The first reactions to Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth! are in! The film, starring Pedro Pascal as Alex Serian, a gifted, migratory cellist and third-generation studio musician, premiered at the 64th New York Film Festival on October 2, 2026, ahead of its December 4, 2026, theatrical release by Searchlight Pictures.
Opinions of the film appear to be mixed, with some calling Gilroy’s exploration of Serian’s journey a “divine love letter to music.” In contrast, others say it “follows a well-worn path,” narratively speaking. One aspect of the film that everyone seems to agree on is that the music is outstanding, with Pascal delivering an astonishing performance as a virtuoso who’s mastered his craft.
Pedro Pascal Takes Center Stage as a Virtuoso Cellist
Behemoth! focuses on Alex Serian (Pedro Pascal). As he records cues for a score, each composition triggers non-linear, fragmented flashbacks into his past. The narrative weaves together his fraught family history, past trysts, intergenerational trauma, and his emotionally unavailable demeanor as he tries to reconcile with his past through music.
“Pascal Is Brilliant”: Social Media Reactions Sound Off
Let’s take a look at some of the reactions posted online after last night’s premiere screening:
Jazz Tangcay, the Senior Artisans Editor at Variety, said, “Tony Gilroy delivers a divine love letter to music and the world of movie scores. Pedro Pascal is captivating and mesmerizing to watch. The score from the Behemoth Collective – nine incredible composers – is a triumph. Loved it.”
Joey Magidson, the owner and editor of Awards Radar wrote, “Behemoth! is the Pedro Pascal show. It’s a terrific performance in a film that is formally clever, though eventually follows a well worn path. Occasionally meandering, it’s ultimately a good movie with a great turn from Pascal at its center. Great music, too, as you might expect.”
Meanwhile, Jason of Fantastic Film Fans says, “BEHEMOTH!: Think Birdman meets Tar Meets Jay Kelly!? Completely worked for me. A rock anthem for my senses and emotions. Such a beguiling fifteen-year memory confession of a wildly successful wunderkind from a family of old Hollywood film musicians. Brilliantly cuts between the orchestra and his actual life who’s scoring his own life’s regrets and biggest scenes. Pascal is BRILLIANT and I don’t say that lightly. Haven’t been brutalized this gently since Amy Adams in ARRIVAL.”
Erik Anderson of Critics’ Choice thought the film was brilliant, posting, “BEHEMOTH! is a huge success. The clever structure and story integration of the 9-composer score is genius, the editing is super crisp and Pedro Pascal serves sad puppy eyes as a cellist at several crossroads in his life. Big return to form for director Tony Gilroy.”
In a novelesque post on X, Greg Pomes praised Gilroy’s new film, with his premium account allowing him to post what feels like a full review of the movie:
“Behemoth! is a movie that reminds you just how important music is to the experience of watching a film. Tony Gilroy doesn’t simply use movie scores as background here. He makes them part of the entire language of the film. This feels like a genuine appreciation of film scores, the musicians who perform them, and the composers who create the music that can completely change the way we experience an image.
Pedro Pascal gives one of his best performances, a gifted cellist whose life has been defined by music. Pascal is fantastic because so much of the performance is internal. Alex is someone carrying around years of complicated relationships, regrets, memories and decisions that he hasn’t completely dealt with. As the film moves through different periods of his life, you slowly begin to understand how he became the person he is.”
If you’re interested in reading more from Pomes, click the hyperlink for his full post.
Will You Be Tuning In for Behemoth!?
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