Scarlett Johansson’s New Crime Thriller Hailed as “American Classic” Sets Release Date

Neon has consistently acquired or produced plenty of exciting and engaging titles, with this year being no different than the last. Following the massive critical success of films like Sentimental Value, It Was Just an Accident, and The Secret Agent (all of which received many nominations during awards season), Neon has hit the ground running in 2026 with a multitude of anticipated releases in the coming months. Just this summer, the distributor released Leviticus, a horror movie that they picked up from Sundance back in January. Now, Neon has set a release date for another highly anticipated release starring Scarlett Johansson.

It has been confirmed via a social media post from the production company that James Gray’s film Paper Tiger is set to debut in select theaters on Nov. 13, before having a nationwide rollout on Nov. 20. This release window is in line with the schedule that is given to most movies looking to get attention during awards season, further demonstrating Neon’s faith in Gray’s upcoming movie. Paper Tiger has already been receiving a lot of buzz, especially since it is the director’s first film since 2022’s Armageddon Time. The movie also has an impressive cast, starring Johansson, Miles Teller, and Adam Driver.

The movie is set in 1986 and follows two brothers, Irwin (Teller) and Gary Pearl (Driver), with the latter becoming involved with the Russian mob while trying to embark on a get-rich-quick scheme to clean up the Gowanus Canal. Unfortunately, his former cop brother, Gary, is the only one who can get him out of trouble. Paper Tiger had its premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, reportedly receiving a seven-minute standing ovation. It was one of the more highly anticipated movies that screened at the festival, and received mostly positive reviews after the premiere.

Paper Tiger currently holds an 84% “Fresh” rating on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. Micropsia‘s review called the movie a “modern American classic,” with Cine Premiere‘s review praising James Gray for attempting to make an ambitious “tragedy.” Neon is clearly riding the hype of the film’s premiere at the festival, using a pull quote that calls Paper Tiger “a breathless thriller.” Part crime film and part melodrama, the movie seems to have made the most of its stellar cast. Johansson’s role as Teller’s wife has also been highlighted, with her character being teased as having her own problems to contend with.

Aside from Paper Tiger, Neon has also acquired Fjord, starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, which is set for release in October. The movie took home the Palme d’Or, which is the highest prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Neon acquiring the title also continues the trend of the company getting the films that win the award, as they have also released previous winners Parasite, Anora, and Anatomy of a Fall, with the first two movies going on to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. It will be interesting to see the wider audience and critical response to Paper Tiger once it is released nationwide.