At a Glance
- Brendan Fraser’s Rental Family arrives on January 13 for digital purchase/rental
- Blu-ray and DVD release follows on February 17
- Home editions pack nine deleted scenes plus a making-of featurette
- Why it matters: Fans can now own the award-winner’s heartfelt Tokyo-set dramedy months before awards season voting closes
Brendan Fraser continues his career renaissance as a lonely American actor-for-hire in Japan, and News Of Los Angeles can exclusively reveal when audiences can bring the film home.
Release Details & Formats
Searchlight Pictures will drop Rental Family on digital platforms Tuesday, January 13, with physical media landing February 17. The release window targets holiday gift-card season and winter movie nights.
- Digital: 4K, HD and SD across major retailers
- Blu-ray & DVD: Steelbook and standard packaging
- Languages: English and Japanese with subtitles
Bonus Features
Physical copies include an inside look at the shoot:
| Extra | Details |
|---|---|
| “Rental Family Revealed” | 18-min featurette with Fraser, writer-director Hikari and Japanese cast |
| Deleted Scenes | Nine extended or cut sequences |
| Audio | Optional English descriptive track |
What the Film Is About
Fraser plays Philip, a struggling actor in Tokyo who joins an agency that rents out fake relatives. As he slips into roles of surrogate husband, father or son, the line between performance and real emotion dissolves, forcing him to confront his own loneliness.
Fraser told News Of Los Angeles the story explores “our universal need to belong somewhere in the world, even at our lowest.”
Production Notes
- World-premiered at Toronto International Film Festival in September
- Fraser learned Japanese phonetically with on-set coaching
- Shot on location in Tokyo neighborhoods Shibuya and Koenji
Director Hikari noted the actor “wandered the streets with a pocket translator, talking to locals” to absorb authenticity.
Key Takeaways
- Digital release is January 13, disc release February 17
- Bonus content offers nearly 30 minutes of extra material
- Fraser’s language prep relied on mimicry rather than fluency
- The film continues his post-Whale momentum into awards season
Mark your calendars: this could be the feel-good indie hit you stream while snowed in next month.
