British pop sensation Charli XCX (Charlotte Emma Aitchison) reflects on the worldwide success of 2024 album brat with a film that doubles as a mockumentary and insight into the singer’s life that examines the meaning of success and an artist’s struggle to preserve both their integrity and identity.
The film is the feature debut of director Aidan Zamiri, primarily known for his music video work, first teaming with the singer on the ”360’’ and ”Guess” music videos. The Moment premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on January 23, 2026. Thank you to Casamigos for allowing us here at The Knockturnal to screen the film at its world premiere.
Developed as an original idea by the singer, The Moment focuses on Charli XCX playing an exaggerated version of herself as she tries to keep up with the pressure of extending the hyperpopularity and cultural powerhouse that is the album brat, following the iconic ‘’brat summer’’ phenomenon of 2024. The film places us in the midst of the singer preparing for the Brat World Tour and the filming of an accompanying concert film amongst an eclectic cast of characters that either support or stifle her creative endeavors, played by principal cast members Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Hailey Benton Gates, and Alexander Skarsgård. The additional cast includes cameos of celeb friends by the likes of Kylie Jenner, Mel Ottenberg, Rachel Sennott, and Rish Shah, to name a few. All feel well utilized in their individual roles as either friend or foe to the singer, who seems to think they know the singer better than herself.
While the singer could have easily capitalized on the relevance of the album by doing the standard documentary or concert film, she reflects on the era in the most playful way possible by poking fun at her party-girl persona. The film, while appearing self-indulgent, is very candid in its portrayal of Charli.
You can feel the heightened emotions throughout the film as Zamiri blends fiction and narrative seamlessly to capture and unravel Charli’s life, with it examining how art can take on a life of its own, being seen as content, and Charli’s struggles with the industry as she is being pushed as a symbol for youthful hedonism. Zamiri balances the faux documentary style that feels voyeuristic as we follow the singer with cinematic shots that elevate her bold and decadent style, filled with strobe lights and neon visuals.
Skarsgård, one of the most versatile actors of this era, plays Johannes Godwin, an enthusiastic director hired by Charli’s team to direct the brat concert film, a stylistic, menacing force who intrudes and undermines the singer’s vision, representing the corporate powers, presenting a series of uninspired or diluted ideas. Celeste Moreau Collins, Charli’s close friend and creative director, played by Hailey Benton Gates, is on the opposite end of the spectrum, an anchor to Charli as she is the sole stable and level-headed person in her life who sees chaos and attempts to help the singer navigate through it. Rosanna Arquette is Tammy Pitman, the no-nonsense and tone-deaf executive of Atlantic Records, who is the catalyst for Charli’s battles in the film.
Charli brings a raw and fresh energy to her own character, being an unfiltered and manic woman on the verge of greatness while also feeling jaded by the tribulations of stardom in an industry where artists like her are commodified. Her roots as a cinephile are evident with her performance evoking the naturalist and dramatic performances associated with European cinema of the 50s and 60s. The film feels like the Zillennial psychological drama tinged answer to A Hard Day’s Night.
For fans of Charli, this is a treat, launching her new era as an actress. If you were only seeing the Brat Summer in passing and were wondering about all the green, then this film is a wonderful peek behind the curtain of pop stardom. Prepare for existential dread, and some laughs along the way.
Distributed by A24, The Moment is playing in select theatres in New York and Los Angeles after releasing on January 30th.
4 out of 5 stars. Brat Summer may be over, but this moment is just beginning.