Searchlight Pictures’ Rental Family begins streaming on Hulu via Disney+ on 18 March 2026. The film delivers a reflective story about empathy, identity and human connection set against the backdrop of modern Tokyo.
Academy Award winner Brendan Fraser leads the cast as a once-promising American actor who feels increasingly adrift in Japan. His fortunes shift when he takes on an unusual job with a “rental family” agency, stepping into surrogate roles for clients seeking emotional support.
As the assignments grow more personal, the boundaries between performance and real life begin to blur. The experience gradually draws him deeper into the lives of his clients, challenging his sense of purpose and awakening a renewed capacity for compassion.
Directed, co-written and produced by HIKARI, the film also stars Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman and Akira Emoto. The screenplay is by HIKARI and Stephen Blahut, with production by Eddie Vaisman, Julia Lebedev and Shin Yamaguchi.
Following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Rental Family went on to win multiple audience awards at festivals including Chicago, Woodstock, Middleburg, Hawaii and Heartland. The film currently holds a 96 percent Popcornmeter score and an 88 percent Certified Fresh critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes.