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, 2025.
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
Brendan Fraser as Phillip Vandarploeug, an American actor living in Japan
Takehiro Hira as Shinji, the Rental Family agency owner
Mari Yamamoto as Aiko, an employee of the Rental Family agency
Shannon Mahina Gorman as Mia Kawasaki, a young girl in need of a father figure
Akira Emoto as Kikuo Hasegawa, a Rental Family client and retired actor
Shino Shinozaki as Mia's mother, a Rental Family client
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]
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."[14]
Dieter Oßwald praises on the German arthouse portal Programmkino.de "the delightful ease with which the film, as both amusing and thought-provoking, explores identity, lies, and loneliness." Fraser seemingly presents himself effortlessly as a believable resilient character with enormous potential for empathy. "He delivers a truly Oscar-worthy performance in a heartwarming crowd-pleaser with depth."[15]
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