Pedro Pascal’s 'Behemoth!' Premieres at NYFF Amidst Mixed Reviews and Oscar Controversy
Tony Gilroy’s return to feature filmmaking, 'Behemoth!', premiered at the New York Film Festival to sharply divided critical reception. The film stars Pedro Pascal as a cellist navigating midlife crisis and family trauma, featuring a non-linear structure and a score by nine major composers. While Pascal praised the intimate nature of the project, critics were split on its pacing and emotional depth. The film faces a potential Oscar hurdle regarding its nine-composer score, as Academy rules typically limit entries to three.
Key points
- The film 'Behemoth!' premiered at the New York Film Festival and is scheduled for a wide theatrical release on December 4, 2026.
- Pedro Pascal stars as Alex Serian, a cellist returning to Los Angeles after 20 years, with supporting roles from Olivia Wilde, Will Arnett, and Eva Victor.
- The film features a score by nine composers, including James Newton Howard and Michael Giacchino, collectively known as 'The Behemoth! Collective.'
- Academy rules generally limit Original Score submissions to three composers, creating uncertainty for the film’s Oscar eligibility, though Searchlight Pictures is hoping for an exception.
- Critical reception is polarized: some praise Pascal’s quiet performance and the film’s emotional intimacy, while others criticize its disjointed pacing and tonal inconsistencies.
Background
Tony Gilroy, known for 'The Bourne' films and 'Andor,' returned to feature directing after a 14-year hiatus. Our earlier coverage noted that the film’s non-linear structure and Pascal’s cello performance were central to its reception. The film is part of a competitive fall awards season, with other contenders like 'The Odyssey' and 'Wild Horse Nine' also in the mix for Best Actor.
How outlets are covering it
IndieWire highlights the film’s potential Oscar buzz, noting Pascal’s strong performance and the innovative music structure, while questioning the Academy’s flexibility on the nine-composer rule. The Guardian offers a critical review, describing the film as 'fatally undone' by its disorienting structure and tonal shifts, calling Pascal’s performance 'insubstantial.' Deadline focuses on Pascal’s positive reaction to Gilroy’s direction, with the actor praising the film’s intimacy and healing nature, contrasting with the mixed critical reception.
Why it matters
The film’s reception and Oscar eligibility will be closely watched as it could impact Pascal’s first Best Actor nomination and set precedents for how the Academy handles multi-composer scores. The polarized reviews also highlight the challenges of non-linear narratives in prestige cinema.
What to watch
The film opens in theaters on December 4, 2026. The Academy’s decision on the nine-composer score will be a key factor in its Oscar campaign. Pascal’s performance will be evaluated against other strong contenders in the Best Actor category.
- Will ‘Behemoth!’ Push Pedro Pascal Into Oscar Contention? IndieWire
- ‘Behemoth!’ Review: Director Tony Gilroy Forces Us to Face the Music In His Strikingly Original Love Letter to Movie Scores IMDb
- Behemoth! review - Pedro Pascal classical music drama hits all the wrong notes The Guardian
- A-List Star’s Career-Best Performance Is Pitch Perfect The Daily Beast
- Pedro Pascal Was Surprised By Tony Gilroy's 'Behemoth!' Deadline
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on IndieWire