One of 2026’s best thriller movies is available to watch now

Directed by an Oscar-winner, the film is 'an ingenious throwback to older, character-driven crime thrillers'.

The film stars rising star Leo Woodall (One Day, The White Lotus) as Niki White, a young man living in New York, who was once seen as a music prodigy.

His dreams of being a professional musician, however, were curtailed by his hyperacusis, a condition which leaves his ears extraordinarily sensitive to sound.

With the help of an old family friend, Harry (Oscar-winner Dustin Hoffman, Rain Man), Niki makes a living as a piano tuner, one of the few lines of work where his hyperacusis is a benefit.

One day, the ailing Harry forgets the combination to his safe. As such, Niki uses his heightened hearing to open it, discovering in the process that he has a talent for safe-cracking.

Watch the trailer for Tuner right here:

Not long after, while tuning a piano in a wealthy client's empty house, Niki is disturbed by the sound of a gang of thieves trying to rob the place. Wanting them to leave so he can continue piano tuning in peace, Niki breaks into the home's safe for them.

He is later offered more safe-cracking work by the gang's leader, Uri (Lior Raz, Hit and Run). Needing money to pay for Harry's medical bills and wanting to treat his new aspiring composer girlfriend, Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu, Power Ballad), Niki accepts.

Tuner Review

Directed by the Oscar-winning documentarian Daniel Roher (Navalny) in his feature drama debut, Tuner is an ingenious throwback to older, character-driven crime thrillers, a feeling further helped by the presence of Hoffman.

What the movie might lack in action spectacle or flash (Niki and Uri's heists remain small-scale and grounded), Roher and Robert Ramsey's script more than makes up for in character and specificity.

The early scenes of Harry and Niki tuning pianos are fascinating to watch. The way Roher uses sound to give an impression of what Niki's life is like with hyperacusis feels very immersive. Between these two elements, viewers are hooked, even before the story shifts into crime thriller territory, adding a further jolt of energy.

Niki and Uri's uneasy alliance inevitably sours (Raz is excellent at conveying both charm and menace), spilling over into Niki's non-crime life. This is portrayed in a way that is always compelling and unpredictable, while never forgetting the everyday drama that initially sucked audiences into the story.

This blend of thrills, romance, and relatable human struggle is aided hugely by the performances. In his first lead film role (not counting Nomad, his sci-fi shot before Tuner that's yet to be released), Woodall is fantastic.

Niki isn't your typical protagonist. The combination of his musical genius, his hyperacusis, and his shattered dreams makes him a very internal, withdrawn character. Yet, the audience cares about him because Woodall makes us believe in his plight, while still imbuing him with some of his trademark charisma, particularly in the scenes with Ruthie.

Havana Rose Liu as Ruthie in Tuner

Havana Rose Liu is also wonderful, imbuing Ruthie with warmth and intelligence. She and Woodall have great chemistry. Plus, Roher and Ramsey capture the fizziness of young love, but also the unique melancholy that may come from a romance between two musicians, one of whom is on the cusp of making it, and the other who had their career cut short.

All in all, Tuner is one of those rare thrillers where the human drama and romance are as compelling as the crime plot. A definite crowdpleaser, with a perfect final line of dialogue.

Leo Woodall interview for Tuner

JOE interviewed rising star Leo Woodall for Tuner, and you can read that conversation below, which has been edited slightly for clarity and length.

JOE: Congratulations on Tuner. I think it's a really gripping, smart film with lots of thrills, human drama and heart. I think it's got something for everyone. It's your first lead role in a film, and I imagine after One Day and White Lotus, you were getting a lot of film offers and scripts. What was it about Tuner that made you think: 'I got to be a part of this.'?

Leo Woodall: I just instantly wanted to watch it. It's the kind of film that I love to watch, and I'd actually done my first lead role in a movie seven years ago in a movie called Nomad, which still hasn't come out.

When I read [Tuner], it sort of reminded me of that a little bit, and I just thought Niki would be a really fun part to play. It had been a very long time since playing a lead role in a movie, so I was really excited to get back to doing that.

When you have the lead part in a movie, there's so much exploration that you can do, and there's so much opportunity to act and perform and be the character, and I love that.

JOE: You're playing a music prodigy in this, who's also got a real-life condition, hyperacusis, which makes his daily life difficult. He's also seduced by a life of crime. What kind of prep did you have to do to prepare for this role, because it's a character with a lot of layers?

Leo Woodall: There was a lot of prep, a lot of it was to do with piano tuning and piano playing. That was months of training. The first thing I did was I spoke to a man called Alex Ruger, who has the condition.

He spoke to me at length about living with it and coping with it, and how he developed it, and that was very informative, and that was where I began the prep.

JOE: I'm speaking to you from Ireland, and we tend to ask actors when we speak to them if they have any Irish connections. You're about to work with one of the most famous and beloved Irish actors, Jamie Dornan, on the new Lord of the Rings movie. Have you met Jamie yet? Are you a fan of his? Is there anything you can say about that project?

Leo Woodall: Yeah, I'm a huge fan of Jamie's. I haven't met him personally, but the two of us are trying to get the other one's number.

I know a few people who are mates with them, and they've said that we're going to get on like a house on fire, so I can't wait to go work with him and go and slay some orcs with him.

JOE: Amazing. Niki in Tuner, I wouldn't describe it as an action man per se...

Leo Woodall: He gets beaten up a lot [he says, laughing].

JOE: He gets beaten up a lot! But, he sort of holds his own... I bring this up because there's been rumours about who's going to be the next James Bond. I've seen your name floating around. Is that flattering? Is it exciting? Is it weird? What would you say about those rumours?

Leo Woodall: Look, anyone whose name gets attached to James Bond is obviously very flattering.

But I think whatever decisions they're having to make as to who the next guy's going to be, I'm sure they're not even there yet.

I'm sure it's, it's going to be an extensive, well-thought-out process, because it's a big deal.

JOE: Yes, absolutely. You've starred in several book adaptations [Netflix shows One Day and Vladimir, Nuremberg]. One of our sister publications runs a book club. I was curious if you have a favourite book or a book that you love, that you'd like to see adapted into a film someday or a series.

Leo Woodall: Yeah, good question. I read this book years ago, and I instantly thought it must already be a movie or a TV show, because I think it would translate very well: American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.

It's so thrilling. It's about a mother and son fleeing Mexico from the cartels, so I don't think there's any part that I could play in it, but I would certainly love to watch it because it's a really thrilling, moving story.

JOE: That's a great recommendation. Thanks so much for speaking to me... I have to say I really enjoyed Tuner, and I'm looking forward to seeing Nomad when it comes out.

Leo Woodall: Oh yeah, I'm looking forward to some people seeing that. Thank you.

Tuner is in Irish cinemas now.