Directed by Craig Brewer.
Song Sung Blue was released in theaters in the United States on December 25, 2025, after premiering at the AFI Film Festival on October 26, 2025.
Distributed by Focus Features (United States) and Universal Pictures (international).
Song Sung Blue Movie Review
Song Sung Blue (2025) is a feel-good movie about love, music, and following your passion.
The story follows Mike and Claire, a couple who perform Neil Diamond tribute songs at small venues.
Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson give warm, natural performances that make the characters easy to connect with.
The film mixes fun musical moments with emotional scenes about family, money struggles, and staying together through hard times.
While the story is simple and familiar, the music and performances make it enjoyable.
The songs add heart and nostalgia, especially for Neil Diamond fans.
Overall, Song Sung Blue is a comforting, uplifting movie that celebrates ordinary people, big dreams, and the power of music to bring joy.
CR Rating – 8.7/10
Song Sung Blue Actors
Hugh Jackman as Mike Sardina (aka “Lightning”)
DOB: October 12, 1968.
Bio: Australian actor, singer, and stage performer whose career spans theatre, film, and musicals.
After early success on the Australian stage and television, he rose to international prominence through major film roles and award-winning musical performances.
Role: Mike Sardina, known on stage as “Lightning,” is one half of the Neil Diamond tribute duo Lightning & Thunder.
A working-class man searching for renewed purpose, Mike finds identity and emotional release through performing Diamond’s music.
Interesting facts: Jackman performed all of his vocals himself for the film.
Promotion for Song Sung Blue highlighted his on-screen chemistry with Kate Hudson and leaned into live performance energy rather than spectacle.
Notable works: The Greatest Showman, Les Misérables, The Prestige.
Kate Hudson as Claire Sardina (aka “Thunder”)
DOB: April 19, 1979.
Bio: Academy Award–nominated American actor who has built a career balancing romantic comedy, drama, and character-driven projects.
She broke out with her Oscar-nominated performance in Almost Famous and has since become known for warmth, comic timing, and an ease with emotionally accessible roles.
Role: Claire Sardina, known on stage as “Thunder,” is Mike’s wife and musical partner in the Neil Diamond tribute act Lightning & Thunder.
Once a singer who set personal ambitions aside, Claire rediscovers confidence and creative purpose through performing alongside her husband.
Interesting facts: Hudson performs her own vocals in the film and worked closely with Hugh Jackman to develop the duo’s on-stage rapport before filming.
Notable works: Almost Famous, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Raising Helen, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
Michael Imperioli as Mark Shurilla
DOB: March 26, 1966.
Bio: American actor, writer, director, and musician best known for intense, psychologically layered performances.
He rose to international prominence as Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos, a role that earned him an Emmy Award and cemented his reputation for portraying volatile, deeply human characters.
Role: Mark Shurilla is a local musician and community figure whose path crosses with Mike and Claire Sardina as they navigate the regional music circuit.
The character helps situate Lightning & Thunder within a broader working-class performance world, bars, small venues, and informal networks that sustain local acts.
Interesting facts: Imperioli’s real-life background in music complements the role, lending credibility to the film’s performance scenes and offstage conversations among musicians.
Notable works: The Sopranos, Goodfellas, The Lovely Bones, This Fool.
Ella Anderson as Rachel Cartwright
DOB: March 26, 2005.
Bio: American actress who began her career as a child performer and gained wide recognition for her long-running role on Nickelodeon’s Henry Danger.
She transitioned into film with emotionally demanding roles at a young age, notably appearing as the younger version of Jeanette Walls in The Glass Castle.
Role: Rachel Cartwright is a young family member connected to Claire and the film’s central domestic orbit.
Through Rachel, the story explores generational perspective, how music, ambition, and uncertainty are experienced by someone growing up alongside adults chasing late-blooming dreams.
Interesting facts: Anderson’s prior child-star experience helped her ground emotionally intense family scenes opposite veteran leads.
Notable works: Henry Danger, The Glass Castle, Mother’s Day.
Hudson Hensley as Dayna
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Hudson Hensley is a young screen performer appearing in Song Sung Blue in a supporting role.
Public information about Hensley’s background and prior credits is limited, which is typical for emerging actors early in their careers.
Role: Dayna is a supporting character within the local community surrounding Mike and Claire Sardina.
Through brief but meaningful interactions, Dayna helps flesh out the everyday world beyond the band itself, contributing to the film’s sense of place and intergenerational atmosphere.
Interesting facts: Hensley’s casting was noted in early press as part of Brewer’s mix of veterans and new faces.
Notable works: Song Sung Blue is a breakout film role.
King Princess (Mikaela Straus) as Angelina
DOB: December 19, 1998.
Bio: Born Mikaela Straus, is a musician and singer-songwriter known for indie pop hits such as “1950” and her debut album.
Song Sung Blue marks one of her first credited screen acting appearances. She brings musical authenticity and a contemporary presence to her film role.
Role: Angelina is a young musician featured in a key musical sequence.
Through her appearance, the film connects Mike and Claire Sardina’s Neil Diamond tribute performances to a younger, contemporary music scene.
Interesting facts: This is a screen acting debut in a major film for King Princess, who also contributes to the film’s musical energy.
Notable works: “1950” (hit single), debut album and concert performances.
Fisher Stevens as Dr. Dave Watson
DOB: November 27, 1963.
Bio: American actor, director, and producer known for versatile character work in both comedy and drama.
He won an Academy Award as a producer for the documentary The Cove and has appeared in films ranging from Short Circuit to Hackers.
Role: Dr. Dave Watson is a local figure who helps the Sardinas navigate small-town managerial and medical realities.
His scenes provide dry humor, exposition, and grounded context for the story, giving the audience insight into the community and the couple’s world.
Interesting facts: Stevens’ documentary background helped shape a respectful approach to adapting a real couple’s story.
Notable works: Short Circuit, Hackers, producer of The Cove.
Jim Belushi as Tom D’Amato
DOB: June 15, 1954.
Bio: American actor, comedian, and musician known for his long career in television, film, and stage.
He often portrays warm, big-hearted, slightly roguish characters, blending humor with relatable everyman qualities.
Role: Tom D’Amato is the Sardinas’ band manager, pragmatic, down-to-earth, and determined to keep the duo’s career on track.
Belushi brings a mix of tough love, comedic flair, and heart to the role, helping balance the film’s musical and emotional beats.
Interesting facts: Belushi’s comedic instincts help balance the film’s sentimental moments with laugh lines and grounded pathos.
Notable works: According to Jim (TV), K-9, Red Heat, stage and film roles across comedy and drama.
Mustafa Shakir as Sex Machine
DOB: August 21, 1976.
Bio: American actor known for his commanding presence and nuanced performances in television and film.
He has earned recognition for dramatic roles in series such as Luke Cage and Cowboy Bebop, blending physicality with emotional depth in every part he plays.
Role: Sex Machine is a vibrant local character who crosses paths with the Sardinas during their gigs and nightlife adventures.
Shakir makes the role memorable and scene-stealing, contributing color and energy to the film’s depiction of its small-town music scene.
Interesting facts: Shakir’s casting was noted for adding muscular charisma to the local nightlife sequences.
Notable works: Luke Cage, The Deuce, Cowboy Bebop.
John Beckwith as Eddie Vedder (portrays Vedder in a performance sequence)
DOB: N/A.
Bio: John Beckwith is a performer and actor known for live-music portrayals and stage work.
In this film, he recreates Eddie Vedder in a standout performance sequence, blending musicality with on-screen presence to honor rock authenticity.
Role: Beckwith portrays Eddie Vedder in a staged live-performance scene that serves as a highlight within the film.
The sequence underscores the band’s musical journey and connects the story to broader generational rock influences.
Interesting facts: The Vedder scene has been called a crowd-pleaser at screenings and is discussed in press pieces about the film’s live music energy.
Notable works: Stage and screen performances; performer credits.
Jayson Warner Smith as Earl / TCB
DOB: N/A.
Bio: A veteran character actor with extensive TV and film experience, including notable work in The Walking Dead and other supporting roles.
He is recognized for bringing grounded, memorable presence to small but pivotal parts.
Role: Earl, also known as TCB, is a local regular in the band’s orbit.
His scenes add texture to club and gig sequences, portraying the audience and community that support small acts. Smith gives the role authenticity and lived-in credibility.
Interesting facts: Smith’s long career in genre TV makes him an effective presence in the film’s crowd/venue scenes.
Notable works: The Devil to Pay, other TV and film character roles.
Cecelia Riddett as Grandma Stengl
DOB: N/A.
Bio: Cecelia Riddett is a character actress known for small but memorable performances that bring authenticity to ensemble casts.
Her work often emphasizes warmth, presence, and generational nuance.
Role: Grandma Stengl is a beloved matriarch in the local community.
She appears in family and hometown vignettes, grounding the Sardinas’ story in Midwestern roots and reminding the band of the personal reasons behind their music.
Interesting facts: Performers like Riddett help create a lived-in, authentic small-town environment, contributing to the film’s emotional texture.
Notable works: Regional theatre and film credits; credited in the film’s cast list.
More Actors
• Sean Allan Krill as Buddy Holmes.
• Jim Conroy as Johnny.
• Kena Anae as Bomar.
• Darius Rose as Babs.
• Chacha Tahng as Ranee.
FAQ – Song Sung Blue 2025 Movie
What is Song Sung Blue about?
Song Sung Blue is a biographical musical drama about a married couple, Mike and Claire Sardina, who form a Midwest Neil Diamond tribute band called Lightning & Thunder and follow their dreams through music, love and hardship.
Is Song Sung Blue based on a true story?
Yes. The film is based on the 2008 documentary of the same name by Greg Kohs, telling the real-life story of the Sardinas’ tribute act.
Did the actors sing their own songs?
Yes. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson perform vocals captured live on camera for many of the musical scenes. More on People
How long is the movie?
Song Sung Blue has a 132-minute runtime.
Where can I watch Song Sung Blue now?
It is currently in theaters; look for digital on demand and streaming releases in early 2026 following the standard post-theatrical window.
Conclusion
Song Sung Blue is a heartfelt and uplifting film that blends music with a simple, emotional story about love and perseverance.
Strong performances, familiar songs, and genuine chemistry make it an enjoyable watch.
While not groundbreaking, it delivers warmth, nostalgia, and feel-good moments that stay with the audience.