Brendan Fraser’s Rental Family Sets Digital Release Date
Brendan Fraser stars in Rental Family, an acclaimed Japan-U.S. co-production, arriving for digital rental and purchase in January 2026, with a physical edition to follow in February.
Rental Family, a collaborative effort between Japanese and American filmmakers, is poised to make its digital debut early next year. Brendan Fraser leads the cast in this cross-cultural drama, which will be available to rent or buy from 13 January 2026 on major platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. For those who prefer something tangible, a physical edition is scheduled for release on 17 February. As yet, there’s no word on when it might appear on subscription-based streaming services.
Having premiered in cinemas in November 2025, the film features Fraser alongside Mari Yamamoto, Akira Emoto, Takehiro Hira, and Shannon Mahina Gorman. The story centres on Phillip Vanderploeg, a struggling actor adrift in Japan, who stumbles into an unusual line of work: standing in as a family member or acquaintance for people seeking connection. The official synopsis paints a picture of a man searching for meaning in a city that feels increasingly alien.
Life Imitates Art in Tokyo
Set against the backdrop of contemporary Tokyo, Fraser’s character is depicted as a faded American performer, grappling with a sense of isolation. An unexpected job offer from a ‘rental family’ agency sees him cast in a series of roles for clients yearning for companionship. As the boundaries between acting and reality begin to blur, his involvement with these strangers starts to awaken a deeper sense of empathy and purpose, drawing him into their lives in ways he hadn’t anticipated.
The film has not gone unnoticed by critics. Since its release, it has garnered an 88% rating on the Tomatometer and boasts a Certified Fresh badge. Audiences have responded even more enthusiastically, with a 96% score on the Popcornmeter and a Verified Hot label to boot.
Fraser’s Performance and Critical Response
Fraser’s portrayal has been singled out as a highlight of the year. In a review for MovieWeb, Mark Keizer remarks:
“Fraser beautifully undersells Hikari and co-writer Stephen Blahut's most dramatic lines of dialogue using facial combinations so expressive that his head must have its own winch-and-pulley system. It's a very sweet and sympathetic performance.”
Despite the praise, Fraser’s name has been conspicuously absent from the Best Actor ballots during the 2026 awards season.
Director Hikari, reflecting on the character, notes:
“Philip is how he connects with other characters.”
Hikari elaborates:
“He's basically never married. He marries a woman. He never had a child. He has a child, and he also plays a father role. That's how he invests his life. What he did in these steps again was not stop. He kept going. I want to learn.”
Empathy at the Heart of the Story
Hikari continues,
“That is his willingness to learn. He's willing to take a step. He says he's willing to do whatever the clients want. It really led him to have this whole family, and then also woke up a lot of people as he went too—for example, Takehiro Hira's character, Shinji Tada. I really hope our audience will see themselves in Philip, get in his shoes, walk as if they're Philip, and then discover what they find.”
Rental Family’s blend of heartfelt drama and understated humour, coupled with Fraser’s nuanced performance, has clearly struck a chord with both critics and the public. The film’s digital and physical releases are likely to introduce it to an even wider audience in the months ahead.