The Christophers (The Christophers) is a 2025 British-American drama comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh from a screenplay by Ed Solomon. The film is set to be released in the United States on 10 April 2026.
The movie The Christophers made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 and later received a theatrical release in the United States in April 2026 through distributor Neon. It combines dialogue, artistry, and human relationships, offering an unusual look at the creativity, legacy, and moral boundaries of art.
The story follows Julian Sklar, a once-famous and respected artist who has not painted for years, his career in decline and his estate in disrepair. When his two estranged children, Barnaby and Sally, begin to wonder how to inherit their father's estate, they decide to hire Laurie Butler, a painting restorer with forgery skills, to complete incomplete canvases Julian created years ago. The plan is for them to be "discovered" after his death and bring the family a fortune.
Laurie accepts the assignment and enters Julian's world—not only to complete the canvases, but also to engage in a complex and tense spiritual and emotional game with the artist. As the tension between them unfolds, the film explores themes of authenticity, authorship, creative identity, and moral responsibility in art and human relationships.
The film is directed by Steven Soderbergh, one of the most significant contemporary American directors, known for a wide range of genres and styles in his career. In The Christophers It continues to explore human complexity through dark comedy and dialogue drama, emphasizing the characters and their motivations more than the plot. The screenplay is by Ed Solomon, a screenwriter whose career includes films that often combine intellectual dialogue with wit, which is evident in this film.
The film relies heavily on acting chemistry and nuances in the relationships between the characters:
Ian McKellen — like Julian Sklar, a once-great artist whose works and moral dilemmas remain at the center of the story.
Michaela Coel — as Laurie Butler, a restorer and forger hired to complete incomplete works, but who gradually develops her own relationship with Julian.
James Corden — as Barnaby Sklar, one of Julian's children, motivated primarily by inheritance and material gain.
Jessica Gunning — like Sally Sklar, the other child, who is also looking for a way to profit from her father and his legacy.
These performances highlight the emotional and moral conflicts at the center of the plot, contributing to both comic and dramatic moments.
The Christophers is a film that combines dark humor, a character-centric plot, and reflection on art and the people who create or exploit it. The production raises questions about creative authenticity, family relationships, and the moral compromises that people make in the name of success and wealth. Featuring strong acting and a directorial approach, the film offers both intellectual and emotional engagement for the viewer – from the overall plot to the characters’ final lines.
