I streamed A Real Pain on Hulu, but there is one aspect of Kieran Culkin’s excellent performance that bothers me

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We are currently in the middle of awards season, where some of the best film projects from the past year are recognized in a variety of upcoming prices show. One title that has gotten plenty of nods is Jesse Eisenberg’s A real painwhich is currently streaming with a Hulu subscription. I finally streamed it myself, but there is one aspect of Kieran Culkin’s excellent performance that bothers me.

After Culkin’s recent Golden Globe win, a lot more people are finding out how to stream A real pain. Hype around the project reached a fever pitch thanks to 2025 Oscar nominationswhere Eisenberg’s screenplay and Culkin’s performance were honored. But I’m a little annoyed that Succession Alun is up to the supporting actor categories when he is the main character in the film, in my opinion.

A real pain Focuses on two cousins ​​who go on a trip through Poland to honor their late grandmother. Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin share basically every scene together and have exceptional chemistry as estranged relatives struggling with trauma and grief. But the idea of ​​Culkin’s Benji being the “supporting” character is pretty ridiculous; The film literally begins and ends with him at the airport.

While Jesse Eisenberg’s David may be the “Everyman” and the audience’s entry point into the story, Benji is the heart of the story A real pain. Watching his layers of trauma and emotionality unfold throughout the film’s 90-minute runtime is deeply moving, especially his devastated reaction to visiting a former Nazi concentration camp.

This performance feels like a stellar follow-up to Kieran Culkin’s Emmy-winning work on Succession (which streams with a maximum subscription). And funnily enough, he’s competing against his former co-star Jeremy Strong in the Best Supporting Actor category for this year’s Oscars. In a weird way, it feels like a multiverse at play with the Roy Sons who bickered so often throughout the show’s runtime.

Culkin’s work as Benji was one of the most effective film performances I’ve seen in a while, and that includes all the awards I’ve racked up. He veers between being wildly charming and chewing on the scenery to break both other characters’ and audience’s hearts. He is able to weave in the story with Benji’s late grandmother, his suicide attempt and the atrocities of the Holocaust, as well as his colorful relationship with Eisenberg’s character for a powerhouse performance.

All of this to say that Culkin doesn’t feel like a supporting actor in A real pain at least bit. It’s clear that studios are strategic in trying to get the most Oscar attention possible, and it’s worked for the 42-year-old actor. We’ll just have to see if he takes home an Oscar to go with his Golden Globe.

A real pain Stream now on Hulu. Check out the 2025 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.