I’ve been a Charli xcx fan for so long that it almost feels like she’s just always been there in the background of my life, like a neon sign flickering in the distance. I remember the Myspace days, when everything felt a little more chaotic, a little more DIY, and discovering her music felt like finding a secret that not everyone was in on yet. There was something about her voice, the attitude, the way her songs felt like glitter and heartbreak all at once. So walking into The Moment, I wasn’t just watching a movie—I was watching someone I’ve grown up with step into a new arena and completely own it.
What surprised me the most is how fun the film is on the surface. It’s glossy, chaotic, and a little ridiculous in the best way, like being at a party where the music is too loud but you don’t want to leave. The world of the film feels hyper-stylized, almost unreal, like pop culture has been cranked up to eleven. Everything is bright, loud, and just slightly off-center. It has that playful, satirical edge that makes you laugh, but there’s also something a little uncomfortable lurking underneath it. It’s like the film is smiling at you while also quietly asking, “Do you see what’s happening here?”
As a fan, that’s where it really hit me. Because The Moment isn’t just a celebration. It’s not a victory lap or a concert film disguised as something deeper. It plays more like a chaotic, glitter-drenched farewell to the whole era. And honestly, that’s what makes it work. Instead of trying to recreate the magic or stretch the moment out forever, Charli leans into the mess of it all and sends it off in the loudest, flashiest way possible. It feels electric, slightly unhinged, and very self-aware, with a few knowing winks at the industry that helped shape her along the way. Brat was a cultural high point, and this feels like her way of making sure it goes out with a bang rather than quietly fading away.
Watching her play this version of herself is fascinating. She’s not trying to make herself look perfect or even particularly likable all the time. There are moments where she’s distant, distracted, or making decisions that feel frustrating. But that’s what makes it interesting. It feels human. It feels real in a way that most pop star movies never do, because they’re usually so concerned with protecting the brand. Here, the brand almost feels like the villain.
And she’s surrounded by a cast that totally understands the tone of the film. Alexander Skarsgård, in particular, is such a bizarre and hilarious presence. He plays this slick, out-of-touch creative figure with this quiet, almost unsettling energy, like someone who thinks he understands pop culture but clearly lives on a completely different planet. Every time he shows up, there’s this weird tension mixed with comedy, and he feels like a perfect symbol of the kind of industry forces the film is poking fun at.
Hailey Benton Gates brings a much more grounded energy as Celeste, and she ends up feeling like the emotional center of the film. There’s a warmth to her performance that contrasts with all the chaos swirling around Charli. You can feel the history between them, the creative partnership, the unspoken frustrations. She gives the movie a kind of heart that balances out the satire.
Rachel Sennott pops in with her usual chaotic, self-aware charm, and even in a short appearance she manages to steal a few moments. She has this natural comedic rhythm that fits perfectly with the film’s tone. Kate Berlant is similarly hilarious in her scenes, bringing that slightly offbeat, awkward energy she does so well. These supporting performances make the world feel more alive, more ridiculous, and more like a warped version of the pop culture circus we all recognize.
And then there’s Kylie Jenner, who shows up for one scene and honestly kind of kills it. It’s a very self-aware cameo, and she plays into the joke with surprising ease. There’s a natural screen presence there that makes the whole scene feel sharper and funnier than it might have otherwise.
But at the center of it all is Charli, and she really holds the whole thing together. She has this magnetic presence on screen. There’s something very natural about the way she moves through the film, like she belongs there. She can be funny in one scene, completely detached in the next, and then suddenly vulnerable when you least expect it. It never feels forced. It just feels like an extension of the persona she’s been building for years.
And maybe that’s what made the whole experience feel so personal to me. I’ve watched her evolve through so many eras, so many sounds, so many reinventions. From the early pop days to the hyperpop chaos, to the sleek, high-gloss moments, and now to this strange, self-aware pop culture phenomenon. Seeing her step into film like this didn’t feel random. It felt like a natural progression, like this was always where she was heading.
There’s a bittersweet quality to the whole thing, too. The film feels very aware that moments like this don’t last forever. Pop culture moves fast. Trends change. Fandoms shift. The thing that feels massive and inescapable one summer can feel like a distant memory the next. The Moment captures that fleeting energy—the excitement, the exhaustion, the weirdness of being at the center of something that big.
I walked out of the film feeling weirdly emotional, which I didn’t expect. Not in a dramatic, crying-in-the-theater kind of way, but in that quiet, reflective way where you start thinking about time passing and how long you’ve been following certain artists, certain movies, certain cultural moments. It felt like closing a chapter, even if you know there are more to come.
More than anything, the film just reminded me why I’ve stuck with Charli all these years. She’s unpredictable. She takes risks. She doesn’t always give people what they expect. And even when something doesn’t land perfectly, it’s never boring. There’s always a sense that she’s trying something new, pushing herself into a different corner of pop.
The Moment feels like that spirit captured on screen. It’s messy, stylish, funny, a little uncomfortable, and very self-aware. It doesn’t feel like a typical pop star movie, and I’m grateful for that. It feels more like a strange, glittery time capsule of an era that burned bright and fast.
As a longtime fan, it felt special to watch. Not just because it’s Charli, but because it feels honest in its own weird, stylized way. It’s not trying to tell you how to feel. It just throws you into the chaos and lets you sit with it.
And honestly? I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
Director: Aidan Zamiri
Cast: Charli XCX, Rosanna Arquette, Alexander Skarsgård
Writers: Aidan Zamiri, Bertie Brandes, (based on an original idea by Charli XCX)
Producers: Charli XCX, David Hinojosa
Composer: A.G. Cook
Cinematographers: Molly Manning Walker, Sean Price Williams
Editors: Neal Farmer, Billy Sneddon
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