Paul Rudd Leads Power Ballad to June 5, 2026 Release
Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas will bring Power Ballad to theaters in a staged rollout that starts May 29, 2026 and widens on June 5, 2026. Lionsgate has dated the John Carney film after its SXSW world premiere, giving the title a clear runway after a strong festival reception.
SXSW gave Power Ballad momentum
The film scored a 92% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes after its SXSW world premiere, a useful number for a movie built around music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition. Glenn Garner said it “has the potential to serve as a feel-good movie for a date night or maybe even a comfort watch for artists who want to feel valued in an oversaturated creative landscape.”
Rudd plays Rick, a past-his-prime wedding singer who meets Danny, the fading boy-band star played by Jonas, during a gig. The two bond over music and a late-night jam session, and Danny turns one of Rick's songs into the hit that reignites his career.
John Carney's June release plan
John Carney directed Power Ballad and co-wrote it with Peter McDonald, who also stars alongside Marcella Plunkett, Havana Rose Liu, and Jack Reynor. Anthony Bregman, Carney, Peter Cron, Rebecca O'Flanagan, and Robert Walpole produced the film, while 30West fully financed and executive produced it.
The release pattern matters because the film is not opening everywhere at once. A limited start on May 29 gives it a week to build word of mouth before the wider break on June 5, when it opens against Masters of the Universe and Animal Friends.
Rick's fight for credit
That schedule sets up a movie whose plot is built around recognition as much as performance. Rick believes he deserves credit for the song that Danny turns into a hit, and he is willing to risk everything he cares about to get it back.
For theaters, the question is whether the SXSW response and 92% fresh score can carry a music-driven adult title through a limited-to-wide rollout. For viewers, the practical part is simple: Power Ballad arrives first on May 29, then expands nationally on June 5, 2026.
