Power Ballad turns up the volume on nostalgia, music and comedy in a wildly entertaining new film starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker John Carney—the Oscar-winning writer-director behind beloved music-driven hits like Once, Sing Street and Begin Again—the film blends comedy, drama and music in Carney’s signature heartfelt style. Rudd plays a washed-up 1990s rock star whose glory days seem long behind him, while Jonas plays a younger pop sensation who unexpectedly records one of his forgotten songs and turns it into a global smash hit. When the two musicians collide, their rivalry, egos and generational differences spark a chaotic battle over ownership of the song that could change both their careers forever.
Carney has built a reputation for crafting some of the most beloved music-themed films of the past two decades, stories that combine humour, romance and emotionally powerful songs. Power Ballad continues that tradition while celebrating the larger-than-life era of arena rock and the soaring anthems that dominated radio in the 1980s and 1990s. With an all-star supporting cast including Jack Reynor and a soundtrack packed with original music, the film explores fame, artistic ownership and the strange ways songs can take on a life of their own. Funny, heartfelt and full of catchy tunes, Power Ballad promises to be a feel-good musical comedy about the timeless power of a great song.