Los Angeles Media Fund
Not part of a collection.
Magazine Dreams
Never stop dreaming.
Aspiring bodybuilder Killian Maddox struggles to find human connection in an exploration of celebrity and violence. Nothing deters him from his fiercely protected dream of superstardom, not even the doctors who warn him of the permanent damage he causes to himself with his quest.
- Original title
- Magazine Dreams
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- $1,076,099
Brent Marchant
Mar 26, 2025 · via TMDB
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.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Jonathan Majors
Killian Maddox
Haley Bennett
Jessie
Taylour Paige
Pink Coat
Harrison Page
William Latimore
Harriet Sansom Harris
Patricia Waldron
Mike O'Hearn
Brad Vanderhorn
Bradley Stryker
Ken Donaghue
Craig Cackowski
Middle Aged Man
Sonny Valicenti
Jimmy
Mark Rhino Smith
Bryce
Kimberly Christian
Nurse
Dan Donohue
Dr. Prescott
Jodi Bianca Wise
Suburban Woman
Andrea Figliomeni
Waitress
Tim Martin Gleason
Mack
Krystin Goodwin
Newscaster
Tiffany Jackson
Laughing Woman
Tess Cline
Jamie (uncredited)
Dominique Thaysen
Go Go Dancer (uncredited)
Adam Arkapaw
Director of Photography
Phil Culotta
Stunt Coordinator
Rex Reddick
Stunt Driver
Elijah Bynum
Director
Barbara Harris
ADR Voice Casting
Avy Kaufman
Casting
Jonathan Majors
Executive Producer
Dan Gilroy
Producer
Jennifer Fox
Producer
Nicholas Ashe Bateman
Visual Effects Supervisor
Elijah Bynum
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