Rental Family

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1:58

Poster for

Rental Family

PG-13

In Theaters Nov 21

1h 43m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

96%

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46 Reviews

Popcornmeter

0 Verified Ratings

Set in modern-day Tokyo, RENTAL FAMILY follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese "rental family" agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.

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In Theaters Nov 21

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HIKARI

Director

Brendan Fraser

Actor

Takehiro Hira

Actor

Mari Yamamoto

Actor

Shannon Gorman

Actor

Akira Emoto

Actor

Robbie Collin

Daily Telegraph (UK)

It might not sound like much of a compliment, but Brendan Fraser is extraordinarily convincing as a marginally talented actor a few years past his sell-by date.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 22, 2025

Full Review

India Block

London Evening Standard

It’s a deceptively fiddly role, an actor playing an actor, who winds up acting out various roles for real people. But it’s a part made for Fraser and his lovely big, sad eyes.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 18, 2025

Full Review

Linda Marric

HeyUGuys

This is gentle, crowd-pleasing drama comedy powered by Fraser’s heroic comeback. It won’t break your heart — but it might quietly mend a small piece of it.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 17, 2025

Full Review

Serena Seghedoni

Loud and Clear Reviews

Hikari’s Rental Family is an ode to all the people out there who are lonely, grieving and in pain, a lesson on how healing comes from within, and a reminder that we are alive. It’s irresistibly human, and it’s the best film of the year.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 24, 2025

Full Review

Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

Rental Family is a comedy-drama that is surprisingly heartwarming as it is touching on the artificials that could cause more harm than good, which concerns Phillip in the beginning.

Rated: A

Oct 24, 2025

Full Review

Amelia Harvey

That Hashtag Show

Rental Family has more layers and bite than the marketing material suggests. While it treads a well-worn road and doesn’t try to take risks, it’s an effective melodrama about cultural loneliness, authenticity, and ethics.

Rated: 80%

Oct 23, 2025

Full Review

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Synopsis

Set in modern-day Tokyo, RENTAL FAMILY follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese "rental family" agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.

Director: HIKARI
Producer: Eddie Vaisman, Julia Lebedev, HIKARI, Shin Yamaguchi
Screenwriter: HIKARI, Stephen Blahut
Distributor: Searchlight Pictures
Production Co: Knockonwood, Sight Unseen
Rating: PG-13 (Some Strong Language|Thematic Elements|Suggestive Material)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 21, 2025, Wide
Runtime: 1h 43m