The Gallerist: Cathy Yan’s misfired art-world satire wastes a strong cast

Cathy Yan’s new dark comedy, *The Gallerist*, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2026 but failed to impress critics. Starring Natalie Portman as Polina, a morally compromised art dealer, the film attempts to blend satire and farce within the absurd realm of the contemporary art world. The plot revolves around a bizarre incident: during a preview at Polina’s Miami gallery, an obnoxious influencer, played by Zach Galifianakis, accidentally dies after impaling himself on an art installation. Instead of reporting the death, Polina decides to disguise it as part of the artwork, roping in her assistant Kiki (Jenna Ortega) to manage the ensuing chaos. Despite a promising premise and a cast including Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Daniel Brühl, the film struggles with tone and cohesion. The review highlights the film’s failure to deliver sharp satire or effective comedy, comparing it unfavorably to farcical classics like *Weekend at Bernie’s*. Yan’s previous work, *Dead Pigs*, was praised for its vibrancy, but *The Gallerist* is described as contrived, tonally uneven, and exhausting to watch. Portman’s performance receives particular criticism for feeling forced and directionless, while Randolph’s character, though offering glimpses of thematic depth about the tension between art and commerce, is underdeveloped. The film ultimately wastes its talented ensemble and fails to find a meaningful balance between dark humor and commentary, ending up as a disappointment both narratively and artistically.