Get Tickets DREAM SCENARIO opens nationwide on November 22
There are few, if any, actors in Hollywood who are as immediately recognizable as Nicolas Cage. The same can also be said about the Academy Award® winner’s history of never being afraid to take chances and appear in a movie that pushes him out of his comfort zone and into the wild. Over the years, we’ve seen Cage do everything from leading massive action flicks like THE ROCK to stealing the show in decorated dramas like LEAVING LAS VEGAS, and so much more. He’s even been in several surrealist comedies that have shown off his remarkable talents. And he’s about to do it again with DREAM SCENARIO.
The new A24 film, which had a limited rollout starting on November 10 before being expanded nationwide on November 22, is one of the most anticipated movies still set for release in 2023, and has already come up in early Oscars® conversations ahead of that wide release. If you want to know more about the mind-bending fantasy comedy about a man who becomes a celebrity for a truly bizarre reason, stick around and check out our guide to DREAM SCENARIO.
The Man In Everyone’s Dreams
DREAM SCENARIO follows college biology professor Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage) as starts to appear in people’s dreams at night. What starts out as random appearances in the dreams of his family, friends, and colleagues, shifts into a more global phenomenon once word begins to spread about the strange encounters. As the world attempts to make sense of a man inexplicably showing up in everyone’s dreams, the equally confused teacher wonders what is causing the sensation while also coming to terms with his new reality.
A Strong, Versatile Cast
In addition to Nicolas Cage, DREAM SCENARIO also features a rather robust and talented cast of actors more than capable of handling the material.
Julianne Nicholson, best known for her roles in movies like I, TONYA, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, and WEIRD: THE AL YANKOVIC STORY, shows up in the new surrealist comedy as Paul Matthews’ wife, Janet. Michael Cera, remembered for roles on shows like “Arrested Development” and movies like SUPERBAD, plays a marketing firm handling Paul’s story while “Saturday Night Live” alum Tim Meadows plays the dean at Matthews’ college.
Other strong and versatile members of the cast include Dylan Baker, Amber Midthunder, Lily Gao, Dylan Gelula, Kate Berlant, and Noah Centineo, to name only a few.
Kristoffer Borgli Directs
Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli both wrote and directed DREAM SCENARIO, his third feature film. Borgli made his feature directorial debut with the 2017 movie, DRIB, which he followed up with SICK OF MYSELF in 2022. Prior to that, Borgli made a name for himself by working on various short films, commercials, and music videos.
Though Borgli isn’t as well known as some of the other directors with big movies that either came out in 2023 or are set for release in the final weeks of the year, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if the unique and creative young filmmaker is someone we see a lot more of in the years to come.
Rated R For Language, Violence
Considering it’s an A24 movie about a man who winds up in virtually everyone’s dreams where anything and everything can happen, it should come as no surprise that DREAM SCENARIO is rated R. According to the MPA, the new Nicolas Cage movie received the restricted rating due to language, violence, and some sexual content present throughout.
An AMC Artisan Film
The AMC Artisan Films program brings a curated gallery of the finest movies. Though there have been some massive releases as part of the series over the years, this is typically for smaller pictures that leave a lasting impression for a variety of reasons. In 2023 alone, the program has offered insights into awards contenders like THE HOLDOVERS, POOR THINGS, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON, and SALTBURN through various articles and interviews with filmmakers behind the cinematic achievements. DREAM SCENARIO has also been recognized as an AMC Artisan film.
In pushing Nicolas Cage to his limits by switching from laugh out loud comedy to straight up dark and horrific dream sequences in a moment’s notice, and uniting a strong and versatile cast around him to bring out the most of Paul Matthews, there are plenty of elements that make DREAM SCENARIO an AMC Artisan Film.
Watch The Trailer
Though a lot of us will have to wait until Thanksgiving weekend to see DREAM SCENARIO for ourselves, A24 did give everyone a taste of what’s to come in the form of a trailer back in September 2023. The nearly two-and-a-half-minute video, which was set to “Dreams” by The Cranberries, shows what life is like for Paul Matthews before he becomes a part of everyone’s subconscious, and how his viral celebrity impacts his life afterward.
With flashes of his family’s, student’s, and random people’s dreams, the trailer also shows scenes of drama, comedy, horror, and other moments that transcend genres. And before it comes to a close, we get a brief glimpse at the effect unintentional and unexplainable fame can have on a man, his family, and everyone around him.
DREAM SCENARIO looks like a movie we’ll not only be talking about for the rest of the year and into the awards season, but also one that we could very well be discussing for the years to come. And if you want to be a part of that conversation, be sure to check out DREAM SCENARIO when it opens at an AMC Theatres location near you.
Get Tickets DREAM SCENARIO opens nationwide on November 22
