Sentimental Value Streaming Date Announced As Sweat Begins Filming

It’s shaping up to be a banner year for fans of European drama and psychological thrillers, with two highly anticipated films making waves across the UK and beyond. One is the critically acclaimed Sentimental Value, a Norwegian drama that has already swept up awards buzz and is about to land on streaming. The other is Sweat, a new psychological thriller starring Ana De Armas, which is gearing up for production and promising to bring a fresh, unsettling take on influencer culture. Both films, though very different in tone and subject, reflect the evolving landscape of international cinema and the growing appetite for complex, character-driven stories.

Let’s start with Sentimental Value, the much-lauded drama directed and co-written by Joachim Trier. The film stars Stellan Skarsgård as Gustav Borg, a celebrated filmmaker whose relationship with his daughters Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) is, to put it mildly, complicated. After years of estrangement, Gustav attempts to reconnect with his daughters as he prepares a new film project—an effort that’s met with resistance and eventually, disappointment. Nora, the eldest, is offered a role in her father’s new project but turns it down, only to discover that the part has gone to Hollywood star Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning). The family’s personal drama unfolds against the backdrop of the film industry, allowing Trier to riff on both familial and professional tensions.

Premiering at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, Sentimental Value quickly became a festival favorite, earning accolades for its nuanced performances and deft storytelling. The film had its UK theatrical release in December 2025 and, after much anticipation, is set to stream on Mubi beginning February 13, 2026. For those eager to catch it at home, Mubi offers a subscription at £11.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. The film can also be accessed as an add-on channel for Prime Video subscribers at the same price, or pre-ordered on Amazon for £13.99. It’s a variety of options for viewers, reflecting the changing ways audiences are consuming cinema today.

The critical reception has been nothing short of extraordinary. As of January 29, 2026, Sentimental Value boasts a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 228 reviews. The AV Club praised it, writing, "With strong performances from its entire cast, Sentimental Value successfully synthesizes metaphor and nuanced character drama to convey the way suffering ripples outward." British Vogue simply called it a "masterpiece." Meanwhile, Sight & Sound remarked, "Scene-setting unfolds at an assured and pleasurable pace, offering opportunities for all of the actors to set out the parameters of their performances as Trier delivers riffs on familiar film industry mores."

The film’s awards run has been equally impressive. Sentimental Value is Norway’s entry for Best International Film at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards, and it’s not stopping there. The movie has garnered a total of nine Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and acting nods for all four of its main stars—an achievement that cements its place as one of the standout films of the year. For Trier, whose previous work The Worst Person in the World was also critically acclaimed, this latest project marks a significant milestone in his career and for Norwegian cinema at large.

While Sentimental Value is set to captivate streaming audiences, another project is just getting underway that promises to shake up the psychological thriller genre. Ana De Armas, fresh off her roles in the John Wick spinoff Ballerina and Ron Howard’s Eden, has signed on to star in Sweat, directed by J Blakeson. The film is based on the 2020 drama-thriller of the same name by writer-filmmaker Magnus von Horn, which was originally slated to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival before the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Sweat, De Armas will portray Emma Kent, an emerging fitness influencer whose ambition is to match the success of social media sensation Kat Highbrook. But as Emma’s carefully curated world begins to unravel following a disastrous encounter with Highbrook, she finds herself drawn into a dangerous arrangement with an obsessive admirer named Trent. The film promises a deep dive into the dark side of internet fame, exploring how far someone might go for a taste of celebrity and the psychological toll of living life online.

Production for Sweat is scheduled to begin on March 30, 2026, with filming taking place in both the UK and Los Angeles. AGC Studios is financing and co-producing the film, in addition to handling international sales. The production team also includes Guy Stodel of Rosto Inc, Blakeson himself under the Crimple Beck banner, and AGC Studios’ CEO Stuart Ford. While the rest of the cast has yet to be announced, the involvement of De Armas and Blakeson—whose previous credits include I Care A Lot and The Disappearance Of Alice Creed—has already generated significant buzz.

The original Sweat was available on Mubi and had attracted attention for its unflinching look at the pressures of influencer culture and the blurred lines between authenticity and performance. Now, with De Armas stepping into the lead role and Blakeson at the helm, the new adaptation is poised to bring those themes to a broader audience, updating them for a post-pandemic world where social media’s influence has only grown more pronounced.

Both Sentimental Value and Sweat highlight the increasing prominence of international stories and talent in the global film industry. Whether it’s a Norwegian family drama that’s sweeping the awards circuit or a British-American thriller digging into the dark underbelly of social media, these films reflect a cinematic landscape that’s more interconnected—and ambitious—than ever before.

As audiences prepare to stream Sentimental Value and await the production of Sweat, it’s clear that the appetite for sophisticated, emotionally resonant storytelling is alive and well. With directors like Trier and Blakeson pushing boundaries and actors like Skarsgård, Reinsve, and De Armas delivering standout performances, 2026 is shaping up to be a memorable year for film lovers on both sides of the Atlantic.