User reviews

I walked into this on a whim and couldn't be more impressed. This is 2025 in every sense of the word. Thank you director Jan Komosa, Diane Lane, Kyle Chandler, Zoey Deutch, all the talented performers in this film, you all deserve nominations. I write joke reviews sometimes but this is terrifyingly urgent filmmaking, why the medium was invented in the first place. Please give this film an audience, you will not regret it. Thank you.

This is a slight retelling of the rise of Hitler and the Nazis but in modern day America.

A scorned student who is upset by a teacher ends up with a big chip on her shoulder and sets out to write a book all about how to change things and how things will be much better.

Later the student meets her new mother in law (teacher who angered her). Slowly over each anniversary things change within the.new America.

The details of the ideology are not spoken about but the book is very inspiring to all different kinds of people, white/black, straight/gay etc.

There are also people who find the ideology restrictive and repressive.

Those opposing the new regime/ideology are hunted, caught and processed.

Overall the film is well acted, it can be tense and thoughtful and the pacing is good considering most of what occurs is within a single family home.

The focus is very much on one family and not so much the bigger picture which is merely hinted at.

This is a film where the actual politics/ideologies are not important, what is important is the way anyone opposing is shut down/cancelled/arrested/processed and how this affects a single family who are at the heart of this new movement.

This is a film about anti freedoms but also brain washing, manipulation, family dynamics within politics and how damaging the attempt and finding a utopia often becomes dystopia.

Its a solid 7/10 for the acting, message and powerful ending but don't expect a complete masterpiece.

Gripping tale about a possible 'new' political society aka totalitarian regime with the main focus on a family.

Great performances by Diane Lane, Kyle Chandler and Dylan O'Brien.

Unfortunately Lionsgate wanted to keep this movie as low profile as possible, didn't do any marketing for it to not 'hurt' anybody and therefore this movie with a top notch superb cast is very under the radar and a financial flop. So, a studio produced this movie and a distributor should distribute it, but then it's for the better good to keep this movie quiet.

Ironical, isn't it?

The movie is like a chamber play, more or less takes only place at the house and inside the house of the Turner family, the parents Paul and Ellen Taylor and their children being in the centre of the story that spans five years.

Sharp, intense dialogues, very well acted by Diane Lsne and I hope she gets nominated for an Academy Award, and a dark mood and unease that starts after appr. 15-20 minutes and never let's go.

Good movie. Reminded me on the first 'The Purge' (2013) with Ethan Hawke and Lena Headey that also showed a changed society from a chamber play view.

Recommended.

This movie made me angry and sad; at one point it even made me cry. But above all, it scared me to death. It recounts the story of a prosperous middle-aged couple and their four children. He is a restaurateur and she is an academic.

They gather for their 25th anniversary, an occasion on which their only son, Josh, is going to introduce his fiancée, Liz, to the family. She turns out to be Ellen's former student, a radicalized writer with an anti-democratic ideology. Josh, a failed novelist, leans heavily on Liz's cause, contributing to a book she is writing, titled The Change, which establishes the foundations of a new world order.

Through a few time jumps over the next five years, we bear witness to the rapid changes in the family dynamics caused by Liz and Josh's rise to power, catapulted by a mighty corporation.

This is a gripping story. I read a review saying that it has too much on its plate to chew on. I would add that the film also has very good teeth and chews very well. It is not the first time that a film describes the sweeping takeover of fascism through an intimate story. Luchino Visconti did it in the early 70s with "The Dammed". But that was an after-the-fact depiction of nazism. "Anniversary", on the other hand, has one foot firmly set in the present, with references to ideological persecution, civilian surveillance, gaslighting and cult-type politics.

Diane Lane, Kyle Chandler and Dylan O'Brian (never thought he was able to make you hate one of this characters) all give powerful performances. Probably this movie is going to get lost in the shuffle during awards season, but I truly believe it deserves some love. It is that good.

Amazing acting, Especially Dianne Lane. This is not for sissies, this is a "Manchurian Candidate" in reverse. The "villain" is clever, incredibly clever. The politics are current , think "Groyper " credo on steroids. The art world is certainly mirroring the real world, "Civil War, One Battle After Another, "After the party", and now Anniversary.

We need to make more of these films.

"Anniversary" is an uncomfortable, unsettling viewing - exactly as it's meant to be. It's the first film to truly confront the state of the U. S. in the post-Trump era, exposing how toxic and divisive politics have become. The story plays like a cautionary tale, one that could easily serve as a prequel to The Handmaid's Tale. What makes it terrifying is how grounded it feels in our current reality.

The film is subtle, poignant, and thought-provoking, choosing to focus on a single family rather than on the events happening around them. This perspective makes the impact far more intimate and intense; you feel the consequences directly through the characters, how they change, and how the events twist their lives. It forces you to wonder how you would react if placed in their situation. Making this a must watch.

The cast is a huge part of the film's success, with eveyone delivering an Oscar-worthy performance - especially the always incredible Diane Lane. And everything else, from the direction to the writing to the cinematography, is absolutely top-notch.

The level of hate in this movie is off the charts. The intense conversations down to the drama surrounding each of them. I truly was sucked into all of it at the big screen. Wrapped up in each of their personalities at the dinner table. Sure you could say not much goes on and its filmed mainly in one place. This is about capturing revenge, politics, passion, anger, family bonds. I may lower the score in the future based off of the suprise factore, but i have to give it the higher rating i did becsuse the acting was overall great, and it truly took me on a wild ride. The ending felt like a little much, as most movies do, but its a seemingly fit ending for how it all worked up.

Watched at AMC with Heather on 11-6-2025.

My theory: This is not merely a movie. This is a warning of what is about to happen. I believe that with movie like this can both warn us and by watching our reviews understand how we feel about what's coming. This is one of the more important movies of the decade. Brace yourselves and good luck to us all.

'ANNIVERSARY' is truly one of the best films I've seen in ages. It has everything... power, intensity, humour (that is not out of place), terrific performances, and a mega-thought-provoking premise. The cast are all cool up and coming talents... but in the lead role Diane Lane is awards worthy! This is an important film but also a really truly great film. Well done to all involved!

As an independent, I don't take political sides but I do keep an eye out for hypocrisy and while I do think it's an excellent film, if it was painting the same bad guys it always does politically that was lazy and keeps me from giving it a ten but I digress. The film is incredible, centered around a family and a woman who taught a radical student who now is her son's girlfriend. She worries for him and rightly so. I still think it's dramatic when people say this is what we are headed to and in fact part of my taking points away is exactly that-what ARE we headed to? It's never quite explained in the movie the actual beliefs that are so radical. One can guess based on dialogue, how they dress, etc but you can't be too sure and that will leave you frustrated at the end of the film, but not in the way like you just wasted two hours of your life cause you didn't. There's ambiguity even in the final shot of the film-was this the plan all along? Wait, what is the plan? You will be walking out of the theater in very good frustration.

What can I say. A well executed dystopian thriller which Diane Lane does so well. As an actress she has the capability to convey perfectly every expression required in such a movie with just her face. The movie starts as a slow burner but the tension gradually builds until it's almost 'suffocating' and you're left feeling terrified of where it's going next.

As for the content. It doesn't matter where you sit politically, it's my opinion that this movie serves as a warning against any authoritarian government. A unified government which seeks to control every single thought or action, a government which seeks to destroy the family unit, a government where there are no opposing views allowed & those who disagree are villified & ostracised until they have no choice but to submit.

My take from the movie is this, it's better to be a divided nation with people having opposing political views & not ruled by one authority. It's in everyone's best interests to still have democracy & opposition because once authoritarianism takes hold there's no going back.

In the movie's take on living under authoritarian regime, things get nasty real quick, and nobody is off limits.

So to everyone calling for restrictions on free speech, demanding segregation, demanding punishment for those who disagree with certain opinions, be careful what you wish for. It'll come for you too.

Sometimes a movie sneaks up on you. You go in, the movie begins, and you think it is going to be a normal drama about a family. But as the movie goes on you find out that something is brewing that may soon boil over into a whole other thing. That is my experience seeing Anniversary.

Ellen Taylor (Diane Lane) is a university professor who leans to the left. Her husband Paul (Kyle Chandler) runs a restaurant. After introducing these two central characters, we slowly meet their kids as they arrive to celebrate Ellen and Paul's 25th wedding anniversary. Their youngest daughter Birdie (McKenna Grace) rolls into the yard on skates and heads to her bedroom which looks like a lab. Their daughter Anna (Madeline Brewer) comes looking for Birdie. They walk out into the living room, noticing their brother Josh (Dylan O'Brien) and his new girlfriend Elizabeth Nettles (Phoebe Dynevor). Ellen is skeptical of Liz but remains civil.

Last to arrive is their daughter Cynthia (Zoey Deutch) with her boyfriend Rob Thompson (Daryl McCormack). Surrounded by other friends and family the party begins in the backyard. Happy 25th, Ellen and Paul. Ellen has dreams for Josh, hopes that he will one day publish his sci-fi novel. When she finds out that Liz is also an author, she begins to wonder whether Josh is being used by her. The plot thickens when Liz publishes a book that becomes a best-seller.

The movie features the Taylor family as a microcosm of society. Things change in the country and subsequently alter the dynamics of the family. As that political and cultural shift becomes more pronounced, so does the tension among the Taylors. You know those tense family gatherings some of us might be anticipating for the upcoming holidays? Well, this is what happens with the Taylor clan.

How much you like this film will likely depend upon how you perceive our current cultural milieu in America. If you look around or watch the news and think everything is hunky dory, you will see this film differently than if you live under a cloud of concern regarding the direction the country is headed. The movie builds to a climax with plenty of shock, making this film leap from family drama to thriller. Full disclosure, I am living in that cloud of concern, but I will restrain myself and give this one 3.5 stars.

Post-watch notes on Jan Komasa's Anniversary:

1. I wish I could've rated this higher. It makes its point (..yeah, fascism sucks!) but I'd have wanted to know more about the fascists to understand what made them adopt THAT ideology in present-day United States.

2. Even the "book" that supposedly gave birth to this fascist movement is hardly even touched upon. You tried to make an interestingly valid, rational point, so why not be explicit?

3. The film is amazing in its first hour, but the quick escalation of events.. shown as what unfolds during each 'anniversary' is rather rushed. Yeah, we know nearly 4-5 years have passed since act one, but all we get is a voiceover and a "one year later" or "two years later" cue card.

4. Maybe this should've just stayed a psychological drama / thriller about an embarrassed student trying to infiltrate and obliterate the family of the professor who shamed her and demanded her expulsion for her "anti-democratic" thesis. Instead, we get a truly dystopian political thriller with blurred intentions, except for what's already called out above.

5. The cast totally elevates the written material. Diane Lane, Kyle Chandler, Dylan O'Brien, Phoebe Dynevor, Zoey Deutch, Daryl McCormack, Madeline Brewer, and McKenna Grace make this dark and dispirited film quite captivating. O'Brien and Lane are exceptionally good.

6. If staying in the States is that painful, just move to South East Asia (..right, mate?). I'm guessing a big chunk of 'em already have (LOL!).

I went into Anniversary knowing very little about it. I had only seen the trailer and was curious to see what kind of story it would tell, the tone felt mysterious and unpredictable right from the start.

The performances were strong, as expected from this cast. Diane Lane stood out once again, bringing a calm, grounded presence to her role. There are a few genuinely intense moments that work emotionally, but some of the characters' actions felt a bit unclear to me. The film doesn't always provide enough context to make their decisions feel fully believable, which is a shame because the setup had a lot of potential.

What I really appreciated, though, is that Anniversary proves you don't need big sets or flashy effects to create tension. Most of the story unfolds in a confined environment, almost backyard-like, which gives the film a grounded, realistic tone.

Overall, it's well acted, nicely directed, and worth watching, even if it doesn't fully hit the emotional depth it aims for.

More than a cautionary tale.

If you deliberately ignore and laugh off the specific parallels between the authoritarianism/rise of the fascist state presented in Anniversary and the current events unfolding in the US, you do so at your own peril.

Brilliant performance by Lane, whose character recognizes the inherent danger of anti-democratic, militaristic 'think tank' policies, long before they become pervasive and accepted.

As a tenured professor, Lane's character has been teaching and talking about these perils for years, even within her own family of three fiercely independent daughters and one son, who is having trouble finding his own footing in the world.

These right-wing think tank policies are framed as 'unifying' but are, in reality, eliminating and silencing anything that threatens them. Including Lane's own family. Policies created and fed through an attractive white figurehead, Lane's daughter-in-law, to make them more palatable to a country who, sadly, cannot manage to shake off its deep-seated mysoginy, bigotry and homophobia, even after 300 years.

The film presents the indoctrination of a nation by a corporation, whose mainly older, wealthy, white individuals refuse to abide by the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, and use figureheads to mold an entire country into one they find more palatable. Excellent writing in this updated, Americanized 1984 for the year 2025.

Updated.

Well I won't be objective regarding Diane Lane's projects, similar to Sarah Michelle Gellar, Naomi Watts, Cate Blanchett, Alfre Woodard, Angela Bassett (Tina Turner role iconic). These women for me do no wrong in acting world. Enough critics exist to go after people including these actors. I don't need to be objective in all reviews and aware this is very subjective.

Diane Lane, Lane, is one of those rare movie stars who smile is not overdone but endearing, giving characters she takes on genuine moments. Yet Lane is wise in her acting so her characters are multifaceted and thus an actor who can display genuine smile, then toughness, realness, class depth while even in low moments showing easy grace in the character doing the deeds, such as ripping the flag down in this movie. Felt so real in a moment of unplanned, unmediated in heat of moment passion, great job by Lane in these moments that could be fake but come across so real.

The moment Lane enters the screen in her roles the movie becomes so much better.

This movie Anniversary is no different and Lane nails down the liberal-leaning professors and matriarch of the Taylor family. Lane becomes a character that one could argue exists in many parts of higher education(liberal slant at times butt dying to present not liberal but out for truth, no truth the person is biased upon proving). It would be delusional to indicate otherwise with parts of formal education past high school, having characters like Ellen Taylor. If attempting to argue this doesn't exist one can imagine their ideologies have overtaken their reasoning. Similar to alcoholic and drinking, the booze is controlling, in this case ideology. Which is part of Ellen's issue as Lane's acting shows and why Ellen son Josh has been screaming from help from a mom not liberal professor.

Thus why we are in this world today when both sides, democrats and republicans have been consumed with strict ideologies, tow line or else. Else what, bury this master piece of a movie with no marketing and not let Lane shine s a potential award nominated actor. Sad really, As art must have freedoms to explore so many things. I am disappointed by Lionsgate lack of effort and passive aggressive "Sabotage" of this wonderful movie. We as movie goers need to demand more, as I say no to towing any rhetoric in politics that affects the art of movies, or follow the line as a sheep for political party. This movie broadcasts these happenings on both sides. If USA can get back to finding a middle ground, more would be accomplished. This movie would not be buried.

Middle ground well Ellen Taylor, Lane, finds there is no middle ground with Liz Nettles, former student of Ellen at George Town University. Liz Nettles played perfectly by Phoebe Dynevor, as Liz and Ellen are at war long before the opening scene of this movie. Smartly named movie ties in with key scenes of this movie.

One can feel the battle without words being said due to the characters great acting by Lane and Nettles. Or few words said by Nettles at beach scene when Liz finally gave in to a puff, with Ellen's son josh (who did fantastic character arch of one situation in life, insecurity over it and finding money, toys, power to TURN him), and Ellen's other daughters (both too did great acting and arch of characters). So much spoken in beach scene if not in words but great acting: it wasn't really the puff was it. This scene shows how Liz viewed "pawns" around her.

The ending confirms Ellen was right about Liz's plot, including Josh being a pawn that becomes too out of hand for even Liz to control, if that is what she wanted. I wondered "is this uh this Liz telling her son not same to rub in face of Ellen or to actually get her help", I lean to former to torment Ellen at what Liz did to her son. This is was a key battle ground scene between the matriarch and Nettles the scorned former student who at one time felt scared of Liz but uses it to as life motivating events.

Intelligent, sophisticated movie that while at moments true to form, showcasing a liberal USA family, elitism, mentality, clothes, dress, behavior as white, affluent democrats that can be blind. While not said in this movie, some have said publicly from this group "there are not enough black people in this room and I literally had no idea that black people felt this way". Wow no clue huh on a whole race excluded by and large from the "room". Liberal ideologies but being so blind due to their own upbringing, life situations, affluence, sheltering. Yet if they can make this connection it's better late than never.

Counter view in this movie by Nettles is the Change. I cannot say Change is straight up republican, yet valid arguments for the belief that the republican elites would like to have such an environment that movie showing(scary a totalitarian dictatorship kingdom)controlling the masses in the vote and lack thereof, loss of freedoms, so one party can rule supreme.

I found the movie not biased on democrat or republican. Or proclaiming one said better than other. What we take out of movie is a personal experience.

Going back to the cast lead by Lane, super strong ensemble. I am never disappointed when watch Lane work. She is intelligent, great packing, knows when to build tension, relax. Yet all the other actors impressed me and times to shine from co-stars, to smaller parts to stand in parts! This is what makes overall movie so good!

Writing, script, sets, hair, clothes, makeup, sound, music, all excellent.

Director Komasa excellent, Gambino in screenplay excellent, Sobocinski Jr in Cinematography was art!

Introduction, body, conclusion were all great. I was surprised by the ending. Ending wrapped up the story, how someone is feeling wronged, being so consumed with it, that their lives are fueled by payback even if they don't know it(this happens too often to people that on paper are successes, look at history and world leaders, the pain pushed them on to point they were going to punish and payback). The ending summarized so much by Liz Nettles and awesome performance to conclude things was delivered first class acting by Dynevor, sealing the deal with who Liz was a person. The smile smirk is soul chilling!

I had no clue about this movie until it was released and I am an avid movie goer, it is sad the marketing was buried over behind scenes things. Which proves even gem of movies may not perform on financials if the marketing, promotions don't come into play. No that area cannot make a movie a hit but it can help.

Anyone who is upset because they think there are parallels to this and their maga movement, well you're not wrong and you're also have the self awareness your politics is a dystopian future.

It would be wonderful for someone to create the socialist version of this and still make it a dystopia. I bet it could not be portrayed with the subtleness found here. Where the viewer understands exactly what ideology is being pushed without a single reference to what that ideology is.

Starts out slow, as possibly a university life romcom... but soon tightens up into a political thriller with real life concerns from the last 4 or 5 years in play. We have to really look between the cracks, beyond what we are taught or told!

Great acting, but Diane Lane is special here, hope she gets a 🏆 nod or 2.

Watching a dystopia was not on my bingo card last night.

There was nothing that could have pointed me to that. Here I was expecting a biting family drama in the vein of After The Hunt, which I liked, but no. This movie had other plans with me.

So the "new regime" starts insidiously and takes hold slowly but steadily and in just a few years we arrive at a totalitarian state. And very bad things happen. How this was a good idea I don't understand, but there are many people out there in the world, in democratic states that are so enraged that they would cling to something like this without a second thought. We still have societies like this in the world and fascism wasn't that long ago.

Anyway, Josh turns into a horrible human being cause what else can men do when given so much power and really at the end I was left wondering whether Elizabeth engineered the whole thing just to destroy this family.

The dystopia built slowly and it reminded me of Years And Years the miniseries, which I have yet to finish. A seamless blend of present day ordinariness and very scary political and ideological shifts. Frankly I thought the series did it much better but had yet to become a full-blown dystopia, at least by episode two. There's something not quite working here, I think it wasn't built convincingly.

But I love seeing Diane Lane and she is beautiful and the cast overall is good so it did not waste my time I don't think.

The political hot takes you will see on the reviews is exactly what you'd expect. People will complain about the vagueness but I thought it was done well.

In any case I loved it but dystopian movies always have a place in my heart. Chandler, Lane, and O Brien gave great performances here. Especially Diane Lane.

"College students...they're all a bunch of little Mussolini's." Paul (Kyle Chandler)

The recent impressive allegories Civil War and One Battle After another try hard not to take political sides about the impact of autocracy on daily lives. Yet these dystopian allegories help usher in Anniversary, a more Jordan- Peele-like treatment, slowly exposing the divide in one almost clueless inside-the-Beltway academic family. Although such a setting and film as art form cry liberal, that posture is challenged even within and not always clear who is the winner.

Ellen and Paul Taylor (Diane Lane and Chandler) are prominent DC academic and restaurateur respectfully, she steadfastly supporting the rule of law and human rights, though sometimes MAGA seems to creep in silently to oppos her. Their future daughter-in-law Liz (Phoebe Dynevor) has published a right-leaning tome CHANGE that extols single party governance and decidedly fascist law enforcement.

Her former professor, Ellen, and she renew their ideologically-opposed stances, threatening the dinner and the family with hitherto self- banned political discussion. Most Americans can identify with the restrictions called for at, say, Thanksgiving dinners. Just so for the Taylors though Liz's breakout publication cannot be denied. When she is asked to visiting lecture at Ellen's Georgetown University, the gloves come off.

The destruction of family peace is apace with each passing day, Liz's pregnancy, and Polish co-writer/ director Jan Komasa's steady hand at distributing the exposition to keep the aud engaged while dropping jaws at fate and autocracy take over. The encroachment of intolerance into daily lives along with compromising principles creates a thriller atmosphere that heretofore would have been only abstract.

The evolving movement from CHANGE leads to weaponized census and curfews, among the other scary enforcements. Thanksgiving dinner is no longer neutral, and it is doomed to the dustbin of American dreams:

"Oh, how we'll miss those 'turkey and (Native American) genocide.'"

Perfect timing and perfect film for our Thanksgiving holiday. Civil discussion may ensue after viewing-no one will be neutral. Anniversary is a thriller in the true sense of the drama.