AceShowbiz - Lewis Pullman and Maya Hawke headline the new sci-fi film Wishful Thinking, which offers a darker take on a 20-year-old book and movie phenomenon made famous by Oprah Winfrey. The film blends elements of science fiction, romance, and comedy under the direction of Graham Parkes, marking his debut as a writer and director.

Wishful Thinking centers on a couple, played by Pullman and Hawke, who enroll in a therapy seminar focused on energy work. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that their emotional states have supernatural powers that influence the world around them. The film explores how their relationship struggles ripple outward, triggering global events.

In a conversation with ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan during the 2026 South by Southwest Festival, director Graham Parkes explained that the inspiration for Wishful Thinking came from his discovery of The Secret, a well-known self-help book and film popularized by Oprah. Parkes was struck by the concept of manifestation — the idea that positive thinking can lead to success — but he saw a darker, more ironic side. For someone with anxiety like himself, the thought that negative feelings could cause disasters was both terrifying and darkly humorous.

Parkes said, “I was struck by this concept of manifesting, that we talk about it like it’s this really uplifting thing. Like, ‘Oh, that’s so great that if you’re in a good mood, you’re going to get a promotion at your job or parking.’ But, as somebody who kind of has some anxiety and has a little trouble always being in control of my moods, that’s a terrifying idea - that if I’m in a bad mood, I could cause a plane crash. It doesn’t sound funny when I say it like that, but to me, when I thought of that, there was something very funny to me about it.”

He elaborated that the concept became richer when framed around a romantic relationship. Struggling with his own relationship issues at the time, Parkes imagined how such powers would affect a couple. This approach transformed the premise from a single comedic idea into a nuanced story about love, conflict, and the consequences of emotions.

Written and directed by Parkes, Wishful Thinking follows a volatile couple unable to repair their fractured bond who attend a couples-therapy retreat led by the Tillies, twin healers who promise to restore relationships through energy work. However, the seminar inadvertently triggers a cosmic chain reaction where the health of their romance influences worldwide chaos — including earthquakes, financial upheaval, and global instability.

As the events escalate, the couple must confront whether their relationship can survive the fallout they are unwittingly causing. Alongside Pullman and Hawke, the film’s ensemble cast includes Randall Park, Jake Shane, Amita Rao, Eric Rahill, Kate Berlant as the Tillies, Kerri Kenney-Silver, and Mat Wright.

Notably, Lewis Pullman appeared alongside his father, Bill Pullman, to present the award for Best Film Editing at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, just days after the film’s premiere.

Wishful Thinking debuted at the 2026 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 12 to strong acclaim. Critics praised it as a creative and humorous relationship story elevated by the performances of its leads. Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com described Pullman and Hawke as “consistently spectacular,” highlighting their palpable chemistry.

Glenn Garner from Deadline remarked on the actors’ ability to portray “emotional whiplash,” seamlessly shifting between conflict and romance. Other reviews applauded the film’s inventive premise, heartfelt moments, and sharp humor, marking it as a standout in the sci-fi romance genre.

Wishful Thinking runs 105 minutes and is produced by Matt Smith, Lewis Pullman, Dan Gedman, Kara Durrett, and Matt Smith. The film’s unique blend of dark comedy, romance, and supernatural sci-fi makes it a fresh and intriguing addition to 2026’s cinematic landscape.