Dreams (2025 film)
| Dreams | |
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_poster.jpg) Mexican theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Michel Franco |
| Written by | Michel Franco |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Yves Cape |
| Edited by | Óscar Figueroa |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 98 minutes[1] |
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| Box office | $379,725[2] |
Dreams is a 2025 drama film produced, written and directed by Michel Franco. It follows the secret affair of wealthy socialite Jennifer (Jessica Chastain) with Mexican ballet dancer and undocumented immigrant Fernando (Isaac Hernández). The supporting cast includes Rupert Friend, Marshall Bell, Eligio Meléndez and Mercedes Hernández.[3]
The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival on 15 February 2025, where it was nominated for the Golden Bear.[4] It was theatrically released in Mexico on 11 September by Imagem Films, and is set to release in the United States on 27 February.
Cast
[edit]- Jessica Chastain as Jennifer McCarthy[5]
- Isaac Hernández as Fernando Rodriguez[6]
- Rupert Friend as Jake McCarthy
- Marshall Bell as Michael McCarthy
- Eligio Meléndez as Fernando's Father
- Mercedes Hernández as Fernando's Mother
Production
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In September 2023, it was announced that the film was in post-production after filming wrapped in San Francisco.[7] The film was also shot in Mexico City.[8] The filmmakers were granted a waiver from SAG-AFTRA which granted them to make the film during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[7] The production also participated in the San Francisco "Scene in San Francisco Incentive Program" administered by the San Francisco Film Commission.[9]
Dreams is Jessica Chastain's second collaboration with Franco after Memory (2023).
Release
[edit]In July 2024, it was announced that the international rights to the film were sold to the Match Factory.[8]
The film was also screened in Open Air Premiere Programme at the 31st Sarajevo Film Festival in August 2025,[10] and in the 'Best of 2025' section of the 20th Rome Film Festival in October 2025.[11]
The film was theatrically released in Mexico on September 11, 2025 by Imagem Films, under the title Dreams: Sueños.[12] It was released in the United States on February 27, 2026.[13]
Reception
[edit]Critical response
[edit]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 52% of 79 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Anchored by intense performances and charged intimacy, Dreams is a chilly yet compelling two-hander whose messy imperfections ultimately deepen its quietly tragic impact."[14] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 61 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[15]
Jessica Chastain's performance was particularly noted for playing against-type and praised for "tackling a role few stars would have the courage to touch."[16] Justin Chang, in a review for NPR, referred to her as "one of our most fearless actors" and that "she gives herself over, chillingly, to the role of Jennifer, a monstrous manipulator and exploiter of someone she claims to love."[17] Ryan Lattanzio of IndieWire graded the film an A− and lauded Chastain for giving a "daring performance" and "her riskiest in some time."[18] Peter Debrudge of Variety commended the film for delivering "a provocative social critique with an extra-sharp sting in the tail."[19] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian awarded the film four stars out of five, calling it a "chilly, angrily intense and deeply pessimistic tale of erotic obsession."[20] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praised it a "scalding study of love and privilege" and noticed how "Chastain excels at portraying a woman accustomed to getting whatever she wants."[21]
On the other hand, the film received negative reviews from some critics, who called the drama 'flat' and 'misguided.' Stephanie Bunbury of Deadline Hollywood gave the film a negative review, writing, "As a heartbreaker, Dreams is flat and entirely affectless."[22]
Accolades
[edit]| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin International Film Festival | 23 February 2025 | Golden Bear | Dreams | Nominated | [23] |
References
[edit]- ^ "DREAMS [18A]". British Columbia Film Classification Office (Consumer Protection BC). January 19, 2026. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
- ^ "Dreams". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- ^ Barraclough, Leo (November 7, 2024). "Michel Franco's 'Dreams,' Starring Jessica Chastain and Isaac Hernández, Launches at AFM". Variety. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ Rosser, Michael (January 21, 2025). "Berlin film festival reveals 2025 competition line-up 2025". ScreenDaily. Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
- ^ Ford, Lily (February 13, 2025). "Jessica Chastain Had to Remove Her Personal Politics to Lead Michel Franco's 'Dreams'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 14, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
- ^ "Dreams". The Match Factory. Archived from the original on February 15, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
- ^ a b Kit, Borys (September 12, 2023). "Jessica Chastain Reteams with Michel Franco for Secret Drama 'Dreams'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Barraclough, Leo (July 3, 2024). "Michel Franco's 'Dreams,' Starring Jessica Chastain, to Be Sold by the Match Factory (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ "Scene In San Francisco Incentive Program - Participating Productions - Dreams". Scene In San Francisco Incentive Program - Participating Productions. San Francisco Film Commission.
- ^ Georg Szalai (August 4, 2025). "'Dreams,' 'Sentimental Value' Among Sarajevo Film Festival's Open Air Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
- ^ "Festa del Cinema di Roma 2025, il programma completo (diretta)" [Rome Film Fest 2025: Full program (live)]. Ciak Magazine (in Italian). September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
- ^ "Dreams, la nueva película de Michel Franco, llega a todos los cines de México". Urbano (in Spanish). September 11, 2025. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ^ "The Numbers - Theatrical Release Schedule Changes for the Week Ending November 30, 2025". The Numbers. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
- ^ "Dreams". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- ^ "Dreams". Metacritic. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
- ^ Debrudge, Peter (February 15, 2025). "'Dreams' Review: A Stone-Cold Jessica Chastain Reunites With Director Michel Franco for a Thorny Moral Drama". Variety. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
- ^ Chang, Justin (February 27, 2026). "'Dreams' Review: An aspiring dancer. A wealthy benefactor. And 'Dreams' turned to nightmare". NPR. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
- ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (February 15, 2025). "'Dreams' Review: Jessica Chastain Gives a Daring Performance in Michel Franco's Most Powerful Film Yet". IndieWire. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
- ^ Debrudge, Peter (February 15, 2025). "'Dreams' Review: A Stone-Cold Jessica Chastain Reunites With Director Michel Franco for a Thorny Moral Drama". Variety. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
- ^ Bradshaw, Peter (February 15, 2025). "Dreams review – Jessica Chastain channels rich Americans whose charity comes with strings". The Guardian. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
- ^ Rooney, David (February 15, 2025). "Dreams review – Jessica Chastain Is Chilling in Michel Franco's Scalding Study of Love and Privilege". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
- ^ Bunbury, Stephanie (February 15, 2025). "'Dreams' Review: Jessica Chastain Plays The Ice Princess In Michel Franco's Skewering Of Woke Hypocrisy – Berlin Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 16, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
- ^ Scott Roxborough (January 21, 2025). "Berlin Film Festival Lineup: Movies From Richard Linklater, Michel Franco, Hang Song-Soo in Competition (Full List)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. Retrieved January 26, 2025.