The Hershey movie just dropped its official trailer on June 29, 2026, and the story of America’s most famous chocolate empire is heading to theaters this Thanksgiving.
The film stars Finn Wittrock as Milton Hershey and Alexandra Daddario as Catherine Hershey.
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This is an upcoming American biographical drama film directed by Mark Waters.
We broke down every detail from the freshly released trailer so you are completely caught up.
✅ Quick Facts: Hershey Movie
- Release Date: Thanksgiving 2026 (November 26, 2026)
- Distributor: Angel Studios
- Director: Mark Waters (Mean Girls, Freaky Friday)
- Filming Locations: 17 locations across Pennsylvania
Complete Movie Details Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Title | Hershey |
| Director | Mark Waters |
| Screenplay | Bubba Fulcher, Will Hardy, Timothy Michael Hayes |
| Story | Sharon Paul, Mark Waters, Will Hardy, Bubba Fulcher |
| Genre | Biographical Drama / Family |
| Distributor | Angel Studios |
| Production | Dandelion Media |
| Partners | Aloe Entertainment, Peachtree Group, RCM3 |
| Release Date | November 26, 2026 |
| Filming Start | May 2025 |
| Filming Wrapped | June 2025 |
| Post-Production | April 2026 |
| Score Composer | Rolfe Kent |
| Cinematographer | Ed Wu |
| Time Period | Early 1870s to Late 1910s |
Set between the early 1870s and late 1910s, the film spans nearly five decades in Milton S. Hershey’s life.
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Hershey Movie: Full Cast & Roles
| Actor | Role | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Finn Wittrock | Milton S. Hershey | The Big Short, American Horror Story, Don’t Move |
| Alexandra Daddario | Catherine “Kitty” Hershey | The White Lotus, True Detective, San Andreas |
| Alan Ruck | Supporting Role | Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Succession |
| Richard Kind | Supporting Role | Inside Out, Curb Your Enthusiasm |
| David Costabile | Supporting Role | Breaking Bad, Billions |
| Heléne Yorke | Supporting Role | The Other Two, High Maintenance |
| Francesca Faridany | Supporting Role | House of Cards |
| Daniel David Stewart | Supporting Role | The Chosen |
| James Kelly | Young Milton | N/A |
It was announced in April 2025 that Mark Waters would be directing the film, with Finn Wittrock and Alexandra Daddario cast to star, and Alan Ruck, Richard Kind, David Costabile and Heléne Yorke were added to the cast the following month.
What Is the Hershey Movie About?
The film tells the origin story of Milton and Kitty Hershey, who, when confronted by tragedy, determine to leave their amassed chocolate fortune in the hands of children.
Again and again, Milton’s dreams collapse, businesses fail, money runs out, and partners doubt him.
But with Kitty’s love and strength beside him, Milton keeps moving, and together they build more than a chocolate company: they build a town, a school, and a legacy that continues to transform lives.
This is not just a corporate origin story; it is a love story tested by failure, ambition, and sacrifice.
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What Does the Trailer Reveal?
The full trailer dropped on June 29, 2026, and reactions have been overwhelmingly positive.
| Trailer Moment | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Opening | Milton’s humble beginnings and early poverty in Pennsylvania |
| First Failure | His candy shop in Philadelphia collapses |
| Meeting Kitty | Romance begins, Daddario brings warmth and emotional depth |
| Repeated Setbacks | Multiple business failures before the chocolate breakthrough |
| The Big Moment | Discovery of the milk chocolate formula |
| Philanthropy | Milton and Kitty choosing to give their fortune to children |
| Closing | The founding of Milton Hershey School |
This actual trailer is a major improvement over the original teaser, which was so bad it seemed like a fake movie.
This trailer promises a rich and engaging story about a candy maker hitting his stride creating tasty milk chocolate.
Early Reactions to the Hershey Movie Trailer
| Source | Reaction |
|---|---|
| The A.V. Club | Notes that the trailer is “as earnest as they come” |
| FirstShowing.net | Calls full trailer a “major improvement” over the teaser |
| Angel Studios Blog | Describes it as “the story of an American dreamer” |
| The Jersey Momma | “SO excited” as a lifelong Hershey fan |
| LRM Online | Calls it a “family-friendly holiday release filled with heart” |
The trailer for Hershey is as earnest as they come, depicting Milton as the best, kindest capitalist there is, someone who refused to cut wages even with his back against the wall.
Some critics, however, have drawn comparisons to other corporate biopics.
These corporate biopics have cropped up so frequently in the past few years that they’ve already received full-length parodies, as in Jerry Seinfeld’s Pop-Tart movie.
For more trailer breakdowns, our latest entertainment news has everything you need.
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Behind the Scenes: Production Facts
The production scale behind the Hershey movie is seriously impressive.
| Production Detail | Number |
|---|---|
| Filming Locations | 17 across Pennsylvania |
| Custom Sets Built | 74 |
| Catherine Hershey Costumes | 54 custom designed |
| Total Costumes | 2,300+ |
| Background Actors | 1,500+ |
| Chocolate Pieces Used | Thousands |
Filming took place in 17 locations across Pennsylvania, including Hershey and Pittsburgh, and the production designed and built 74 sets to recreate Milton Hershey’s world of the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The filmmakers worked with historical materials and consulted with historians at Milton Hershey School, Hershey Community Archives, and The Hershey Story Museum before and during production.
That level of historical research tells you this is not a rushed cash-grab; the team genuinely cared about getting it right.
Who Is Behind the Hershey Movie?
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director | Mark Waters |
| Screenplay | Bubba Fulcher, Will Hardy, Timothy Michael Hayes |
| Story | Sharon Paul, Mark Waters, Will Hardy, Bubba Fulcher |
| Producers | Sharon Paul, Mark Tilghman, Mary Aloe, Joshua Harris, Will Hardy |
| Executive Producers | Daniel Hank, Joseph Lanius, Flip & Susan Flippen, Joanne Marlowe |
| Score | Rolfe Kent |
| Cinematographer | Ed Wu |
| Distributor | Angel Studios |
| Worldwide Rights | UTA Independent Film Group |
For the movie, the five Hershey entities collaborated with Dandelion Media to ensure an authentic portrayal of Milton’s life, and from the project’s inception, the filmmakers were granted unprecedented access to the company’s archives and the expertise of Hershey historians.
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3 Reasons the Hershey Movie Matters
- Angel Studios Track Record: The studio behind The Chosen and Sound of Freedom knows how to market faith-based and inspirational stories to massive audiences, and their involvement gives this film a built-in community of supporters.
- Director Mark Waters Brings Mainstream Polish: Mark Waters has directed many hit movies including Freaky Friday, Mean Girls, Just Like Heaven, and The Spiderwick Chronicles. His ability to balance heart and humor could elevate this beyond a standard biopic.
- The Real Story Is Genuinely Remarkable: Milton Hershey failed three separate times in the candy business before building an empire, then gave it all away to educate orphans. That is a story worth telling on the big screen.
What Else Is Releasing on the Same Weekend?
| Movie | Release Date | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| Hershey | November 26, 2026 | Biographical Drama |
| Madden | November 26, 2026 | Sports Drama |
Hershey is coming out as a nationwide release on Thursday, November 26, 2026, and there is 1 other movie coming out on the same date, including Madden.
The Thanksgiving release window is a smart call for a family-friendly, feel-good biopic.
Final Verdict on the Hershey Movie Trailer
The Hershey movie trailer signals a warm, earnest, and visually rich biographical drama that leans heavily into its love story and philanthropic message.
Finn Wittrock brings quiet determination to Milton, and Alexandra Daddario adds emotional gravity as the woman who believed in him when nobody else did.
And it is the story of a legacy that proved the sweetest thing Milton and Kitty Hershey ever made was not chocolate, but a future for children who needed one.
Whether the film can rise above the “corporate biopic” label remains to be seen, but the trailer makes a strong case.
We will cover opening weekend numbers, critic reviews, and OTT updates the moment they drop.
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