132 min | PG-13 | December 25, 2025 | Focus Features
A Neil Diamond tribute act sounds like a punchline, but Jackman and Hudson sell the hell out of it. Surprisingly tender family drama underneath the sequins and chest hair. Craig Brewer knows exactly how much schmaltz he can get away with.
Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson play a Milwaukee couple who form a Neil Diamond tribute act called Lightning and Thunder. That premise could go wrong in a hundred ways. It doesn’t. Jackman brings real vulnerability to Mike, a recovering alcoholic chasing one last shot at something that feels like success. Hudson matches him as Claire, holding her family together while wearing rhinestones and belting “Sweet Caroline” to half-empty bars.
The movie earns its emotional beats. The family dynamics surprised me. This isn’t just about two dreamers in over their heads. It’s about what happens when your kids have to watch you fail, and what it costs to keep showing up anyway. The scenes with their daughter carry real weight.
Craig Brewer adapted this from a 2008 documentary about the real Lightning and Thunder. He knows this material could tip into mockery or mawkishness. He threads the needle. The tribute performances are played straight. The characters never become jokes. Neil Diamond himself blessed the production, and you can feel that respect in how the music is handled.
It runs a little long. Some subplots could be trimmed. But Jackman and Hudson have genuine chemistry, and they commit fully to characters who could have been caricatures. When the movie hits its emotional peaks, it lands.