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There are many types of films out there. Some entertain, some preach, and others provide a social commentary on the world around us, likeOur Hero, Balthazar.
The movie came out in 2025, when it had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival. It earned rave reviews, which continued as the movie debuted in theaters this past March. However, the film, which stars It and It: Chapter Two's Jaeden Martell, who played young Bill Denbrough, is coming back to theaters for one night only on July 23, and CBR has a clip from the movie that sets up the entire action.
Our Hero, Baltazar Is a Timely Masterpiece
The black comedy drama follows a wealthy New York City teenager who, in order to impress his activist crush, travels to Texas to try and befriend a would-be mass shooter.
As Balthazar's persona spirals into spectacle, the film's timely message interrogates masculinity, moral relativism, online radicalization, and the seductive power of attention in the digital and "manosphere" age.
The short clip sets up the scene as Solomon Jackson, who attends a "Thrash" conference introduced by Avan Jogia's Supes who declared they were "ready for war," before inviting Chris Bauer as Beaver Jackson, Solomon's abusive father.
Our Hero, Balthazar stars Jaeden Martell (It, Knives Out) as the title character, Asa Butterfield (Sex Education, Ender’s Game), Chris Bauer (The Wire, True Blood), Jennifer Ehle (Pride and Prejudice, Saint Maud), Anna Baryshnikov (Dickinson, Love Lies Bleeding), Noah Centineo (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, The Recruit), Becky Ann Baker (Girls, Freaks and Geeks), Avan Jogia (Twisted, 56 Days), and Pippa Knowles.
Our Hero, Balthazar Was Deemed 1 of the Best Movies of 2026
Since the movie already had its world premiere in 2025 and theatrical release this year, Our Hero, Balthazar has already impressed critics. So much so that Variety named it on its Best Movies of 2026 So Far top.
The review writes, "Playing off an online world where everything is now performative (I act out my supremely empathic vulnerability, therefore I am), Oscar Boyson’s cutting, audacious, at times astonishing first feature captures a new lost middle-class youth culture that has turned exhibitionism into its own reality."
On Rotten Tomatoes, the social satire movie holds a fantastic 94% Certified Fresh approval score from 54 reviews, with critics agreeing that, "Oscillating between brutal humor and unsettling insight, Our Hero, Balthazar is an audacious and often astonishing directorial debut tinged with riveting performances and sprawling thematic ambition."
Audiences agreed with critics, as the film holds a fantastic 93% approval score out of more than 100 reviews, who praised the social commentary and fantastic performances.
Our Hero, Balthazar also went viral on social media. The movie has a parody account for the main character, and it became the third-most-followed indie movie account after Oscar winners Marty Supreme and Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Our Hero, Balthazar returns to theaters for one final night on July 23.
