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Entertainment • TV series

Rental Family

Rental Family is a 2025 comedy-drama film directed and co-written by Hikari with Stephen Blahut.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Rental Family is a 2025 comedy-drama film directed and co-written by Hikari with Stephen Blahut. Starring Brendan Fraser, it follows an American actor in Tokyo who works for a Japanese rental family agency and begins to form real connections through the roles he plays. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before its theatrical release.

Premise

The film follows a struggling American actor in Tokyo who is hired by a rental family agency. His assignments involve impersonating relatives or close companions for strangers, gradually drawing him into emotionally complex situations.

Production

Rental Family was directed and co-written by Hikari, with Stephen Blahut as co-writer. Searchlight Pictures distributed the film, which has a runtime of 103 minutes and is presented in English.

Cast

The principal cast includes Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, and Akira Emoto. The film centers on Fraser’s character and the people he encounters through the agency.

Release

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025 and was released theatrically on November 21, 2025. Later streaming availability was reported on Hulu in 2026.

Key facts

  • Rental Family is a 2025 comedy-drama directed by Hikari and co-written with Stephen Blahut.
  • Brendan Fraser stars as an American actor working for a rental family agency in Tokyo.
  • The film explores themes of loneliness, connection, purpose, and the line between performance and reality.
  • It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released theatrically on November 21, 2025.
  • The premise is based on Japan’s rental family or role-playing service concept.
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Canadian context

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, making it directly relevant to Canadian film audiences and festival coverage.

Frequently asked questions

What is Rental Family about?
It is about an American actor in Tokyo who works for a rental family agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers and becoming emotionally involved in their lives.
Who directed Rental Family?
The film was directed by Hikari.
Who stars in Rental Family?
Brendan Fraser stars alongside Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, and Akira Emoto.
What genre is Rental Family?
It is a comedy-drama film.
When was Rental Family released?
It was released theatrically on November 21, 2025.
Is Rental Family based on a real practice?
Yes. The film’s premise is based on Japan’s rental family or role-playing service concept, where actors are hired to fill social or family roles for clients.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rental_Family
    Supports: Basic film identification, plot premise, cast, and release information.
  2. Searchlight Pictures — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0pqP6ClcE8
    Supports: Official trailer with synopsis, Toronto International Film Festival premiere mention, cast, and theatrical release date.
  3. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/rental-family/umc.cmc.693tclob0x606bw8bpvsx25dv
    Supports: Synopsis, runtime, director, and principal cast.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rental_family
    Supports: Genre, director, writers, distributor, release date, runtime, and plot summary.
  5. Media Play News — https://www.mediaplaynews.com/searchlights-rental-family-to-begin-streaming-on-hulu-feb-18/
    Supports: Streaming availability, TIFF premiere, award mentions, and cast/crew details.