Pedro Pascal’s ‘Behemoth!’ Strikes a Strong Rotten Tomatoes Note, but Critics Aren’t All in Tune

Few awards-season contenders have arrived with as much curiosity attached as ‘Behemoth!’, the new Searchlight drama from ‘Andor’ creator Tony Gilroy starring Pedro Pascal. The film had its world premiere as the Centerpiece selection at the New York Film Festival, and its early Rotten Tomatoes score is already giving fans plenty to talk about.

The project marks a major return for Gilroy. It’s his first feature as a director in 14 years, following 2012’s ‘The Bourne Legacy’, ‘Duplicity’ and his Oscar-nominated 2007 hit ‘Michael Clayton’, and it’s also Pascal’s first film since ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’, which earned a mixed 60% from critics despite an 86% audience score.

Now, the critics have weighed in on the new film, and the verdict is mostly positive. ‘Behemoth!’ debuted at 85% on Rotten Tomatoes from its first 13 reviews and currently sits at 80% from 15 reviews, keeping it comfortably in “Fresh” territory as more critics file their takes.

Pascal plays Alex Serian, a gifted cellist who returns home to Los Angeles after 20 years on the road. Working as a session player on a range of film scores, he’s quickly pulled back into his memories, as the story jumps between his present and various stages of his earlier life.

Gilroy went to great lengths to make the music feel authentic. He had Pascal learn the cello and recruited 9 acclaimed film composers, including James Newton Howard and Alan Silvestri, to contribute to the film’s music.

First trailer for Tony Gilroy's new film ‘BEHEMOTH!’, starring Pedro Pascal.

The film follows a cellist who returns to Los Angeles after 20 years, confronting his past along the way.

In theaters on December 4. pic.twitter.com/o8AyoshH54

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 14, 2026

The supporting cast is stacked too, featuring Olivia Wilde, Eva Victor, Alexa Swinton, Kaya Ralls, Erik Griffin, JoBeth Williams, Margarita Levieva, Hank Azaria, Will Arnett and Matthew Lillard.

Pascal is earning some of the strongest notices of his career. /Film called it his most complex role and best performance to date, arguing the movie simply wouldn’t work without him, while Deadline praised him as utterly convincing as an accomplished musician who never showboats.

IndieWire described the film as a slippery, elegant character study whose stunning ending makes the journey all the more rewarding. The Playlist was similarly impressed, calling Pascal subtly terrific and the film a layered, strikingly unique work that reveals a more intimate side of Gilroy.

New poster for Tony Gilroy’s ‘BEHEMOTH!’ starring Pedro Pascal, Eva Victor, Will Arnett and Olivia Wilde has been released.

Releasing in theaters on December 4. pic.twitter.com/iO38dd0kZH

— Film Crave (@_filmcrave) October 1, 2026

Deadline also hailed the film as a feast for the ears thanks to its magnificent sound design. The outlet added that Los Angeles has never looked better on screen, a timely compliment given recent talk about the city’s production decline.

Some reviewers found the film harder to embrace. The Hollywood Reporter called it an alternately intriguing and frustrating odd duck, faulting its hopscotching time structure and a passive central character, though it praised the thrilling orchestra sequences on Hollywood’s scoring stages.

Screen Daily also praised Pascal’s terrific performance but felt the story often leaned on cliché and was too fragmented to land a lasting emotional impact. Variety saw traces of ‘Tár’ in the film’s elliptical style, suggesting the influence didn’t always work in its favor.

Despite the split, the reaction keeps the film firmly in the awards conversation. ‘Behemoth!’ had already been predicted as a serious Best Picture contender, and Screen Rant noted that nominations for Gilroy’s direction and screenplay, plus a Best Actor nod for Pascal, now look more likely.

The film arrives in theaters on December 4, right in the heart of awards season. With critics mostly on board and Pascal earning career-best praise, it’s shaping up to be one of the more intriguing contenders of the year.

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