--- title: "The Debut: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-debut/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-debut" critics_score: 85 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Debut (2026): what the critics said Critics' score 85 from 14 reviews: 13 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews are close to unanimous. Almost every critic calls The Debut funny, several of them exceptionally so, and nearly all of them give the same reason: Julianne Moore. Her performance as Mona, the timid housewife who auditions for a community musical, is described across the board as transformative, and more than one review credits her with holding the whole film together. Paul Giamatti’s overbearing director draws consistent praise too, particularly in his confrontations with Moore. Jesse Eisenberg, directing his third film, is credited with wit and with a stranger, more surreal streak than most critics expected. The reservations are few and mild. The Guardian finds the comedy inconsistent as it drifts into the absurd, and The Hollywood Reporter thinks the film never settles what it wants to say about artistic perfection. Nobody dislikes it. The spread runs from good to exceptional, and even the one mixed notice singles out Moore as the reason to watch. ## Time Out — Barry Levitt Rating 5/5. 18 September 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. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-debut-review-2026) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 91/100 (inferred from the text). 17 September 2026. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/tiff-2026-the-debut-elsinore-closing-night) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 18 September 2026. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/movies/jesse-eisenberg-toronto-international-film-festival.html) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 5 September 2026. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/julianne-moores-performance-in-the-debut-is-an-all-timer.html) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 84/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2026. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/the-debut-review-julianne-moore-jesse-eisenberg-1236852779/) ## IndieWire — Cortlyn Kelly Fi1m's normalised score 81/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2026. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-debut-review-jesse-eisenberg-julianne-moore-1235215173/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 81/100 (inferred from the text). 14 September 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-debut-review-a-superb-julianne-moore-takes-centre-stage-in-jesse-eisenbergs-wry-community-theatre-comedy/5220373.article) ## The AV Club — Monica Castillo Rating B. 16 September 2026. 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. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-debut-review-julianne-moore-paul-giamatti-jesse-eisenberg) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Angie Han Fi1m's normalised score 76/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2026. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-debut-review-julianne-moore-paul-giamatti-1236691977/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 68/100 (inferred from the text). 15 September 2026. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/sep/15/the-debut-review-julianne-moore) ## The Playlist — Gregory Ellwood Rating A. 5 September 2026. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/the-debut-review-julianne-moore-is-transformative-jesse-eisenbergs-brilliant-musical-comedy-telluride-20260905/) ## Collider — Joe Schmidt Rating 9/10. 14 September 2026. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://collider.com/julianne-moore-the-debut-movie-review-jesse-eisenberg/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 5 September 2026. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2026/09/the-debut-review-julianne-moore-paul-giamatti-jesse-eisenberg-1237069095/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 5 September 2026. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/julianne-moore-jesse-eisenberg-the-debut/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-debut.md