Searchlight Pictures is set to release their comedy-drama RENTAL FAMILY on VOD and digital platforms later this month, arriving on January 13th, 2026. The film world premiered at the 2025 Toronto Film Festival before launching in US theaters on November 21st, 2025.
In addition, the studio has announced the film’s Blu-ray/DVD will hit retail on February 17th, 2026.
Rental Family is directed by Hikari, who co-wrote the script with Stephen Blahut. It stars Brendan Fraser, Mari Yamamoto, Takehiro Hira and Akira Emoto.
In the film, a lonely, down and out American actor living in Tokyo starts working for a Japanese “rental family” company to play various stand-in roles in other people’s lives. Along the way, he discovers unexpected joys within his built-in family.
Here’s the full release with bonus features information:
BURBANK, CA (January 8, 2026) – Journey to Japan and into the heart of human connection with Searchlight Pictures’ Rental Family when the film arrives on digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home January 13, followed by a Blu-ray release February 17.
Set in modern-day Tokyo, HIKARI’s Rental Family stars Academy Award®–winning Brendan Fraser as a has-been American actor searching for purpose and belonging in a society where he feels increasingly adrift. An unexpected acting call leads him to a “rental family” agency, where he is hired to play stand-in roles for strangers seeking connection. As performance begins to blur with reality, the immersive role-playing awakens his humanity and compassion, drawing him deeply into his clients’ lives and pushing him off-script whenever his empathetic heart takes over. Searchlight’s Rental Family channels the emotional depth of award-winning director, producer, and co-writer HIKARI (Beef, Tokyo Vice, 37 Seconds), who believes cinema “allows us to view others with empathy, creates space for conversation, and see parts of ourselves we did not know existed.”
Produced by Eddie Vaisman, p.g.a, Julia Lebedev, p.g.a, HIKARI, p.g.a, and Shin Yamaguchi, p.g.a, Rental Family also stars Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Gorman, and Akira Emoto.
Searchlight Pictures’ Rental Family has captured the hearts of audiences and critics alike, praised as “universally resonant” (Clayton Davis, Variety) and “poignant and humorous” (Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter). The film is also certified on Rotten Tomatoes® as Verified Hot with a 96% Popcornmeter score and holds an 88% Certified Fresh Tomatometer rating from critics.
Audiences of all ages can embrace the refreshing warmth and humanity of Rental Family whenever they’re in need of humor and connection, now available to add to your movie collection on digital and Blu-ray.
Digital & Blu-ray Bonus Materials*
- Featurette: Rental Family Revealed — Go behind the scenes with Brendan Fraser, director HIKARI, and the Japanese cast as they explore friendship, culture, found family, and filming in Japan in this intimate look at the making of Rental Family.
- Deleted/Extended Scenes:
- Columbus
- Crying Session
- Apology
- Aiko’s First Client
- Clearbright
- Tickets
- Audition
- Phone Call
- Final Montage
*Bonus features may vary by product and retailer.
The National Board of Review recently named Rental Family as one of the top ten films of 2025.
We’ve added the release date to our Streaming Calendar. Pre-order the film from Amazon below, and check out the official home video trailer.
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