This is, without a doubt, the biggest surprise of the year. Power Ballad exceeded every expectation I had, taking me from entering the cinema with very little anticipation to leaving convinced that I had just seen the best film of the year.

After the success of Sing Street and Once, director John Carney returns with what may be his finest film yet. Power Ballad is a heartwarming, hilarious, and emotionally powerful story, supported by an incredible soundtrack that elevates every moment. From the very beginning, I was completely invested.

One of the film’s greatest strengths is the evolution of its two central characters, played by Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, both of whom deliver fantastic performances. Paul Rudd plays Nick, a songwriter and musician who, while touring in Ireland, meets a woman who changes his life forever. Choosing to stay behind and raise a family, Nick spends years balancing his responsibilities with his dreams of achieving more, all while working with a wedding band. Along the way, he crosses paths with former boy band star Danny Wilson, played by Nick Jonas. After a brief night of making music together, Danny steals Nick’s songs and uses them to become one of the biggest stars in the world.

Watching both storylines unfold is equal parts infuriating and heartbreaking. The film does an excellent job of making you sympathise with both characters: one desperately searching for his big break, and the other struggling under the weight of expectations he can never truly live up to. Their journeys are compelling from start to finish.

I had an incredible time throughout the film, but it was the third act and final sequence that truly elevated it. As the story reached its conclusion, I found myself overwhelmed with emotion. I was smiling from ear to ear one moment and in tears the next. It’s rare for a film to affect me on that level.

Power Ballad made me feel things that no other film has managed to this year. I walked out of the cinema feeling genuinely moved, and that is something I haven’t experienced in a long time. Among the huge number of films I’ve seen in 2026, this one stands out above the rest. As of writing this review, it is comfortably my favourite film of the year and that’s exactly why it deserves this rating.