Charli XCX is about to conquer cinema Actually, she’s already started
She released a new Charli XCX album last year, launched the whole Brat concept, and in the meantime managed to carry on a relationship and even get married (twice!) in the summer of 2025. It’s safe to say this is the triumph of Charli XCX, and it looks like her moment isn’t ending anytime soon. Especially because in 2025 she has also decided to conquer the world of cinema and TV series, and she’s already doing it with great success. That the pop star is a true cinephile is shown by her Letterboxd profile and the video comments on her latest viewings. Let’s not forget that during the last Coachella, she thrilled the film world by citing none other than Cronenberg, PTA, Celine Song, Ari Aster, Kogonada, Aronofsky, and, most importantly, Joachim Trier, all linked to the word “Summer” (a playful nod to her Brat Summer). But that wasn’t all. After Elle Fanning wore a “Joachim Trier Summer” T-shirt (designed by 12-year-old Dylan of Dylan’s T-Shirt Club) at the press conference for Sentimental Value, the singer was invited to speak with the Norwegian director during a film screening in Oslo.
Charli XCX's first roles in cinema
It’s now time for the music icon to show what she can do in front of the camera, not just in her music videos. In recent months, Charli XCX had already made a cameo in the Prime Video series Overcompensating, where she played herself and even took on the role of executive producer. But the real leap forward came almost simultaneously with three films presented within days at some of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. At the Venice Film Festival 2025, in the Critics’ Week section, she appeared in 100 Nights of Hero, a feminist fable about passing down memory, where Charli XCX donned medieval costumes and embodied a character who guides the protagonists. At the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), she wore far more contemporary outfits in Pete Ohs’ Erupcja, an indie love story, while in Romain Gavras’ Sacrifice she appeared as Mother Nature. And if these projects already sound like a lot, wait until you see what the future holds for Charli XCX in cinema.
Charli XCX's future film projects
Face of Death by Daniel Goldhaber
Among the first projects in post-production featuring Charli XCX is Face of Death, directed by Daniel Goldhaber and co-written with Isa Mazzei. The story dives into the dark and treacherous world of the internet. The protagonist is a content moderator on a platform resembling YouTube, tasked with filtering offensive or violent videos. One day she stumbles upon a group that appears to be recreating murders from a film. But in an era of online disinformation, how can one tell if these killings are real or staged? The cast also includes Barbie Ferreira (Kat from Euphoria) and Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things).
I Want Your Sex by Gregg Araki
One of the most anticipated projects, I Want Your Sex by Gregg Araki, tops the list. The director of the 1990s Teenage Apocalypse trilogy returns with a strong cast featuring Cooper Hoffman, Olivia Wilde, Chase Sui Wonders, and Mason Gooding. The plot centers on artist Erika Tracy (Wilde), who turns young Elliot (Hoffman) into her muse.
The Gallerist by Cathy Yan
The Gallerist, directed by Cathy Yan (Birds of Prey), features an impressive cast: Jenna Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Natalie Portman, Zach Galifianakis, and Daniel Brühl, alongside Charli XCX. The peculiar story follows a gallerist who tries to pass off a corpse as a work of art at Art Basel Miami.
The Moment by Aidan Zamiri
Perhaps the project most in tune with Charli XCX’s artistic personality, The Moment marks Aidan Zamiri’s debut feature film after a career in directing music videos, including some of Charli’s own, like 360 and Guess. The film, shot like a mockumentary, follows the career of a pop star at the brink of launching her first world tour.
Untitled Project by Takashi Miike
Still in pre-production is the next project by legendary Japanese director Takashi Miike. Neither the title nor the plot has been revealed, but we do know that Charli XCX will star in it and also serve as a producer.
Wuthering Heights by Emerald Fennell
We end with a 2026 project where Charli XCX won’t appear on screen, but which still deserves mention: Wuthering Heights, directed by Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman, Saltburn). The adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Set in the 19th century, the film will be enriched by original songs by Charli XCX, confirming her growing influence in both music and film.
