O'Dessa

O'Dessa
Release poster
Directed byGeremy Jasper
Written byGeremy Jasper
Produced by
  • Michael Gottwald
  • Noah Stahl
Starring
CinematographyRina Yang
Edited by
Music by
  • Geremy Jasper
  • Jason Binnick (songs and music)
Production
companies
  • Department of Motion Pictures
  • RT Features
Distributed bySearchlight Pictures (through Hulu)
Release dates
  • March 8, 2025 (2025-03-08) (SXSW)
  • March 20, 2025 (2025-03-20) (United States)
Running time
106 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

O'Dessa is a 2025 American post-apocalyptic musical drama film written and directed by Geremy Jasper that retells the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. It stars Sadie Sink, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Murray Bartlett, and Regina Hall.[1] The film was released by Searchlight Pictures through Hulu on March 20, 2025.[2]

Cast

Production

In January 2023, Searchlight Pictures was developing a post-apocalyptic musical drama film written and directed by Geremy Jasper, with Sadie Sink in the lead role.[3] In April, Regina Hall, Pokey LaFarge, and Murray Bartlett joined the cast.[4][5] Principal photography began in May 2023, in Croatia.[5]

Release

O'Dessa had its world premiere at the 2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 8, 2025.[6] It was released by Searchlight Pictures through Hulu on March 20, 2025.[7]

Reception

Viewership

JustWatch, a guide to streaming content with access to data from more than 45 million users around the world, reported that O'Dessa was in the top five most-streamed films in the U.S. from March 17–30.[8][9]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 39% of 54 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Sadie Sink manages to rise above the schlock in a doomed rock-opera that sadly loses its purpose and steam while rambling to the finish line."[10] On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the film holds a score of 41/100 based on 14 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[11]

Elisabeth Vincentelli of The New York Times said O'Dessa is a bold and intriguing musical, praised its energetic style, and found Sadie Sink's performance solid, especially her singing. She stated that the film's postapocalyptic setting was creative but noted that its mix of elements sometimes felt uneven. Vincentelli appreciated the movie's music, highlighting its blend of emo Americana and power ballads, and found Regina Hall's performance as a flamboyant villain especially entertaining.[12] Kristy Puchko of Mashable praised O'Dessa as a gender-bending, visually vibrant rock musical with a rebellious spirit. She highlighted Sink's performance as the androgynous heroine and Kelvin Harrison Jr.'s role as her romantic counterpart, noting the film's playful subversion of gender expectations. Puchko was particularly impressed by Hall's character and the movie's blend of surreal production design and punk energy. While she found most of the soundtrack spectacular, she felt the climatic song lacked the power and boldness needed to deliver a truly unforgettable finale.[13]

William Bibbiani of TheWrap complimented O'Dessa's for its energetic and bracing approach, highlighting Sink's strong performance and the film's blend of rock musical and post-apocalyptic elements. He appreciated the movie's exploration of music's power and limitations, stating that it succeeds in depicting a world where art plays a role in resistance. Bibbiani found the film's visual style inconsistent due to its mix retro sets and CGI, but still enjoyed the costume design and character dynamics. He also noted that the soundtrack, while effective in the moment, lacked lasting impact.[14] Randy Myers of The Mercury News describing O'Dessa's as a visually striking yet flawed dystopian musical. He noted that while the film has the potential to become a cult classic like Tommy or The Wall, it ultimately falls short due to underdeveloped storylines, drawing a parallel to the issues that hindered Megalopolis. Myers praised Sink for her performance, showcasing her talent as both an actor and singer. He also highlighted the film's energy and boldness but found it lacking in emotional investment, which could prevent viewers from caring about the characters' fates.[15]

References

  1. ^ Rudoy, Matthew (March 20, 2025). "O'Dessa Cast & Character Guide". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  2. ^ P, Maddie (March 20, 2025). "When Is 'O'Dessa' Streaming? How To Watch Sadie Sink's Punk Rock Musical". Collider. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  3. ^ Kroll, Justin (January 17, 2023). "Sadie Sink To Star In Geremy Jasper's Rock Opera 'O'Dessa' For Searchlight Pictures". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  4. ^ Grobar, Matt (April 5, 2023). "Searchlight Pictures' Rock Opera 'O'Dessa' Adds Regina Hall". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Donnelly, Matt (April 20, 2023). "Sadie Sink Rock Opera 'O'Dessa' Adds Kelly Macdonald, Pokey LaFarge (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  6. ^ Grobar, Matt (January 22, 2025). "Seth Rogen Comedy Series 'The Studio' To Open SXSW 2025; 'The Accountant 2,' 'Death Of A Unicorn', 'Drop,' 'Happy Face' & More Also To Screen". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  7. ^ Murphy, J. Kim (February 13, 2025). "'O'Dessa' Trailer: Sadie Sink Leads a Rock Opera Revolution in Hulu's Post-Apocalyptic Musical". Variety. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  8. ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (March 25, 2025). "JustWatch: Oscar-Winning 'Anora,' Netflix's 'Adolescence' Top Weekly Streaming Through March 23". Media Play News. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  9. ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (April 1, 2025). "JustWatch: Oscar-Nominated 'A Complete Unknown,' Comedy Series 'The Studio' Top Weekly Streaming Through March 30". Media Play News. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  10. ^ "O'Dessa". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  11. ^ "O'Dessa Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  12. ^ Vincentelli, Elisabeth (March 20, 2025). "'O'Dessa' Review: One Song to Save Them All". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  13. ^ Puchko, Kristy (March 20, 2025). "'O'Dessa' review: Sadie Sink sings in bonkers queer rock musical". Mashable. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  14. ^ Bibbiani, William (March 20, 2025). "'O'Dessa' Review: Sadie Sink Rocks and Rules in Post-Apocalyptic Busking Fable". TheWrap. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  15. ^ Myers, Randy (March 20, 2025). "What to watch: Jonathan Majors returns in intense 'Magazine Dreams'". The Mercury News. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
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