Everything’s Going to Be Great made its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 9, 2025, arriving with major buzz thanks to a powerhouse cast that includes Bryan Cranston and Allison Janney, along with creative heavyweights like the director of Tetris and the writer of I, Tonya. The film begins as an emotionally rich family drama, drawing viewers in with sharp performances and moments of raw vulnerability. But just past the halfway mark, a bizarre narrative swerve throws the story off balance. The tonal shift is jarring, and the film struggles to regain the emotional connection it so carefully established in its first hour.

 

Lester (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) lives with his imaginative, free-spirited parents (Cranston and Janney), a pair of devoted theater artists constantly chasing their next gig while barely scraping by. Immersed in their world of scripts, costumes, and late-night rehearsals, Lester finds joy and purpose in the stage, even if it sets him apart from his classmates and marks him as an outsider. But when a sudden, life-altering event turns his world upside down, Lester is forced to confront some tough questions about his future, his identity, and what it really means to follow your passion.

 

As a former theater major, it was impossible not to see myself reflected in this film. I’ve wrestled with the same push and pull: pouring your heart into something you love, even when it barely pays the bills. Chasing a creative dream as a livelihood is rarely a smooth ride, and the film captures that experience with striking honesty. Whether through sharp humor or gut-punch drama, it highlights both the beauty and the brutality of trying to turn passion into a paycheck.

 

Benjamin Evan Ainsworth shines as the heart of Everything’s Going to Be Great, delivering one of the film’s standout performances. With remarkable ease, he matches the energy and nuance of his seasoned co-stars, commanding the screen with quiet intensity and charm. His portrayal is both heartfelt and grounded, forging a powerful emotional bond with the audience that lingers long after the credits roll.

 

Unfortunately, a jarring tonal shift at the midpoint pulled the rug out from under the film. What began as a heartfelt and sharply observed coming-of-age family dramedy suddenly veered into heavy-handed drama, losing much of the charm and rhythm it had worked so hard to build. While I can appreciate the intent to surprise the audience, the transition felt more disorienting than daring, turning what had been a cohesive and emotionally engaging story into something that felt scattered and uneven. It took me out of the experience and made the second half far less compelling.

 

While I wouldn’t go so far as to say Everything’s Going to Be Great isn’t worth watching, I also can’t fully recommend it with confidence. The film opens strong, setting up a compelling story with heartfelt performances and a clear emotional core. But much of that early promise unravels in the second half, where a sudden and unexpected shift in tone left me feeling disconnected. Some viewers might resonate with the emotional weight of the turn, but for me, it was difficult to stay engaged once the story lost its footing.