Rental Family

Last updated

Rental Family
Rental Family poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Hikari
Written by
  • Hikari
  • Stephen Blahut
Produced by
  • Eddie Vaisman
  • Julia Lebedev
  • Hikari
  • Shin Yamaguchi
Starring
CinematographyTakurô Ishizaka
Edited by Alan Baumgarten
Thomas A. Krueger
Music by Jónsi
Alex Somers
Production
companies
Sight Unseen Productions
Domo Arigato Productions
Distributed by Searchlight Pictures
Release dates
  • September 6, 2025 (2025-09-06)(TIFF)
  • November 21, 2025 (2025-11-21)
Running time
110 minutes [1]
CountriesUnited States
Japan
LanguagesEnglish
Japanese

Rental Family is a 2025 comedy-drama film directed by Hikari, who co-wrote the screenplay with Stephen Blahut. It stars Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, and Akira Emoto.

Contents

An international co-production between the United States and Japan, the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025, and is scheduled to be released in the United States by Searchlight Pictures on November 21.

Premise

A lonely American actor living in Tokyo starts working for a Japanese rental family service to play stand-in roles in other people's lives. Along the way, he finds surprising connections and unexpected joys within his new family.

Cast

Production

The film has been in development since 2019. [2] In November 2023, Brendan Fraser was set to star in the film with Hikari directing from a script she co-wrote with Stephen Blahut. [3] In March 2024, Mari Yamamoto, Takehiro Hira, and Akira Emoto joined the cast. [4] [5] Principal photography began in Japan on March 12 and wrapped in late May. [4] [5]

Release

An international co-production between the United States and Japan, Rental Family had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025. [6] It is scheduled for theatrical release in the United States by Searchlight Pictures on November 21. [7] [8]

The film is being screened at the Adelaide Film Festival in Australia on October 18, 2025. [9]

On October 19, 2025, the film will be showcased at the 20th Rome Film Festival in the 'Grand Public' section [10] , and on November 3, 2025, it will be showcased at the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival in the 'Gala Selection' section. [11]

Reception

Pete Hammond for Deadline calls the movie "sweet and lyrical" and "a gentle film, the kind of lower-key humane comedy we don’t see often these days." [12]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Savannah Film Festival October 29, 2025Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Award Brendan Fraser Won [13]
Celebration of Asian Pacific Cinema and Television November 14, 2025Director Award Hikari Won [14]

See also

References

  1. "Rental Family (2026)". Irish Film Classification Office . September 5, 2025. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  2. Kit, Borys (November 16, 2023). "Searchlight Teams with 'Beef' Director Hikari for Comedy-Drama 'Rental Family' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter .
  3. Kroll, Justin (November 21, 2023). "Brendan Fraser Finds His First Major Role After Oscar Win With Searchlight's Rental Family". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Lang, Brent (March 5, 2024). "Mari Yamamoto Starring Opposite Brendan Fraser in Searchlight's 'Rental Family' (Exclusive)". Variety . Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  5. 1 2 D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 18, 2024). "'Shōgun's Takehiro Hira And Akira Emoto Join Brendan Fraser's 'Rental Family' At Searchlight".
  6. "Rental Family". Toronto International Film Festival . Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  7. Garner, Glenn (July 11, 2025). "Disney Sets 'Rental Family' & 'Psycho Killer' Release Dates". Deadline. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  8. D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 16, 2025). "TIFF Unveils Round Of World Premieres With 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' & Pics From Derek Cianfrance, Paul Greengrass, Nicholas Hytner, Hikari & More". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  9. "Rental Family". Adelaide Film Festival . September 30, 2025. Archived from the original on September 30, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  10. "The films of the 2025 Rome Film Fest – Fondazione Cinema per Roma". September 19, 2025. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  11. Rosser, Michael (September 18, 2025). "'Hamnet' to close Tokyo film festival as gala, animation line-ups revealed". Screen Daily . Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  12. Hammond, Pete (September 7, 2025). "'Rental Family' Review: Brendan Fraser In A Gentle Family Comedy About Finding Human Connection In Japan – Toronto Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  13. "Honored guests | Filmfest". filmfest.scad.edu. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  14. Hammond, Pete (October 1, 2025). "Lucy Liu, Chloé Zhao, 'KPop Demon Hunters' Among Honorees For Critics Choice 4th Celebration Of AAPI Cinema & Television". Deadline. Retrieved October 16, 2025.