Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller star in James Gray’s Paper Tiger, coming to the UK in the new year. Watch the trailer here.
NEON and Picturehouse Entertainment are delighted to announce the release date of James Gray’s highly anticipated film PAPER TIGER.
Acclaimed filmmaker James Gray is a five-time Cannes Competition filmmaker. His celebrated body of work has earned international acclaim across three decades. Gray’s feature directorial debut, Little Odessa, won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival. This established Gray as one of contemporary cinema’s most distinctive voices. With PAPER TIGER, Gray returns to the crime thriller. He offers a deeply felt, intense story set in the world of the Russian mafia.
THE PREMISE
In James Gray’s deeply felt and intense crime thriller, set in 1986 New York, a naïve engineer, Irwin (Miles Teller), accepts a seemingly lucrative business proposition from his brother, Gary (Adam Driver), a former cop. But when Irwin witnesses something he wasn’t meant to see at the Gowanus Canal, the brothers find themselves pulled into a dangerous confrontation with the newly emerging Russian mafia. As the threat of violence escalates, Irwin’s wife Hester (Scarlett Johansson) sounds the alarm. Meanwhile, Irwin desperately tries to protect his family. Gary faces an impossible choice to save those he loves.
CAST AND PREMIERES
PAPER TIGER features an outstanding ensemble cast led by Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated actors Adam Driver (Marriage Story, Paterson) and Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story, Lost in Translation), alongside acclaimed actor Miles Teller (Whiplash, Top Gun: Maverick). The film had its world premiere in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival, where it earned strong reviews. It then received its UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on 10 October, ahead of its release in UK and Irish cinemas from 1 January 2027.
We saw the film at the BFI London Film Festival and had this to say about it:
“Paper Tiger is a well-plotted, well-acted, gripping 1980s-set crime drama that is enjoyable without breaking new ground.
The cast are terrific, the plot is tight, and it’s directed brilliantly, but it’s nothing we haven’t seen before.”-Carl Roberts
“James Gray’s PAPER TIGER plays like a 70s crime drama that does little to break the mold.
Although Adam Driver is superb as the former cop in over his head, Miles Teller and Scarlett Johansson languish on the fringes. It’s a decent thriller but far from groundbreaking.”-Phil Roberts
Paper Tiger will be in UK and Irish cinemas on January 1st, 2027.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
