Scarlett Johansson's new crime thriller Paper Tiger just set its UK release date
Neon’s next film hasn’t even rolled out yet, but the hype machine is already in overdrive—and climbing.
Neon has been on a real tear recently, picking up and producing exactly the sort of films punters and critics seem to connect with. If you watched their run of stuff like 'Sentimental Value', 'It Was Just an Accident', and 'The Secret Agent' during the last awards season, you’ll know they’re good at sniffing out a stonker. For 2026, they’re at it again, dropping one anticipated release after another. They just put out 'Leviticus', a horror flick they snapped up from Sundance (back in January if you’re keeping track), and now there’s another big one on the horizon—this time starring Scarlett Johansson. Let’s get into what’s happening with 'Paper Tiger'.
Release Plan and Awards Positioning
We got the official word straight from the production company’s socials: James Gray’s 'Paper Tiger' is hitting select UK cinemas on 13 November. A week later, on 20 November, it’ll get a wider release (so, yes, the usual limited-to-nationwide rollout designed to catch the awards season crowd’s attention—Neon not being subtle about their faith in this one).
Who’s In It? Proper Cast List Here:
- Scarlett Johansson
- Miles Teller
- Adam Driver
If that’s not enough star power for your average Thursday night, I don’t know what is. Also, if you’re a James Gray fan, this is his first outing since 'Armageddon Time' back in 2022, so expectations are, understandably, a bit heightened. The chatter around this thing has been especially noisy precisely because of that.
Plot Details – 1986 Vibes and Russian Mob Schemes
The film’s set in 1986—big hair, questionable jumpers, the lot. You’ve got two brothers at the centre of it: Irwin (played by Teller, obviously) and Gary Pearl (that’d be Driver). Gary gets roped in with the Russian mob while attempting a get-rich-quick scheme to clean up New York’s Gowanus Canal—a plan that seems doomed from the start. Naturally, Irwin is a former policeman, and he might just be the only person who can drag his brother out of whatever hole he’s dug himself this time. Johansson plays Teller’s wife, whose own storyline is apparently not as straightforward as you might expect—though, details are being kept close to the chest on that front.
The Cannes Reception and Critical Response
Paper Tiger had its debut at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where it went down rather well—reportedly clocking a seven-minute standing ovation. Journalists on the ground have called it both 'highly anticipated' and one of the more crowd-pleasing films of the festival, with first reviews leaning mostly positive. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists it at 84% Fresh, if you’re into that sort of scoring system.
Critical reactions have ranged from Micropsia’s fairly lofty 'modern American classic' (that’s a bold shout) to Cine Premiere noting Gray has swung for an 'ambitious tragedy'. All the festival hype, paired with Neon's carefully curated pull quote—'a breathless thriller'—is exactly the sort of marketing you’d expect when a distributor wants to keep the buzz rolling until release. And fair enough—all signs point to the film making judicious use of its cast, with Johansson in particular getting singled out for her performance as Teller’s embattled wife.
Neon’s Other Major Get – Fjord
On top of all that, Neon recently nabbed the rights to 'Fjord', starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, landing in cinemas this October. That one just took home the Palme d'Or at Cannes, which, for context, is the festival’s top prize. Neon seem intent on cornering the market here; they’ve already distributed earlier Palme winners like 'Parasite', 'Anora', and 'Anatomy of a Fall'. Both 'Parasite' and 'Anora' ended up winning Best Picture at the Oscars as well, so clearly the company knows what it’s doing with these awards magnets.