For nearly 20 years, Charli XCX has made among the greatest pop music of the twenty first century, but she’s the alternative of an in a single day success. Regardless of reaching important acclaim along with her music and the occasional tune that grew to become a success, it took some time for Charli to change into an enormous pop sensation she is at the moment. However that merging of business and significant appreciation lastly occurred with 2024’s “brat,” an electropop trendy masterpiece that managed to not solely recreate the hyper-brash sound of the rave music scene that Charli bought her begin in, but additionally confirmed Charli at her most weak and open about her fears, anxieties, and uncertainty about fame.
A yr and a half after its launch, “brat” continues to be a powerhouse of an album, which has obtained a remix album, three Grammys, and a worldwide tour. However after years of aiming for this stage of success, how does an artist know when it’s time to maneuver on to one thing else, to attempt one thing new that isn’t the factor that made them a huge star within the first place? Whereas The Second, directed by Aidan Zamiri (who additionally helmed Charli’s “360” video) is addressing the query of when one thing needs to be let go, it’s additionally a chance for Charli XCX to say goodbye to the “brat” interval of her profession with a “what if?” mockumentary that additionally proves perhaps Charli’s subsequent part needs to be on the silver display.
What Is ‘The Second’ About?
The Second takes us to September 2024, three months after the discharge of “brat,” presenting an alternate historical past for what may’ve occurred within the wake of the album’s launch. Though it’s a fictionalized retelling, it additionally feels prefer it may very well be based mostly on selections Charli and her crew may’ve needed to face within the wake of the album’s success. Atlantic Information needs to ensure that “brat” fever retains going for so long as it will probably, and with Charli making ready for her tour in just some weeks, it’s an important alternative to capitalize on the brat summer season sensation.
For one, the file label has signed a deal to make a brat bank card, which is lime inexperienced, provides its proprietor live performance tickets, and is completely aimed in the direction of her queer followers. An equally dangerous thought, nevertheless, is the concept of a live performance movie, made together with Amazon Music and helmed by a questionable live performance director, Johannes (Alexander Skarsgård). Johannes finds the tough imagery and membership vibe of the brat tour to be tough to movie, which places him at odds with Charli’s pal and brat tour artistic director, Celeste (Hailey Benton Gates).
Because the momentum of brat continues to extend and the tour is being creatively pulled in two reverse instructions, the load of this new stage of fame is suffocating Charli. As she says within the movie, she made “brat” on her personal phrases, and nobody cared on the time, however now, everybody needs to offer their enter on what’s subsequent. Along with the exhaustion and the irritation of her dropping management, she additionally has to determine whether or not she needs to honor her and Celeste’s creative imaginative and prescient for the tour, or permit Atlantic to do what they wish to preserve the brat practice transferring.
Charli XCX Proves She’s a Film Star in ‘The Second’
At this yr’s Sundance Movie Pageant, Charli XCX just isn’t solely starring in The Second, however she additionally has a supporting position in each Gregg Araki’s I Need Your Intercourse and Cathy Yan‘s The Gallerist. With The Second, nevertheless, Charli will get to be within the highlight, and he or she’s fantastic right here, even when she is enjoying a special model of herself. Particularly within the extra frantic, anxiety-inducing moments of the movie, like when she goes to get a extremely sought-after facial therapy or is torn between the need of Johannes and Celeste, Charli sells these moments fairly splendidly. On the premiere Q&A, Zamiri talked about that Darren Aronofsky‘s Black Swan was a significant affect on the movie, and it is smart that the very best elements of The Second are tied to the same frenetic power centered round Charli. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see if Charli is ready to deal with a significant position that is not based mostly on her life sooner or later, however The Second actually reveals that she has the chops.
Additionally glorious right here is Skarsgård, who actually leans into what’s by and huge a reasonably goofy position. Skargård turns into the antagonist of The Second, and his righteous indignation at individuals not accepting his concepts is each annoying and hilarious. Gates, who is actually Charli’s right-hand in her profession, provides a standout efficiency, dealing with off towards Skarsgård’s Johannes whereas making an attempt to maintain the integrity of Charli’s profession. Gates’ Celeste nearly turns into the second lead of the movie, and he or she’s a implausible partner-in-crime for Charli.
The remainder of the solid, sadly, principally falls into one-note clichés or fast cameos that surprisingly have a significant influence on the story going ahead. Jamie Demetriou is stable as Charli’s assistant, Tim, however he is enjoying the kind of sure man that we have seen in films like this earlier than. Rachel Sennott performs herself in a single fast scene, and whereas it is enjoyable, it would not add as much as a lot. One other cameo by Kylie Jenner oddly comes out of nowhere, then has main implications on the remainder of the movie for no actual discernible motive.
‘The Second’ Is Scattered however Nonetheless Entertaining and a Nice Ship-Off for “Brat”
That is emblematic of The Second‘s largest issues: every thing feels nice and enjoyable, however typically scattered and never keen to go too far with its idea. In the long run, we get a glimpse of how wild this story may’ve gone if it absolutely embraced going off the rails in wild methods, and it is a disgrace the movie would not lean into this additional. This is not a lot Charli XCX’s personal model of This Is Spinal Faucet, however reasonably, an often intelligent rockumentary that not often goes all-in with the absurdity or playfulness of its idea. This results in stretches of downtime that do not fairly go anyplace, and scenes that do not actually have a function, particularly close to the tip.
It is as if Zamiri and co-writer Bertie Brandes know the way a lot enjoyable the movie may have by leaning additional into the extremes, however not often embrace that. A bit extra full-throated absurdity and humor would’ve been an important step for the movie to take. Finally, The Second is a pleasant highlight for Charli XCX as an actor, and the idea itself finds some playful methods to develop on the lore of of her massively profitable album. “brat” is lifeless. Love dwell “brat.”
The Second premiered on the 2026 Sundance Movie Pageant. The Second involves theaters on January 30.
- Launch Date
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January 30, 2026
- Runtime
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103 minutes
- Director
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Aidan Zamiri
- Writers
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Charli XCX, Aidan Zamiri, Bertie Brandes
- Producers
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David Hinojosa, Charli XCX
- Charli XCX actually sells her first lead position, particularly when it leans into the craziness.
- Alexander Skarsgård and Hailey Benton Gates are nice in supporting roles.
- The ending is a hilarious notice for Charli to finish brat on.
- The Second feels too scattered and filled with scenes that do not serve a function.
- It is a disgrace that The Second would not embrace its absurdity greater than it does.
