The Christophers Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

The Christophers Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 19, 2026

Ed Solomon has been a screenwriter for over 35 years, and while he probably doesn’t want it printed on his headstone, he’s arguably best known as the co-writer of three “Bill and Ted” movies, along with work on “Men in Black.” Solomon also collaborated with director Steven Soderbergh on 2021’s “No Sudden Move,” and they reteam for “The Christophers,” which is as small and low stakes as a picture can get. It’s a character study concerning artists connecting and schemes hatched, but Solomon keeps the film about emotional turmoil while also remaining darkly comedic at times. “The Christophers” has moments when it feels like it’s ready to take off and become a more physical endeavor, but the writing remains curious about personality, staying conversational while Soderbergh sets a cooler mood for the feature, letting lead performances from Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel lead the way.

Lori (Michaela Coel) is an art restorer who also dabbles in forgery. She’s been hired by siblings Sallie (Jessica Gunning) and Barnaby (James Corden) to join their estranged father, Julian (Ian McKellen), as his assistant, meeting the man in his cluttered London living space. Julian was once the toast of the art world, but the painter has grown older and lost his way, still in possession of an aborted series of paintings known as the “Christophers.” Sallie and Barnaby want the works, tasking Lori to gain Julian’s trust. Meeting the 85-year-old man, Lori observes his self-loathing and ego, trying to navigate his impulsivity as she discovers the treasured and unfinished paintings in his dwelling. Caught between Sallie and Barnaby’s demands and Julian’s developing trust in her, Lori struggles with the details of her past and present as she’s challenged to pull off a potential scam.

Lori meets Julian as a possible employee, joining the painter to see if she would be a proper fit as his assistant. Julian is a handful, spending the early part of his career creating masterpieces, while the latter part of his life has been devoted to torching his reputation, including a street sale of his collection and an appearance on a reality show, judging art created by students. Now he lives alone, spending most of his day creating videos for Cameo to pay the bills, leaving Lori to assess a naturally dismissive man, attempting to bring his guard down. “The Christophers” mostly remains in this messy space with two characters trying to figure out each other, with Julian loquacious and erudite, while Lori is observant and careful, hunting for openings to pull off the plan she was hired for.

Soderbergh previously navigated the “Ocean’s Eleven” trilogy, and there are moments when “The Christophers” seems like it’s going to follow the same criminal direction. There’s a collection of paintings in the house, and Lori needs to figure out a way to remove them. However, Solomon isn’t organizing a heist, he’s writing a study of vulnerability, lingering on the relationship between the artist and the forger, with Lori eventually revealing intimate knowledge of Julian’s career and technique, escalating the central relationship without turning it into something more genre-minded. Lori’s position between Julian and his children is basically it for suspense in “The Christophers,” and while a few charged encounters are included, Soderbergh and Solomon stick with presence and the processing of information to keep things involving here.

The Christophers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The image presentation for "The Christophers" works with director Steven Soderbergh's unique look for the feature, electing to shoot the picture with a softer, blurrier border around the frame, while the center remains sharp. Detail is found throughout the viewing experience, doing well with skin particulars on the cast, exploring age differences. And art world additions are appealingly textured. Most of the movie takes place inside of Julian's living space, which is open for examination, maintaining dimension. Exteriors are limited but run deep. Color is crisp, with alert hues on art displays. Costuming also manages decent primaries, and a cooler sense of street life is preserved. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Mild banding is briefly encountered, along with patches of blockiness.

The Christophers Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 7.1 Dolby TrueHD mix seems like a touch of overkill for a movie that's only about conversations between characters. There's not much aural intensity to embrace here, but clarity is excellent, finding dialogue exchanges defined. Music is alive and full, with clear instrumentation and position around the soundstage, providing subtle movement and emphasis. Atmospherics are appreciable, exploring city life and group gatherings. Low-end isn't challenged, but lighter beats with musical moods are understood.

The Christophers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Conversation with Ed Solomon and Charlie Kaufman" (1:59, HD) isn't much of a conversation at all, with Solomon, the screenwriter of "The Christophers," discussing the origin of the project, merging ideas with director Steven Soderbergh. Casting is celebrated, with parts created specifically for Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel before they were even offered the roles. Solomon also briefly mentions his creative process for the picture, limiting his use of outlining. This supplemental offering is clearly a clip from a much longer conversation, which isn't available on this Blu- ray release.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:10, HD) is included.

The Christophers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Christophers" offers a tour of Julian's insecurities, eventually reaching Lori's issues as well. It's a reasonably involving look at two characters figuring each other out, with art world additions present in the plotting, but not elevated to any importance. Solomon offers a complete story, but he's mostly interested in following Julian and Lori as they define their relationship and history, getting to the heart of artistic inspiration and expression in the process. "The Christophers" could use a bit more oomph at times, but the production is elegantly handled by Soderbergh, and a chance to watch McKellen and Coel manage their parts with depth and grace is worth the time invested.