Rental Family
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- Trailer 1 (01:59)
Movie Info & Cast
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.
Cast
- Brendan Fraser
- Takehiro Hira
- Mari Yamamoto
- Shannon Gorman
- Akira Emoto
- Nihi
- Gan Furukawa
- Takao Kin
- Yuji Komatsu
- Ryôko Osada
Moviegoers are saying
Brendan Fraser delivers a phenomenal performance in this tender exploration of loneliness and human connection, with audiences praising its heartfelt sincerity despite some finding it overly sentimental. While critics note Fraser's limited emotional range (mostly ':)' and sometimes ':/'), the film's 'found family' narrative and authentic portrayal of rental relationships in Japan resonates deeply with viewers seeking meaningful connections.
Top Mentions
Summary generated from the text of Atom User reviews
Letterboxd User Reviews
3.9
369.2K
73.2K
138.3K
- Nov 20, 2025
mostly consists of Brendan Fraser going ":)" and then sometimes he's like ":/"
David SimsNov 20, 2025I would also pay Brendan Fraser to play video games with me.
HailliSep 12, 2025Hey this was really nice
Amanda the Jedi - Nov 22, 2025
some facts about me: -i am a sucker for the found family trope -i love nathan fielder’s the rehearsal -i have a dead dad -i am a lesbian -i get a wee bit lonely from time to time -i am legally required to bump up any movie’s rating by at least a half star if they use a…
jeabaJan 29, 2026Can I log that toothpaste commercial on here
James (Schaffrillas)Nov 18, 2025i liked it, but i also wanted to really really like it
iso - Nov 20, 2025
one of the most tender films you’ll see this year
cobOct 15, 2025I like watching Brendan Fraser being nice for two hours.
Mike RyanDec 26, 2025My mom: That’s interesting. For them to be hired to play a role. My dad: Isn’t that what actors do? My mom: Yeah, but not for real life.
demi adejuyigbe
Queue Community Reviews
95%
Community 3,139
Top Reviews
- Will Eplion likedRental Family
Bro is a real life smiling friend
Melanie lovedRental FamilyVery unique story . I will have you smiling and crying .
Morgan lovedRental Familya beautiful and heartfelt film that makes you think about what it means to truly bond with another human being everything felt organic and touched me deeply brendan gave a fantastic performance as usual and made me cry with how vulnerable and gentle he was
- Carson Withers is "meh" onRental Family
Logging this and Black Phone 2 for some reason crossed wires and made me realize that future movies I think of right now will one day be released and I will log them. Future me how did you like Heat 2?
Plucky Darling is "meh" onRental FamilyIts cute, but I will probably forget all about it in a week
Khay lovedRental Familya very touching story.
- Frida likedRental Family
Cozy!
Obihulk lovedRental FamilyI often find myself wondering about the harsh divide between truth and lies. Why does honesty sometimes bring pain, while a lie can offer comfort, even if only temporarily? And why do we feel compelled to create false solutions just to soften endings that might hurt the people we care about? As…
Thomas Joyce likedRental FamilyI feel genuinely taken aback by just how lovely of a film this was, a complete shift in tone for Hikari after directing several episodes of BEEF. Rental Family is a modest, heartfelt dive into the basic idea of connection, and it really made me think about how much we (or at least I) overthink…
Atom Users Reviews
POPULAR TAGS
Reviews
- LGLuis Guerra
“Rental Family” punches you in the face with the emotional rollercoaster it takes you on. An easy 10/10 and would def watch again!
BHBob HessBrendan Fraser was phenomenal.
GEGarrett EllisA beautiful story of loneliness and human connection
- TWTimothy Whalen
This is not what it is hyped up to be, I have seen better and this not one of his best. I Should have waited until streaming service not worth the trip
LOLINDSEY OHLINLeft me thinking!
NVNiah VivierIncredibly heartfelt and sincere! Brendan Fraser is phenomenal. Such a precious human being. I was so touched by the story. Bring tissues!
- GCGrace Cabunoc
Brandon Fraser does a great job in bringing you into this feel good movie about human emotional need. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end.
RSRaven ShipmanThis was a great movie, you definitely will shed a tear or two.
KLKasey LaRoseIs this the best movie of the year? A completely original idea with all the feels.
Metacritic
Nov 18, 2025
Fraser walks through this aggressively sappy drama with the aura of simple goodness that has served him well. But such concentrated radiance starts to feel like a denial of the painful reality Rental Family ignores. The movie wants to give you a hug, but you may be tempted to slap it across the face.
Tim Grierson
The A.V. Club
Sep 9, 2025
Rental Family, directed by Hikari, displays an almost admirable amount of restraint in its tear jerking, opting for quieter moments of grace rather than overdone emotion. In fact, it’s so restrained that Fraser’s Phillip Vandarpleog is not much of a character at all, and you leave itching for more of his inner life.
Esther Zuckerman
The Daily Beast
Sep 7, 2025
Rental Family could have gone deeper, darker, and more boldly into the oddities of the human rental market. But that would be a different film. It seems silly to come down too hard on this good-natured comedy-drama––especially for offering a much more impressive performance than the one that earned Fraser an Oscar.
Christopher Schobert
The Film Stage
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rental Family (2025) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as PG-13, meaning that some material may be considered inappropriate for children under 13.
How long is Rental Family (2025)?
The movie is 1hr 50min long.
What's Rental Family (2025) about?
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.
Who's the cast of Rental Family (2025)?
- Brendan Fraser as Phillip Vandarpleog
- Takehiro Hira as Shinji
- Mari Yamamoto as Aiko
- Shannon Gorman as Mia Kawasaki
- Akira Emoto as Kikuo Hasegawa
- Nihi as Nova Bright Z
- Gan Furukawa as Neighbor Old Man
- Takao Kin as Bartender
- Yuji Komatsu as Neighbor Father
- Ryôko Osada as Neighbor Wife
Who's the director behind Rental Family (2025)?
Hikari directed Rental Family (2025).
Who produced Rental Family (2025)?
Hikari, Julia Lebedev and Eddie Vaisman produced Rental Family (2025).
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