cringe moment!

My feelings are most mixed about the script, with my main complaint being it that it doesn't seem to know when to quit. There are multiple moments where I was certain the story was close to conclusion, that it was building to a moment, yet only to further continue in layering misery on thick. I found this exhausting. When the movie finally does conclude I don't know if I find the resolution entirely believable for Killian's character.

I like the movie enough to recommend, but keep in mind this can be a dark, dark film.

Magazine Dreams is weird movie experience. It is similar to watching something like Requiem For A Dream in that it is not supposed to make you feel good. The main character is stricken with bad luck after bad luck from circumstance and you can't help but feel bad for him. This movie made me feel for the character and also uncomfortable that resonated with me after the movie. If you are expecting a body building glorification this is not it. Instead we get a movie on mental illness and an obsession that takes a toll on ones life. I do not recommend this movie to people for it is not of the faint of heart. Why I do want people to watch this movie is to understand a different perspective in that life is unfair in some cases and we are all a product in combination of how we react to things and what happens to us. The main character can teach us a little bit of humanity in a dark way that creates some understanding of people we encounter in our own lives and what their mindset and history is. That maybe this person is the way he is because of his childhood or mental illness and while we can be quick to judge there is always a deeper narrative that we do not see.

Magazine Dreams centers on a body builder gripped by ambition, toxic masculinity, and violence. Jonathan Majors shines in Magazine Dreams for nearly every frame of this film, well-suited by bringing his even-more-buff body builder physique with the talent to bring the complex vulnerability and intensity to the Killian Maddox character. Because of the directions of this film, it's a difficult watch. As mentioned in the Sundance Q&A by writer:director Elijah Bynum, the movie rides the edge in keeping the audience's empathy for the character. Undoubtedly it may be a push too far for some viewers. There are a lot of ideas in this film, some of which feel tonally off or extraneous to the core, but it's impossible to look away from this movie.

This movie was disturbing. Him dealing with mental health just makes this feel like a villain origin story. The acting was a lot to deal with, and my emotions were mixed. Majors is deranged and this movie proves that. And the recent controversy regarding his allegations doesn't help. This was painful to watch. Based on acting, it's a 5/10. But good acting is not enough to save this film. 3/10.

Why? I don't understand the thought process that went into this. How do you come up with this. I blame the story writers. What is wrong with you?

Overall this movie is psychotic. This film did not need to be made.

What an incredible journey this film takes you on. It's one of those rare cinematic experiences that manages to surprise, challenge, and move you - all while telling a deeply personal and character-driven story. This is not your typical sports movie. It's a raw, emotional, and honest portrayal of what it really means to chase greatness. The highs and lows, the ego and insecurity, the pressure, the silence, and ultimately - the cost.

At the center of it all is Jonathan Majors, delivering what is arguably the best performance of his career so far. He completely transforms for this role, not just physically, but emotionally. He embodies a man who is both incredibly gifted and painfully flawed - and it's that duality that makes his performance so captivating. You can feel the weight he carries in every glance, in every breath. He doesn't just act - he becomes the character.

From the opening scenes, the film establishes a tone that feels both intimate and intense. It's not a flashy, feel-good sports drama with choreographed triumphs and a tidy redemption arc. Instead, it takes its time exploring the mental and emotional space of someone who has been built up to be exceptional - and is now unraveling under that weight. The storytelling is nuanced, and the character development is rich. There are twists and turns, but they're not thrown in for shock value. They reflect the internal chaos of a man torn between legacy, identity, and his own destructive habits.

One of the things I appreciated most is how original and grounded the script felt. It would've been easy to fall into formulaic patterns, but this story refuses to do that. It's not a documentary, but it carries the emotional truth of one. It feels like a realistic blend of many athletes' experiences - the pressure to perform, the fear of irrelevance, the search for meaning beyond the sport. It's a fictional story, but it reflects a very real world of complex, high-performing individuals whose personal struggles often go unseen.

The message here is powerful: greatness doesn't come without sacrifice - and sometimes that sacrifice is your peace, your relationships, even your sense of self. But within that message is also something hopeful - the idea that redemption is possible, but only when you stop performing and start facing yourself honestly.

The visual storytelling is excellent. The cinematography manages to capture both the brutal physicality of the sport and the quiet, reflective moments that shape the character's internal journey. The soundtrack is subtle but effective, complementing the emotional beats without overplaying them. The direction is smart - confident without being heavy-handed, allowing the story and the performances to breathe.

Majors' performance is undeniably the anchor, but the supporting cast deserves recognition as well. Each character adds a layer of texture to the protagonist's life - from the strained relationships to the people who challenge him to change. These dynamics deepen the emotional stakes and keep the film grounded in reality.

Ultimately, this is a film for anyone who has ever chased a big dream - especially those who've discovered that success can be both exhilarating and isolating. It speaks to the athletes, the performers, the high achievers, and anyone who's ever struggled with identity in the shadow of ambition. It's a mirror, a warning, and a source of motivation all at once.

I was genuinely and pleasantly surprised. I came in expecting a solid sports drama - but I got something so much richer. A psychological portrait. A cautionary tale. A meditation on self-worth, ego, and the search for purpose. And above all, a reminder that behind every legend is a human being - messy, complicated, and searching.

Thank you to the filmmakers for telling a story that doesn't shy away from the hard truths. And thank you to Jonathan Majors for a performance that will stay with me for a long time. This film doesn't just entertain - it resonates. It makes you think, reflect, and, if you've ever aimed for something big, it might even make you feel seen.

Highly recommended. Not just for sports fans, but for anyone who's ever dared to want more - and wrestled with what that truly means.

Toxic masculinity is a topic that has garnered increased attention in recent years, addressed in various outlets from TV talk shows to social media to myriad print resources. And now, in the latest offering from writer-director Elijah Bynum, the subject has made its way to the big screen (although it almost didn't - see below). This character study of amateur bodybuilder Killian Maddox (Jonathan Majors) follows the life of this highly disciplined competitor who's little known in the field but is determined to one day win major titles and fulfill his dreams of gracing magazine covers devoted to the sport. However, try as he might, Killian never seems to fully realize his aspirations, a tremendous source of personal frustration, particularly when his chiseled physique is (at least in his mind) unduly criticized. He's obsessed with trying to figure out what he's doing wrong, not only in sculpting his physical prowess, but also in his interpersonal dealings. It's an exasperating exercise that often subsequently leads to angry outbursts, exaggerated responses to his circumstances and fits of emotional self-flagellation. To compensate, he earnestly engages in internet searches about ways to get others to like him and to find the means to be remembered, efforts that feed his many personal demons and contribute to an ever-downward spiral of his health, self-esteem and grasp on reality, all of which bring out the toxic masculinity festering within him. His unsettling lack of fulfillment, combined with his considerable pent-up physical strength, makes for quite a volatile mix, raising serious questions about whether he can ultimately contain it. While the film tries to cover a little too much ground at times and features some script elements that come across as wholly implausible, the picture nevertheless offers valuable insights into the nature and source of where this behavior comes from, as well as the hope for redemption, no matter how seemingly remote. The narrative also pays homage to other pictures that chillingly profile the lives of troubled loners like Killian, very much in the same vein as the works of writer-director Paul Schrader, most notably "Taxi Driver" (1976) and "First Reformed" (2017). To be honest, though, I was quite stunned to see this offering actually make its way into release. Having been originally scheduled for opening during the 2023 awards season, "Magazine Dreams" was dropped from its distributor's schedule when troubling allegations about Majors' offscreen abusive behavior began to surface, incidents that would eventually land him in court. In short order, one of Hollywood's fastest-rising stars suddenly became one of the movie industry's biggest pariahs. And, with that, it seemed that this picture - a hot contender for awards consideration at the time - would forever vanish into the ether, relegated to the ranks of films that would never again see the light of day. However, this offering has since managed to secure a new distributor, and it is now playing theatrically (and rather widely at that). It's arguably regrettable that Majors' fortunes have faltered as they have, because he turns in a phenomenal performance here in what would have almost assuredly earned him awards season accolades. This release thus provides a potent cautionary tale about the perils and consequences of toxic masculinity. Indeed, it's understandable how moviegoers might want to shun this release in light of the controversies surrounding its protagonist. At the same time, though, if we as a society ever hope to understand what drives this kind of behavior, we'd be wise to take a good, hard look at it so that we can see how it arises, find ways to dispel it and keep it from inflicting any further harm on those it victimizes - and those who fall prey to it in the first place.

This movie did not live up to the hype. Jonathan Majors is very talented. That is the reason I was looking forward to watching this movie. Boy, was I disappointed! Okay, the movie had a decent concept but the development was not there. It should have portrayed a better back story and had a much better storyline overall. The scenes were weak and pretty predictable. There was nothing really shocking about this movie, no real twists and turns. It was formulaic.

The best part of this movie was looking at Jonathan Majors incredible body constitution. He was not convincing as a mentally challenged individual. I guess he gave it his best shot.

Jonathan Majors' devastating, punishing performance is undeniable in his emotional and obviously physical commitment to the embattled character. However, this dark 2025 character drama allows little escape from the real-life echoes of Majors' own arrest for assault and harassment in 2023. Now released two years later, it's a difficult watch, unrelenting in its bleakness, as director Elijah Bynum tracks the pained existence of struggling bodybuilder Killian Maddox (aptly named). As portrayed by Majors, he's a socially awkward, psychologically unstable young man whose chiseled physique and monomaniacal goal of becoming a world-class bodybuilder are at odds with his hardscrabble daily life and his inability to connect with anyone beyond his frail grandfather. The fissures in his mental state deepen and widen at every turn, which includes a disastrous first date with his grocery store co-worker Jessie, a meltdown episode at a local paint store, and a much-awaited meeting with his bodybuilding idol. Each plot turn leads to an even darker episode with a relentless threat of violence, which becomes exhausting over its marathon 123-minute running time. Because Bynum focuses so completely on Killian, there is little acting room for the supporting cast, though Haley Bennett shines briefly as Jessie as does Harriet Sansom Harris as Killian's state-mandated counselor. Nevertheless, if you can separate art from life, it's Majors' show in a complex, challenging role that appears to take inspiration from Robert De Niro's Travis Bickle in "Taxi Driver" and Mickey Rourke's Randy Robinson in "The Wrestler". They're all high-octane portraits of immobile loners deep in the shadows of their tortured minds.

I would have undoubtedly preferred a more compelling third act, particularly in light of the excellence displayed in the first two.

Nevertheless, the film remains impressive, and a significant portion of the accolades should be attributed to Jonathan Majors, who embodied the character of Killian Maddox with so much honesty and commitment.

In my view, the distinction between great and good performances lies in conviction. When I can see only the character and not the actor portraying it, I know I am witnessing something special.

Majors' portrayal left a profound impact on me, keeping me engaged from the opening scene to the final credits, a performance that is undeniably career-defining!

I also loved how the writing genuinely honored those who dare to dream beyond the ordinary, who strive to transcend the confines of norm and conventionality and reach for much greater heights.

For them, perfection is not merely a choice but an essential pursuit, often fueled by years of neglect and despair. In their relentless quest for excellence as well as validation from others they risk losing their sanity, their relationships, and even their sense of self, a theme that I feel is beautifully illustrated here.