Film tip: Eddington, Ari Aster’s satirical thriller starring Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal, premieres in Rotterdam on 2 October 2025.

Film tip: Eddington mixes pandemic paranoia with dark humour

Ari Aster turns his sharp eye for unsettling stories toward New Mexico in Eddington. This satirical thriller mixes pandemic paranoia, dark comedy and explosive drama.

 

Film details

  • Premiere date: 2 October 2025
  • Director: Ari Aster
  • Runtime: 149 minutes
  • Language & subtitles: English with Dutch subtitles
  • Age rating: 16+
  • Showing at: Cinerama, KINO

 

What’s the vibe?

Eddington blends western grit with Aster’s signature unease, turning a small New Mexico town into a pressure cooker. The film is satirical yet brutal, capturing the madness of 2020 through paranoia, violence and mistrust.

 

Trailer

Check out the trailer below.

 

 

Why you might like it

  • For the eyes: Wide desert landscapes clash with claustrophobic lockdown interiors.
  • For the heart: Joaquin Phoenix brings gravitas as a weary sheriff trying to hold his town together.
  • For the mind: A searing look at how fear, misinformation and mistrust can rip communities apart.

 

Critical reception

Early reviews call Eddington both “painful and hilarious,” praising its fearless satire. Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal are highlighted for their intensity, while Emma Stone and Austin Butler bring unexpected depth. Critics note the film’s mix of tones is divisive but bold — very much in line with Aster’s reputation. IMDB scores currently hover around 6.7, reflecting its provocative, love-it-or-hate-it nature.

 

 

Scene to watch for

The first town hall confrontation between Phoenix’s sheriff and Pascal’s mayor, where political division erupts into chaos.

 

Recommended pairing

A strong black coffee before the film to sharpen focus, followed by comfort food like burgers and fries to shake off the unease afterwards.

 

Need-to-knows

Eddington is positioned as a “companion piece” to Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, with both films tackling the fractures of modern America in very different styles. Expect satire as sharp as it is uncomfortable.

Support Rotterdam’s biggest English-language platform!

Since 2015, RotterdamStyle.com has helped thousands of expats and locals stay informed, discover events, and feel at home in Rotterdam—all in English, and always free to access. Our work bridges the language gap, but ad revenue alone isn’t enough to keep things running.

If you value having easy access to local news and stories, please consider supporting us above. With your help, we hope to keep RotterdamStyle.com online for many more years—maybe even ad-free one day!

Spotted a mistake or outdated information? Let us know. Your feedback and support keep us growing. Thank you for being part of the community!

You might also like

How about a live show tonight?

Special events happening soon

How about a live show tonight?

Special events happening soon

About RotterdamStyle

RotterdamStyle.com is the largest and most popular online platform for expats and long stay tourists in Rotterdam.

Business inquiries

We're always open to receiving press releases or business inquiries. Just send us an email at hello [@] rotterdamstyle.com.

Acquire us

We're looking to get acquired by a startup or enterprise with deep pockets. Go ahead, make us an offer we can't refuse. ;-)