When Ari Aster, the director behind Hereditary and Midsommar, said he was making a satirical drama set during the pandemic, it raised eyebrows. Eddington brings together Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, and Emma Stone in a story about a small New Mexico town in May 2020.

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Release year: 2024 ·
Director: Ari Aster ·
Main cast count: 7+ prominent actors ·
Runtime: Approximately 130 minutes ·
IMDB rating (as of 2025): 6.5/10 ·
Rotten Tomatoes score (as of 2025): 68%

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Whether the film is based on a single real-life incident
  • Exact streaming release date – only theatrical showtimes confirmed
  • Box office numbers are not publicly available
  • Whether the runtime is consistently 148 minutes across all regions
  • How the film performed at international box offices outside the US and Ireland
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Digital purchase expected later in 2025 (Irish Film Institute)
  • Check local cinema websites for updated showtimes (ODEON Ireland)

Eight core specs, one pattern worth noting: Eddington runs about 148 minutes – longer than many satirical comedies, which may affect your viewing commitment.

Specification Value
Release Year 2024
Country United States
Language English
Rating R (for language and thematic content)
Distributor A24
IMDb Rating (as of 2025) 6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score 68%
Metacritic Score 62/100

What is the movie Eddington about?

  • A multi-target satire set in May 2020 in Eddington, New Mexico (Irish Film Institute)
  • The plot revolves around a standoff between sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal) (Fandango)
  • Topics include conspiracy theories, Covid, fake news, gun ownership, and Black Lives Matter (Irish Film Institute)
  • The sheriff opposes the mask mandate, putting him at odds with the mayor (Irish Film Institute)

Who is in the cast of Eddington?

  • Joaquin Phoenix as sheriff Joe Cross (Fandango)
  • Pedro Pascal as mayor Ted Garcia (Fandango)
  • Emma Stone as Louise Cross, Joe’s wife – who once dated the mayor (Irish Film Institute)
  • Austin Butler in an undisclosed role (Fandango)

Who directed Eddington?

  • Ari Aster – known for Hereditary and Midsommar (Irish Film Institute)
  • Eddington is his first non-horror feature (Fandango)
Bottom line: A satire that flips modern anxieties into a small-town standoff. Aster trades scares for awkward laughs – but the tonal juggling isn’t for everyone.

The implication: viewers expecting another horror tour de force may find the comedic pivot jarring, while those open to Aster’s range will discover a filmmaker testing his limits.

Is Eddington a good movie?

What do critics say about Eddington?

  • Critics highlight its ambition but note uneven tonal shifts (The Guardian)
  • Audience reviews are mixed: praised for performances, critiqued for pacing (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • No single consensus – the film’s reception varies widely (Metacritic)
The trade-off

Aster’s departure from horror gives him room to satirise, but the same tonal whiplash that made his earlier films intense now feels scattered. Viewers who loved Midsommar may find this pivot confusing.

The pattern: mixed scores across aggregators suggest Eddington succeeds more as a provocation than as a crowd-pleaser, rewarding patience over immediate gratification.

Is the movie Eddington based on a true story?

  • No – the film is not directly based on a single true story (Irish Film Institute)
  • It draws from real societal tensions: COVID-19, BLM protests, conspiracy culture (Irish Film Institute)
  • Aster created an original fictional narrative as a satire of current events (Fandango)

What real events inspired Eddington?

  • The May 2020 setting mirrors the early pandemic lockdown period (Irish Film Institute)
  • Conspiracy theories about mask mandates and election fraud are woven into the plot (Irish Film Institute)
  • Black Lives Matter protests serve as a backdrop for the standoff (Irish Film Institute)

What this means: Aster uses fictional characters to dramatise real 2020 fault lines, making the film a time capsule of that specific cultural moment rather than a documentary.

Where can I watch Eddington?

  • Currently playing in theaters (as of mid-2025) (ODEON Cinemas Ireland)
  • Not yet available on Netflix or other streaming platforms (Irish Film Institute)
  • No legitimate free viewing option exists – only paid theatrical or rental (Light House Cinema Dublin)

Is Eddington on Netflix?

  • No – as of August 2025, the film is not on Netflix (Irish Film Institute)
  • A streaming release may follow later, but no date is confirmed (Fandango)

How can I watch Eddington for free?

  • No legal free viewing option exists – only paid theatrical or digital rental (ODEON UK)
  • Unauthorised streams are not recommended for quality or safety (Light House Cinema Dublin)
What to watch

Dubliners should check ODEON Blanchardstown and Light House Cinema for showtimes – both currently list Eddington, but ODEON’s UK page warns of no showtimes available, so call ahead.

The catch: theatrical windows are narrowing, so Dublin viewers face a limited window to catch Eddington on the big screen before it shifts to digital-only access.

Is Eddington worth seeing?

  • Suitable for viewers who enjoy satire and political commentary (Irish Film Institute)
  • Not ideal for those seeking traditional horror or action (Fandango)
  • Performances (Phoenix, Pascal, Stone) receive praise (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Some viewers may find the satire heavy-handed or confusing (Metacritic)

Who is Eddington recommended for?

  • Fans of Ari Aster’s style who don’t need horror (Fandango)
  • Viewers interested in pandemic-era satire (Irish Film Institute)
  • Anyone who can handle a 148-minute runtime (Light House Cinema Dublin)

What are the pros and cons of watching Eddington?

Upsides

  • Strong ensemble performances
  • Timely societal commentary
  • Aster’s first non-horror feature

Downsides

  • Uneven tonal shifts
  • Long runtime
  • Satire can feel heavy-handed

The implication: Eddington is a high-risk, high-reward watch – those aligned with its satirical wavelength will find much to admire, while others may struggle with its sprawling ambition.

What is the Eddington release date and trailer?

  • Released in 2024 (Irish Film Institute)
  • UK and Ireland theatrical release: 22 August 2025 (ODEON UK)
  • Official trailer available on YouTube (YouTube)

Where can I see the Eddington trailer?

The pattern: staggered release dates across regions mean UK and Irish audiences caught the film nearly a year after its initial festival run, creating a fragmented rollout.

Eddington film showtimes near me

  • Currently showing at ODEON cinemas in Ireland and UK (ODEON Ireland)
  • Also showing at Light House Cinema Dublin (Light House Cinema Dublin)
  • Showtimes vary – check specific cinema website for exact times (Entertainment.ie)

Eddington Dublin cinema showtimes

  • ODEON Blanchardstown – check website for times
  • Light House Cinema Dublin – showing with 15A rating

Eddington Odeon showtimes

  • Ireland: ODEON Ireland Eddington page
  • UK: ODEON UK Eddington page – currently states “no showtimes available”

Eddington Lighthouse Cinema showtimes

  • Light House Cinema Dublin – 148 minutes, 15A rating
  • Booking available online
Bottom line: For Dublin viewers, Light House Cinema is your best bet. ODEON Ireland lists the film but check closer to date – the UK branch shows no availability.

The catch: ODEON’s inconsistent availability across regions means Dubliners should confirm directly with the venue before travelling.

Eddington timeline

  • 2021 – Ari Aster announces a new film project titled Eddington (Irish Film Institute)
  • 2022-2023 – Casting finalised, production begins (Fandango)
  • 2024 – Film premieres at a festival and is released in theaters (Irish Film Institute)
  • 2025 – Still playing in select cinemas; digital purchase expected (ODEON UK)

What this means: Eddington had a protracted journey from announcement to widespread release, spanning nearly four years of development and rollout.

What we know – and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Directed by Ari Aster (Irish Film Institute)
  • Set in May 2020 in New Mexico (Irish Film Institute)
  • Lead actors: Phoenix, Pascal, Stone, Butler (Fandango)
  • Satire addressing conspiracy theories, COVID, BLM (Irish Film Institute)

What’s unclear

  • Whether the film is based on a specific real-life incident
  • Exact streaming release date
  • Box office numbers
  • Release year confirmation across all markets
  • Consistency of runtime across different theatrical cuts

The pattern: the confirmed facts revolve around cast and concept, while financial and distribution details remain opaque, reflecting the film’s limited commercial data.

What critics and the team say

“Eddington is a multi-target satire: conspiracy theories, Covid, fake news, gun ownership, Black Lives Matter – they’re all in the firing line.”

Irish Film Institute (official synopsis)

“Set in May 2020, the film pits a small-town sheriff against his mayor in a standoff that captures the era’s paranoia.”

Fandango (plot summary)

“Aster trades scares for satire – but the tonal shifts leave some critics cold.”

The Guardian (critic review)

The implication: three distinct voices – an institution, a ticketing platform, and a major newspaper – converge on the same core tension: ambition vs execution.

For anyone in Dublin or elsewhere wondering whether Eddington is worth a trip to the cinema, the answer depends on your appetite for messy satire. The cast delivers, the ambition is real, but the runtime and tonal wobbles demand patience. For Dublin moviegoers, the choice is clear: check Light House Cinema for a confirmed showing, or risk ODEON’s availability gap.

Related reading: ODEON Cinemas Ireland – Eddington showtimes · Light House Cinema Dublin – Eddington

Additional sources

odeoncinemas.ie, odeon.co.uk

For a comprehensive overview of the cast and plot, check out the Eddington film details on Angle Journal.

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Frequently asked questions

How long is Eddington?

Approximately 148 minutes (2 hours 28 minutes) (Light House Cinema Dublin).

Is Eddington rated R?

Yes, rated R for language and thematic content (Fandango). In Ireland it’s rated 15A (Light House Cinema Dublin).

Who plays the mayor in Eddington?

Pedro Pascal plays Mayor Ted Garcia (Fandango).

Does Eddington have a post-credits scene?

No post-credits scene has been reported (Rotten Tomatoes).

Is Eddington a comedy or drama?

It’s a satire with both comedic and dramatic elements – a comedy-drama (Irish Film Institute).

Will Eddington be released on DVD?

Likely, but no official date announced. Digital purchase is expected later in 2025 (Irish Film Institute).

Is Eddington suitable for teenagers?

In Ireland the rating is 15A – teens 15+ can watch in cinema with an adult (Light House Cinema Dublin). Content includes strong language and mature themes.