It features an all-star castand is a gripping tale set at a mysterious hotel on the California-Nevada border.
Niamh Spence Freelance Showbiz Reporter and Jane Lavender Associate Editor
08:00, 13 Jan 2026
Chris Hemsworth(Image: )
Tonight, Film 4 is set to air the critically acclaimed crime thriller, Bad Times at The El Royale, a film teeming with ‘mystery’ and ‘incredible performances’.
Released in 2018, the star-studded cast includes Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, Cailee Spaeny, Lewis Pullman, and Chris Hemsworth.
The plot revolves around six strangers and an employee at the El Royale, a hotel straddling the California–Nevada border, whose secrets collide on a fateful night in the late 1960s.
The hotel transforms into a battleground of vice as seven strangers – a cleric, a soul singer, a travelling salesman, two sisters, the manager, and the enigmatic Billy Lee – all converge for one last chance at redemption before everything spirals out of control.
Bad Times at The El Royale is on tonight(Image: )
The film, which was released half a dozen years ago, has garnered critical praise and received five nominations at the 45th Saturn Awards, including Best Writing for Goddard, Best Actor for Bridges, Best Supporting Actor for Pullman, Best Supporting Actress for Erivo, and ultimately clinched the award for Best Thriller Film.
One glowing five-star review on Rotten Tomatoes said: “Got one of my favourites. Setting, costumes, and atmosphere, whole cinematography is amazing. I also really liked the story with its many characters and their mysterious connections.”, reports the Mirror.
Another equally enthusiastic reviewer awarded it five stars, saying: “I guess this film is totally underrated because no one talks about it from every angle. This is my favourite film and I review it often. “For me El-Royal is a thought-provoking tale about the role of fate and choice. It’s gripping from start to finish.
“Action-packed script, magnetic aesthetic, jaw-dropping twists, outstanding music (quite a few songs from the film were added to my playlists).”
Chris Hemsworth in Bad Times at the El Royale(Image: 20th Century Fox)
A third added: “This is one of those perfect films. Amazing cinematography, incredible, surprising plot, stellar acting from a star-studded cast, and an incredible setting. It’s one of the rare times that Hemsworth plays a villainous character and Jeff Bridges delivers his usual jaw-dropping performance – notably out-acting, and out-macho-ing Hemsworth.
“It’s magic to watch. Constant surprises. Weird. A stunning period piece that makes use of countless tropes from the era (1969).”
Another fan said: “Incredible performances. Chris Hemsworth is an amazing actor. I hope we get to see more of him in parts like this one. The rest of the cast is great too. Jeff Bridges, John Hamm, Dakota Johnson, all of them. A must-watch!”
Another glowing five-star review noted: “I’ve been interested in this movie before and finally watched it. American neo-noir thriller. Don’t just look at the surface of everything, dismantling the inner world is the most enjoyable part of this movie. The predicament in the secret room forced everyone to show their true colours of humanity. And added various political, religious, cultural and other elements.
Bad Times at The El Royale airs on Tuesday 13 January on Film4 at 12.20am.
