The Cannes premiere of Ari Aster’s Eddington was the talk of the Croisette, with the director making his competition debut alongside stars Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Pedro Pascal, and Austin Butler. The film –a psychological western set during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic– unfolds in a tense New Mexico town, pitting Phoenix’s stoic sheriff against Pascal’s embattled mayor as conspiracy theories and social fractures spiral out of control.

The red carpet was a star-studded affair, with Angelina Jolie, Natalie Portman, and Julia Garner among the attendees. Emma Stone even had a lighthearted moment, recoiling from a bee as Pascal and Butler came to her rescue –a reminder that even at Cannes, surprises abound.

Inside the Grand Théâtre Lumière, Eddington received a nearly seven-minute standing ovation, moving Phoenix to tears. Aster, visibly humbled, told the crowd, “Thank you for being here. It feels like such a privilege to be in this moment. It’s a dream realized. I truly appreciate you all. And, um-sorry? I’m not quite sure”.

Critics are divided: some hail the film as “a daring venture” and a “risqué fantasia on national themes,” while others found its satire polarizing. Regardless, Eddington has cemented its place as one of Cannes 2025’s most unforgettable premieres.

Take a look at the teaser trailer down here.

And view the official poster below.