It is the on-screen pairing no one knew they wanted: Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas teamed up for an enthralling, critically-lauded musical comedy in Could 2026 with “Energy Ballad.” In case you missed this surprisingly potent pairing, you can hire and purchase the film from digital platforms on June 23, 2026.
“Energy Ballad” stars Paul Rudd as Rick Energy, a marriage singer who left his dream of rock stardom behind after settling down together with his girlfriend, Rachel (Marcella Plunkett), and having a daughter. (His efficiency makes this movie a robust contender for inclusion on our listing of Paul Rudd’s greatest motion pictures.) Jonas’ Danny Wilson is a well-known boy band star making an attempt to launch a solo profession, who one night time joins Rick on stage at a reception. The 2 kind a bond and Rick reveals Danny considered one of his songs, just for the pop star to report it himself and switch it into an enormous hit. Rick then units out on a mission to get the popularity he deserves. This all makes for a pleasant and surprisingly affecting story of friendship, ambition, and self-belief.
“Energy Ballad” is directed by Irish filmmaker John Carney, who’s liable for equally charming tales of music-enabled bonding, such because the 2007 romantic drama “As soon as” and 2016’s “Sing Avenue.” However his Rudd-led 2026 effort is his most high-profile up to now and has been met with widespread essential reward. In case you did miss the film when it hit theaters, it is properly value checking it out when it turns into out there to hire and purchase on digital platforms.
In case you missed Energy Ballad in theaters, now’s the time to catch up
Anybody who’s seen the sensible and oft-overlooked “I Love You, Man” (which occurs to function considered one of probably the most legendary Ivan Reitman moments) will know Paul Rudd is completely at residence relating to slappin’ da bass. However “Energy Ballad” permits him to flex much more of his musical expertise, whereas additionally demonstrating that he is simply as watchable in a musical dramedy as he’s in a buddy comedy. The critics had been definitely impressed, and never simply with Rudd.
On the time of writing, the movie has an 87% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes primarily based on a really wholesome 167 critiques. Many had been impressed with how John Carney constructed upon his earlier efforts by including in what Tim Robey of the Every day Telegraph referred to as a “seen-it-all tackle the music biz that is refreshingly acerbic.” The San Francisco Chronicle‘s Bob Strauss additionally favored how the movie acted as a “tribute to how music can change our lives” whereas being “absurdly hilarious and meaner about it” than Carney’s earlier movies. In any other case, as you may count on, Rudd acquired loads of reward, however Jonas earned his share of plaudits, too.
We spoke with Rudd, Jonas, and John Carney on this episode of the /Movie Weekly podcast:
“Energy Ballad” has a robust declare to being considered one of the most effective motion pictures of 2026, which implies you may do so much worse than renting or shopping for the movie when it hits digital platforms on June 23, 2026. Those that do buy “Energy Ballad” will get entry to a number of particular options, together with featurettes “The Making of Energy Ballad,” “The Music of Energy Ballad,” and “The Energy of Paul Rudd.” Digital purchases additionally embrace theatrical trailers, and people who purchase the film by way of Fandango will get entry to an unique bonus function referred to as “The Energy of Music.”
