Magazine Dreams movie review starring Jonathan Majors.

by Cyn.

“Magazine Dreams” is a 2023 drama film written and directed by Elijah Bynum and scheduled for wide theatrical release on March 21, 2025. It stars Jonathan Majors, Haley Bennett, and Harrison Page.

This movie tells the story of Killian Maddox, an emotionally stunted amateur bodybuilder with big dreams and a desperate need for human connection and recognition. Driven by this desperation, he pushes himself to dangerous extremes in pursuit of his goal: becoming a world-renowned bodybuilder gracing the covers of fitness and bodybuilding magazines. However, the path to success isn’t as accommodating as he’d hoped.

It becomes clear early on that Killian’s personal struggles are the primary factor in his difficulties—not bodybuilding itself or the people he clashes with along the way. While the film attempts to frame some of these conflicts as being rooted in racial discrimination, that wasn’t the impression I came away with at all, especially given the clear indications that the character has serious underlying issues. And despite “Magazine Dreams” being centered on an aspiring bodybuilder, it’s not really about bodybuilding. That’s just the vehicle carrying the story, which is ultimately about a lonely, isolated man struggling with mental illness, his consuming need for validation, and his inability to foster meaningful human relationships outside of the one he shares with his grandfather. This sends him into a dark and dangerous spiral, and we can only watch with dread and helplessness as his situation grows increasingly bleak and sinister. 

Some have described this as a story about “toxic masculinity,” but I strongly disagree with that assessment. Killian’s struggles and obstacles don’t stem from his masculinity somehow turning toxic but rather from his deep-seated social, emotional, and mental instabilities. I had conflicting feelings about his character. Initially, I felt mostly empathetic—particularly during scenes where he clearly struggled to interact with others and in a pivotal moment toward the end when he finally met his bodybuilding idol. However, as his descent led to inexcusable actions, my feelings shifted between empathy and growing dislike, especially with no positive resolution in sight for him or those he encountered. Fortunately, my worst fears about how the story would end weren’t realized, which slightly redeemed the film for me—raising my initial rating of two stars by another half-star. A rewatch might change my opinion further in a more favorable direction, but I’m not sure I feel like revisiting this depressing two-hour journey.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Jonathan Majors‘ performance, which is nothing short of excellent. I recommend “Magazine Dreams” for his performance alone. It effectively showcases his undeniable talent and grueling physical dedication to the role. He essentially became a legitimate bodybuilder in preparation for this part, and it shows. The intense dedication he brought to his training likely helped him connect with the character in ways that only a truly committed bodybuilder could.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.