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Power Ballad

Power Ballad

Comedy · Music · Drama · 2026

When Rick, a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves - even if it means risking everything he cares about.

Movie details

Power Ballad

“It's time to set the record straight.”

2026 Comedy · Music · Drama 1h 39m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.1 / 10

Community rating

When Rick, a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves - even if it means risking everything he cares about.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Power Ballad?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Carney

Written by

John Carney · Peter McDonald

Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd

Rick

Nick Jonas

Nick Jonas

Danny Wilson

Peter McDonald

Peter McDonald

Sandy

Marcella Plunkett

Marcella Plunkett

Rachel

Havana Rose Liu

Havana Rose Liu

Marcia

Jack Reynor

Jack Reynor

Mac

Rory Keenan

Rory Keenan

Binzer

Court is in session

Put Power Ballad on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.