A seemingly ordinary life defines Paul Matthews, a biology professor whose career stalled and who is scarcely respected by colleagues and friends. His world is ruled by indecision and passivity, traits that keep him from stepping out of the shadows. Then, without warning, Matthews starts appearing in the dreams of people across the globe. Overnight, he becomes a pop culture phenomenon with a following that spans continents. Yet fame does little to improve his day-to-day reality: although his name is everywhere, no one seems to truly know him. As time passes, the dream-visions intensify. The recurring scenarios he shares with strangers grow darker and more unsettling, and the professor’s public image begins to suffer as a result. The closer viewers pay attention to his sleep-bound appearances, the more his real life tangles with fear, confusion, and an unsettling sense that something fundamental has shifted in the way he is perceived and treated by others.
Somewhere between a public apocalypse and a personal crossroads, a shift takes place. The dream-driven celebrity becomes a symbol for a modern age obsessed with aura and attention. The story frames the tension between visibility and vulnerability, and it asks whether a life lived in the limelight can ever become a private one again. The more Matthews is seen in dreams, the more his influence grows, yet the underlying loneliness deepens. The film uses this paradox to explore how society constructs fame and how a single, ordinary man can become a phenomenon simply by appearing where people are most open to suggestion and wonder.
In a tone that blends surrealism with dark comedy, The Hero of Our Dreams sits squarely in a valley of satire and reflection. It leans into the idea that a celebrity can be both adored and dismissed in equal measure, and it toys with the notion that viral fame can outpace genuine connection. The narrative suggests that the true mystery may lie not in the dreams themselves but in the culture that makes a person a meme, a figure to be observed and discussed in public, often without ever really knowing the person behind the spectacle. The film plays with this concept through a character who becomes both infamous and strangely endearing, inviting viewers to question what makes a life worth watching and what it costs to be seen by a world hungry for novelty.
Director Kristoffer Borgli crafts a screenplay that moves with a dissonant rhythm. The film’s first act offers a more approachable, almost affectionate portrait of its reluctant hero, while the second half plunges into sharper critique and wilder invention. Though some may view the work as a commentary on cancel culture, the movie resists a single, fixed reading. Instead, it invites multiple interpretations, from a playful poke at advertising and marketing machinations to a broader meditation on how society consumes memory and momentary notoriety. Borgli, who brings a keen eye for social dynamics, draws on his experiences in Los Angeles to shape a story that feels both personal and globally resonant. The film’s world is recognizable yet heightened, a place where memes and real life collide with comic and unsettling precision.
The cast reinforces the film’s mix of humor and discomfort. Nicolas Cage delivers a performance grounded in gravity, even as the material invites a winking, self-aware energy. Michael Cera appears in a sharply satirical role that underscores the story’s critique of media manipulation and brand culture. The ensemble also includes Julianne Nicholson, Tim Meadows, and Nicholas Braun, whose presence adds texture to a narrative about the performance of fame and the hunger for attention in contemporary life.
Critics have noted that The Hero of Our Dreams operates on a psychedelic wavelength that sets it apart from more conventional thrillers. The tone oscillates between whimsy and disquiet, nudging the viewer toward a contemplation of what it means to be seen and what it means to be understood. While the film may not ignite strong emotional storms in every viewer, it offers a distinctive meditation on virality, public perception, and the elusive nature of genuine connection in a media-saturated era. The film aligns with a tradition of sharp, provocative cinema while carving out its own niche as a modern fable about fame, memory, and the price of being constantly watched.
Release details position the film within a contemporary landscape of international cinema. It arrived to audiences worldwide in 2023 and reached Russian screens in early 2024. With a runtime of 100 minutes, director Kristoffer Borgli guides a concise, tightly wound narrative that favors brisk momentum and moments of stark, funny truth over sprawling exposition. The project showcases Cage’s enduring screen presence while pairing him with a screenplay and production that are keenly attuned to the cultural climate of the moment. The film is a bold reminder that the most intimate truths can emerge from the most unexpected places when the world is watching with open eyes and amused skepticism. This is cinema that questions the speed of modern attention and the ways in which a single, ordinary life can become extraordinary through the strange alchemy of dreams and popular culture.
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Michael Cera, Julianne Nicholson, Tim Meadows, Nicholas Braun
Where to see: in theaters