Release: The Chain

 

The Chain

Genre: Drama/Biography/Music

Director: Charlotte Wells

Writer: Diane Esposito

Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Joe Keery, Saoirse Ronan, Toby Kebbell, Harry Lloyd, Jonah Hauer-King, Tom Payne, Scott MacArthur, Holliday Grainger, Joe Alwyn, Emile Hirsch

Budget: $51,000,000

Domestic Box Office: $104,001,394

Foreign Box Office: $91,090,888

Total Profit: $66,667,068

Reaction: Writer Diane Esposito's music biopics have continued to be hit films for the studio bringing the stories of Joni Mitchell, Madonna, and now Fleetwood Mac to the big screen.

"The Chain is a music biopic that feels lived-in rather than staged, capturing both the highs and emotional fallout behind Fleetwood Mac’s rise. Charlotte Wells keeps things intimate and restrained, letting tension build naturally, while Sydney Sweeney and Joe Keery deliver standout performances as Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. The Rumours sessions are especially compelling, turning iconic songs into raw, personal exchanges. It’s messy, immersive, and deeply human." - Adrian Fell, West Coast Picture Review

"It's safe to say that Joe Keery can confidently add "movie star" to his multi-hyphenate career. After charming us in "Stranger Things" and Starman, Keery bends that likability to its breaking point with a domineering verve that runs through The Chain like a buzzsaw. The film itself ends up feeling a bit unwieldy in its second half and doesn't always juggle the ensemble to the best of its ability, but the highs are high and Fleetwood Mac songs are a blast to listen to in a big theater." - Cal Crowe, Washington Globe

"Despite strong performances and a rich subject, The Chain struggles to shape its sprawling story into something cohesive. Key moments feel more like disconnected vignettes than a unified narrative, and Wells’ understated approach sometimes drains momentum. The supporting cast—particularly Saoirse Ronan and Toby Kebbell—is solid, but several arcs feel rushed or underdeveloped. The music resonates, but the film around it never quite locks into place." - Graham Iles, The Sound & Screen Quarterly

Rated R for drug use, language throughout, and some sexual content.