Four years on from his last film, Athena, Romain Gavras is back with a new picture that's unlikely to leave anyone indifferent. For his first feature shot in English, the French director has assembled a seriously starry cast: Chris Evans, Anya Taylor-Joy, Vincent Cassel, Salma Hayek, John Malkovich and even Charli XCX. And if the first trailer is anything to go by, Sacrifice fully intends to blend satire, black comedy and action into a rather explosive cocktail. As with Athena, the film will land straight on Netflix in France, on 16 October 2026. The story unfolds at an enormous charity gala bringing together stars, billionaires and the seriously wealthy. An evening that goes off the rails in short order when a group of radical eco-activists, led by Anya Taylor-Joy, turns up to kidnap several of the guests.
Chris Evans and Vincent Cassel as the sacrifices
Among the hostages are a Hollywood actor in the throes of an existential crisis, played by Chris Evans, and a billionaire played by a shaven-headed Vincent Cassel. Their destination is unexpected, to say the least: they're expected at the summit of a volcanic mountain, where the activists plan to sacrifice them in order to stave off a climate catastrophe. It's a completely bonkers pitch, and above all it lets Romain Gavras indulge his taste for social satire. Between the ultra-rich gathered at a gala where everyone seems to be playing a part, and militants willing to follow their convictions all the way, Sacrifice looks set to have a field day.
The son of Costa-Gavras and a member of the Kourtrajmé collective, Romain Gavras had already drawn international attention with his previous Netflix film, widely praised for its direction and visual style. Sacrifice marks a new step for him, though, as it's his first English-language feature, co-written with American playwright Will Arbery and co-produced by Film4, among others. The film has already had a first life on the festival circuit, mind, and it didn't go brilliantly. Screened at the Toronto Film Festival in 2025, it met with a fairly mixed reception from the press, scoring 37% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Netflix subsequently picked up the rights for the United States and France. So we'll have to wait until 16 October to see whether Romain Gavras can turn this deliberately provocative satire into a genuine commercial hit. Because as far as the critics go, it's already a cold shower.
