Charli XCX, the pop provocateur known for her genre-bending music and bold fashion, has taken the leap from the recording studio to the silver screen—making not just a cameo, but a full-throttle debut in three feature films that premiered at two of the world’s most prestigious festivals this September. With the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and Venice Film Festival both celebrating milestone anniversaries, the British singer-songwriter’s arrival as a bona fide movie star couldn’t have been more timely—or more talked about.
Her most prominent turn comes in Erupcja, a visually arresting romance that had its world premiere on September 5, 2025, in TIFF’s Centrepiece section. According to AwardsWatch, the film stars Charli XCX as Bethany, a woman whose vacation in Poland with her boyfriend Rob (Will Madden) is unexpectedly extended when Mount Etna erupts, grounding flights and upending plans. While stranded, Bethany reconnects with Nel, a flower shop worker and former flame played by Lena Góra. Each time Bethany and Nel’s romance reignites, a volcano erupts—an apt metaphor for the film’s simmering passions and the unpredictable force of desire.
Charli XCX isn’t just the face of Erupcja; she’s also its co-writer and producer, collaborating with director Pete Ohs, Jeremy O. Harris, and Góra on the screenplay. The 71-minute film, which is currently seeking U.S. distribution, has drawn praise for its kinetic visuals and the magnetic performances at its core. As The Hollywood Reporter put it, Charli delivers a “standout performance” with “magnetic screen presence.” The New Yorker echoed this sentiment, noting that “she dominates the action with classical canniness, her energetic yet poised performance showing keen awareness that movie acting favors minimal strain.” Even the BBC was impressed, writing, “Charli effectively conveys longing, questioning and heartbreak without a word. It is a strong dramatic performance in a film that is more satisfying than it promises to be at first.”
The film’s narrative is as much about internal conflict as external circumstance. Bethany’s ambivalence toward her relationship with Rob—who is so committed he’s ready to propose—contrasts with her impulsive, almost fated connection to Nel. The eruption of Mount Etna becomes both literal and symbolic, a seismic event that forces Bethany to confront what she truly wants. The film’s structure leans heavily on visual storytelling, with sequences—like Rob’s rain-soaked, unanswered phone calls to Bethany—using weather and atmosphere to map out emotional terrain. As AwardsWatch observed, “Sequences like that are more effective at mapping out the characters’ thoughts and conflicts than when the script’s overreliance on narration.”
Charli’s debut wasn’t just on the screen. At the TIFF red carpet premiere, she turned heads in a sheer black Chanel mini dress, styled by Chris Horan. The look, described by Harper’s Bazaar as a nod to Carrie Bradshaw’s iconic “naked dress,” was paired with a micro bag and satin pumps—an ensemble that let “the dress do most of the talking.” The festival, celebrating its 50th anniversary, also saw appearances from stars like Sydney Sweeney, Shailene Woodley, and Ryan Reynolds, but it was Charli’s arrival that signaled a new era for the “Brat” artist. As Harper’s Bazaar noted, “Charli XCX is officially a movie star.”
But Erupcja wasn’t Charli’s only cinematic outing this month. At the Venice Film Festival, she appeared as Rosa in Julia Jackman’s fantasy-rom-com 100 Nights Of Hero, which premiered in the Settimana Internazionale della Critica section on September 7. Here, she plays the sister to Hero (Emma Corrin), a maid embroiled in a forbidden love affair. While reviews noted her screen time was limited, ScreenDaily called her “a striking presence in a small but pivotal role.” The Hollywood Reporter described her performance as “serviceable,” emphasizing her visual impact and signature style.
Meanwhile, back at TIFF, Charli also popped up in French director Romain Gavras’ adventure-comedy Sacrifice, sharing the screen with Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Evans. Her role was brief—she sings Cerrone’s 1977 disco classic “Supernature” in one memorable scene—but her presence was still felt. According to attendee reports cited by Stereogum, “Charli xcx only has a brief scene in ‘Sacrifice.’” The film itself drew mixed reviews, with some likening its satirical tone to “Dollarstore Östlund meets the fake movie from Clouds of Sils Maria.”
If it seems like Charli XCX is everywhere in film right now, that’s because she is. She’s set to appear in a string of upcoming projects, including The Moment, The Gallerist, I Want Your Sex, Faces Of Death, and an untitled collaboration with acclaimed Japanese director Takashi Miike. Her creative reach is expanding beyond acting, too. She’s contributing original music—including a reworked version of her track “Everything Is Romantic”—to Emerald Fennell’s hotly debated adaptation of Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. The trailer for the film, released on September 3, sparked fierce online debate over its stylized approach and casting choices, with some critics calling it “the matcha dubai chocolate labubu of film.” Charli’s response to the social media mockery was characteristically succinct: “hope you like it!” she tweeted, pairing her message with a Kate Bush track.
The adaptation’s bold choices have divided audiences, with some test screening attendees reportedly uncomfortable with explicit content and others lamenting its departure from Emily Brontë’s original novel. The casting of Elordi as Heathcliff, a character described as “dark-skinned” in the text, has reignited conversations about authenticity and representation in literary adaptations. Despite the controversy, the film remains one of next year’s most anticipated releases, set to premiere on February 14, 2026.
Charli’s own journey into acting was inspired, in part, by her friend and fellow musician Clairo, who she said influenced her approach to the role of Bethany in Erupcja. As she told Stereogum, the process of embodying a character dealing with longing and heartbreak was a new challenge—one she met with aplomb, according to critics. “Charli effectively conveys longing, questioning and heartbreak without a word,” the BBC praised. “It is a strong dramatic performance in a film that is more satisfying than it promises to be at first.”
With her acting debut now behind her and a slew of projects on the horizon, Charli XCX seems poised for a new phase in her already unpredictable career. Whether she’s dominating the screen, the soundtrack, or the red carpet, one thing’s certain: the pop star has found a new stage, and she’s just getting started.
