# Power Ballad (2026) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/power-ballad/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-23

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 77% |
| Critic Score | 88% |
| Audience Score | 78% |
| Metascore | 75/100 |
| Letterboxd | 3.6/5 |
| IMDb | 7.2/10 |
| Director | John Carney |
| Genres | Drama, Music, Comedy |
| Runtime | 110 min |

## Quick answer

Power Ballad (2026) earns a 77% Celluloid Score — Recommended. John Carney returns to the music-drama lane that made Once essential — Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas share a warm 88% Certifi Metascore 75/100. Directed by John Carney.

## Critics consensus

John Carney returns to the music-drama lane that made Once essential — Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas share a warm 88% Certified Fresh rapport in a song-theft story that Empire's summer issue singled out as Ireland's feel-good theatrical of the year.

## Synopsis

A washed-up session musician in Dublin discovers his teenage demo was stolen decades ago and became one of the biggest power ballads in rock history — credited to a rival who never wrote a note. John Carney pairs Paul Rudd's shame-soaked veteran with Nick Jonas's hungry young producer as they set out to reclaim the song and the life it cost him. Fionnula Flanagan and Chris O'Dowd ground the ensemble while Carney films pub sessions and studio arguments with the live-performance patience that made Once essential — feel-good with stakes, not without them.

## Cast

Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Fionnula Flanagan, Chris O'Dowd

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is Power Ballad worth watching?**
Power Ballad holds a 77% Celluloid Score. John Carney returns to the music-drama lane that made Once essential — Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas share a warm 88% Certified Fresh rapport in a song-theft story that Empire's summer issue singled out as Ireland's feel-good theatrical of the year.

**What is Power Ballad about?**
A washed-up session musician in Dublin discovers his teenage demo was stolen decades ago and became one of the biggest power ballads in rock history — credited to a rival who never wrote a note. John Carney pairs Paul Rudd's shame-soaked veteran with Nick Jonas's hungry young producer as they set out to reclaim the song and the life it cost him. Fionnula Flanagan and Chris O'Dowd ground the ensemble while Carney films pub sessions and studio arguments with the live-performance patience that made Once essential — feel-good with stakes, not without them.

**Who directed Power Ballad?**
Power Ballad (2026) was directed by John Carney.

**What is the Celluloid Score of Power Ballad?**
77% — the average of five public sources: critics 88%, audience 78%, Metascore 75/100, Letterboxd 3.6/5, and IMDb 7.2/10.

**Where can I watch Power Ballad?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the Power Ballad page for current options.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

Markdown mirror: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/power-ballad.md