British pop star Charli XCX made her acting debut with the Sundance premiere of A24's 'The Moment,' the Aidan Zamiri-directed mockumentary satirizing her 'brat' era fame—as previewed earlier with its trailer. Post-screening, she voiced a desire to pivot beyond 'brat,' amid a busy festival slate including two other films.
The premiere occurred on Friday, January 23, 2026, at Sundance's Eccles Theatre in Park City, Utah. The 103-minute R-rated film, co-written by Zamiri and Bertie Brandes and inspired by 'This Is Spinal Tap,' opens in theaters January 30. It depicts Charli as herself grappling with mainstream success, exploitation, and 'brat summer's' end—the cultural phenomenon from her 2024 album that even shaped Kamala Harris's campaign messaging. Key cast includes Alexander Skarsgård as a pompous director, Rosanna Arquette as a record label head, and cameos by Kylie Jenner, Julia Fox, and Rachel Sennott.
Addressing the audience afterward, Charli said: "Right now, unlike the me in the film, I am sort of like really wanting 'brat' to stop and actually pivot, like as far away as possible." She aims to challenge herself creatively after years in music since age 16. Zamiri quipped about her packed schedule as 'XCX Dance.'
Charli appears in two more Sundance 2026 films: Gregg Araki's 'I Want Your Sex,' opposite Cooper Hoffman, and 'The Gallerist,' an art world satire with Natalie Portman and Zach Galifianakis (premiering Saturday). She also scored the soundtrack for Warner Bros.' 'Wuthering Heights,' starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi (February 13 release).
Fans in lime-green beanies braved snow; Hibba Ahmed, 21, from Salt Lake City, praised her long-deserved popularity, while Gabrielle Held, 23, from Atlanta, lauded her recognizable brand.
This marks Sundance's final Park City edition before moving to Boulder in 2027 and first since Robert Redford's death. Early reviews commend Charli's captivating presence in the straight-faced mockumentary, though some question its satirical bite.
