When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.<\/i><\/p>\n Credit: Vertical<\/p>\n Sydney Sweeney has quite a bit going on these days, between her latest release Americana seemingly bombing at the box office<\/a> (which it didn\u2019t really) to her jeans controversy<\/a> to MGK dating rumors<\/a>. That doesn\u2019t even cover it, given the work she\u2019s done on the highly anticipated Euphoria Season 3<\/a> and now Eden, which is set to hit the 2025 movie calendar<\/a> on August 22. The reviews are in, and while the critics don\u2019t agree on the movie overall, they all seem to be praising the performances.<\/p>\n Eden is directed by Ron Howard and stars Sydney Sweeney alongside Ana de Armas<\/a>, Jude Law, Daniel Br\u00fchl and more in the film that\u2019s based on the true story of settlers on Floreana Island in the Galapagos. While Sweeney\u2019s TIFF premiere method dressing was giving more Handmaid\u2019s Tale than Eden<\/a>, it didn\u2019t distract from the \u201castounding true story,\u201d according to Pete Hammond of Deadline<\/a>, who writes:<\/p>\n With a sensational cast, a swell exotic location, a bit of violence and a human mystery with no lack of weirdness, \u2026 Eden is the kind of go-for-broke drama studios shy away from (they never used to), which is why Howard had to go the indie route for this one, but he still manages to make a movie that feels big and unique, and one that in the end doesn\u2019t wear out its welcome.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Jesse Hassenger of AV Club<\/a> grades the movie a B, agreeing with other critics that the trio of female leads (Vanessa Kirby, Sydney Sweeney and Ana de Armas) are impressive with nuanced performances in this tale of a \u201chell-is-other-people collapse of a society.\u201d The critic writes:<\/p>\n Eden remains gripping, even improbably fun, as it captures the shifts in power and health among its principle players as they squabble over a beautiful yet not particularly hospitable environment. \u2026 Eden winds up yoking Howard\u2019s more domesticated movies with his thwarted-adventure narratives. The suspense lies in whether certain characters will figure out whether they\u2019re on a bold, one-off exploration or the cusp of a sustainable new life\u2014and whether humanity on the whole is any good at telling them apart.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Itzel Luna of the AP<\/a> notes the impressive cast assembled by Ron Howard and says Sydney Sweeney steals the show. The performances, however, aren\u2019t enough to make up for the overambitious plot, Luna says. The critic gives Eden 2.5 out of 4 stars and says:<\/p>\n The historical resonance, which could have provided pointed commentary on the parallels between today and the 1920s, falls flat amid the film\u2019s overlong runtime, unlikable characters and shaky accents that most actors stumble in and out of. In the midst of the film\u2019s crafted chaos, the story inevitably loses focus. Still, Eden made room for some memorable performances.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Travis Hopsin of Punch Drunk Critic<\/a> rates Eden 2.5 out of 5 stars, saying there\u2019s a lethargy that hangs over Ron Howard\u2019s portrayal of the fascinating true events. The screenplay lacks tension, Hopsin says, and while there are some good performances, the lack of depth to the characters leads to some unintentional moments of humor. The critic continues:<\/p>\n Most of the performances are over-the-top enough to keep Eden entertaining, especially Law, Kirby, and Armas who seem like they just sidled in from a horror-comedy. But the mix of tones just never come together in a way that makes sense. Is this a film you\u2019re supposed to be laughing at or should we take this ugly look at man\u2019s worst instincts seriously? I like that Howard, a filmmaker known for his hopeful dramas and upbeat comedies, dares to take on something as dark as Eden, but I\u2019d also like to see this subject tackled by someone who specializes in feel-bad movies rather than feel-good.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/div>\n