The Debut (2026)

The critic praises the film as wildly entertaining and exceptionally funny, with Eisenberg at his most accomplished as director. Julianne Moore's performance as the overlooked housewife Mona is singled out as utterly dazzling and the emotional core.

The critic calls it one of the best films of 2026 so far and one of the funniest, noting it asks unexpected questions about getting lost in a character. They single out Julianne Moore’s best work of her career in the role.

The critic describes it as one of the most pleasurable films seen at Toronto, praising how Eisenberg and the performers coax laughs from the characters and community theater without cruelty or condescension. They single out Julianne Moore’s glorious, wide-ranging expressivity in the role.

The critic hails Julianne Moore’s performance as an all-timer and explosive, turning the film into a fire-breathing encomium to the reality-altering power of acting. They single out Moore’s transcendent, hilarious transformations and the film’s playful, deceptively strange style as it breaks down and rebuilds alongside the character.

The critic calls it a funny and dizzying mind-bender like 'Waiting for Guffman' made by the Coen brothers at their most unhinged, a twisted love letter to community theater. They single out Julianne Moore’s astonishing, transformative performance as the standout element that holds the film together.

The review highlights Julianne Moore’s shining performance in Jesse Eisenberg’s story of midlife reinvention through community theater, celebrating the small spaces that birth future stars and Paul Giamatti as the overbearing director. It praises Moore’s turn in a film that feels like a love letter to the scrappy ethos of local productions.

The critic describes the film as a wry and sneakily bold comedy about the power of art to reshape lives. Julianne Moore's marvellously gutsy and finely calibrated performance as the timid housewife Mona is singled out as the emotional anchor that prevents the story from becoming mocking or implausible.

The critic calls it a charming, loving satire and love letter to community theater, with Julianne Moore stealing the show as she enters the Oscar race through her delightful and ridiculous performance. They single out the ensemble chemistry, especially the riotous Moore-Giamatti confrontations, and Eisenberg’s witty take on the absurdities of performing.

The critic finds it a frequently hilarious journey into the mind of an overly committed actor, praising the dynamite chemistry and performances of Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti as the standout elements in Jesse Eisenberg’s offbeat theater comedy. They single out the entertaining brio and wild turns enabled by the lead duo while noting the film ultimately feels unsure what it wants to say about artistic perfection.

The critic finds the film an inconsistent oddball comedy about a repressed housewife auditioning for a community musical, with Eisenberg shifting toward surreal and absurd territory in his third directorial effort. Julianne Moore's riotous, fearless lead performance as Mona is singled out for praise as the element that holds the production together.

The critic calls it a brilliant musical comedy and praises Julianne Moore's transformative, hilarious, and profound performance as Mona, along with Eisenberg's surprising auteur vision that incorporates surrealism and avant-garde elements.

The critic calls the film the best of TIFF 2026 and a showcase for Julianne Moore's Oscar-worthy performance as an empty-nester discovering herself through community theater. Eisenberg's direction and creation of a fictional musical are praised for their wit, heart, and authentic portrayal of theater community dynamics.

The critic calls the film an absolute joy and complete delight, a hilarious and even sweet look at community theatre with go-for-broke comedic performances from Moore and Giamatti that deliver big laughs and some poignant moments.

The piece praises Moore's transformative performance as the standout, highlighting how she gives the character breadth and depth in an autobiographical story about community theater that fires on all cylinders with laughter and fun.