You're probably here because you saw the headlines about Jonathan Majors, or maybe you saw that shredded, haunting still of him posing in a mirror and thought, "I need to see this." You went to Google, typed in magazine dreams film showtimes, and came up with absolutely nothing. No Fandango links. No AMC listings. Just a bunch of old articles from the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and some legal news.
It's frustrating.
Honestly, it's one of the strangest "lost" films of the decade. Magazine Dreams was supposed to be the massive breakout for Majors, a performance compared to Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver. But instead of hitting your local IMAX, the movie vanished into a legal and ethical black hole for nearly two years.
The Messy Reality Behind Magazine Dreams Film Showtimes
So, why aren't there any showtimes? Basically, the film got caught in the crossfire of real-world events. Searchlight Pictures, owned by Disney, originally bought the film for a healthy sum after its Sundance premiere. They had a prime December 2023 release date set. They were ready to push for Oscars. Then, Jonathan Majors was arrested and subsequently convicted of reckless assault and harassment.
Disney didn't just delay the movie. They dropped it entirely.
For a long time, the industry thought Magazine Dreams would never see the light of day. It sat on a shelf while the distributor figured out how to offload a project fronted by a now-controversial figure. You couldn't find magazine dreams film showtimes because the movie technically didn't have a home. It was a "homeless" masterpiece, or at least a very highly-regarded piece of art that no one wanted to touch because of the optics.
Enter Briarcliff Entertainment
Things changed recently. Briarcliff Entertainment, the indie distributor known for picking up "difficult" or politically charged projects—like the Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice—stepped in. They acquired the rights from Searchlight. This is why people are suddenly searching for showtimes again. The movie is actually coming out, but it’s not following the traditional blockbuster path.
✨ Don't miss: Why La Mera Mera Radio is Actually Dominating Local Airwaves Right Now
Briarcliff has tentatively set a release window for early 2025, but it’s a staggered, limited rollout. This isn't going to be on 4,000 screens.
What to Expect When Showtimes Finally Drop
When you finally see magazine dreams film showtimes pop up in your area, don't expect a fun night out with popcorn. This movie is intense. It follows Killian Maddox, an amateur bodybuilder struggling with deep-seated emotional trauma and a desperate need for validation.
He lives with his grandfather. He obsesses over fitness magazines. He uses steroids.
It’s a gritty, uncomfortable look at modern masculinity and social isolation. Critics who saw it at Sundance described it as "suffocating" and "transcendently dark." If you’re looking for a Marvel-style hero, this isn't it. This is a character study of a man spiraling into madness.
The film's director, Elijah Bynum, reportedly put Majors through a grueling physical transformation. Majors was eating 6,000 calories a day and training for hours to achieve that specific, hyper-veined look of a professional bodybuilder. That dedication is part of why the film remains so highly anticipated despite the controversy surrounding its lead actor. People want to see the performance, even if they have complicated feelings about the man.
Why Your Local Theater Might Not Have It
Indie films like this usually start in "Platform Release."
🔗 Read more: Why Love Island Season 7 Episode 23 Still Feels Like a Fever Dream
- First, it hits New York and Los Angeles.
- Then, it moves to major hubs like Chicago, Austin, and Atlanta.
- Finally, if it performs well, it might reach suburban multiplexes.
If you live in a smaller town, you likely won't find magazine dreams film showtimes on opening weekend. You'll have to wait for the expansion or, more likely, the digital VOD (Video on Demand) release. Briarcliff hasn't been shy about moving films to digital quickly if the theatrical numbers don't justify the screen space.
The Ethics of Watching
There is a massive debate online about whether one should even look for magazine dreams film showtimes. Some argue that the work of the hundreds of other people—the crew, the director, the supporting cast—shouldn't be buried because of the lead actor's personal life. Others feel that supporting the film is a tacit endorsement of Majors.
It’s a nuanced situation. Unlike some films that get "canceled," Magazine Dreams has a raw power that made it hard to ignore. The film won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision at Sundance. That’s not an easy thing to just throw in the trash.
How to Actually Find Showtimes in 2025
Since the rollout is going to be erratic, you need a strategy to catch it on the big screen.
Keep an eye on the Briarcliff Entertainment official website. They usually list their active theaters there. Don't bother checking the big chains like Regal or AMC until the week of the supposed release; they often don't program indie titles into their systems until the last minute.
Sign up for alerts on sites like MovieFone or set a Google Alert for "Magazine Dreams showtimes [Your City]." Because this is a limited release, tickets might sell out fast in cinephile circles.
💡 You might also like: When Was Kai Cenat Born? What You Didn't Know About His Early Life
Also, check your local "Arthouse" theaters. Places like the Alamo Drafthouse or independent non-profit cinemas are much more likely to carry Magazine Dreams than the massive 20-screen mall theaters. These smaller venues prioritize "prestige" cinema and are less concerned with the corporate mandates that might keep a Disney-adjacent project off the screens.
The Streaming Question
If you can't find magazine dreams film showtimes near you, don't lose hope. The window between theater and home video is shorter than ever. Given the baggage this film carries, Briarcliff will likely want to capitalize on the "curiosity watch" audience at home. Expect a premium digital rental price—probably $19.99—about 45 days after the limited theatrical run begins.
There's no word yet on which streaming service will host it for "free" (with a subscription), but Briarcliff titles often end up on Hulu or Netflix depending on the highest bidder.
Actionable Steps to Take Right Now
Stop refreshing the major theater apps every day. It’s a waste of time. Instead, do this:
- Follow Elijah Bynum on social media. Directors are often the first to announce specific screening dates for their indie projects.
- Check the 2025 festival circuits. If you live near a city with a major film festival (like SXSW or even smaller regional ones), there’s a chance Magazine Dreams will play there as a "special presentation" before its wide release.
- Verify your local "Independent" cinema's calendar. Call them. Ask the manager if they have Briarcliff titles on their upcoming slate. They usually know their schedule 4-6 weeks in advance.
- Watch the trailer again. Remind yourself why you’re interested. The intensity of the film is its selling point, and the trailer is the best indicator of whether you can handle the dark subject matter.
The search for magazine dreams film showtimes is a lesson in patience. It’s a movie that was almost deleted from history, and its journey to the screen is just as dramatic as the story it tells. Stay tuned to specialized film news outlets like Variety or The Hollywood Reporter for the official "go-live" date, which is currently slated for the first quarter of 2025. Once those dates are firm, the showtimes will populate across the standard aggregators. Until then, it’s a waiting game.