Neon Acquires North American Rights to Japanese Thriller Exit 8 for 2026 Release

Neon has acquired the North American rights to the Japanese thriller Exit 8, a live-action adaptation of the 2023 indie video game by Kotake Create. Directed and co-written by Genki Kawamura, the film stars Kazunari Ninomiya, Nana Komatsu, and others, and follows a man trapped in an endless sterile subway passageway who must find Exit 8 without overlooking any anomalies, as a single mistake sends him back to the beginning. Exit 8 premiered in the midnight section at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received an eight-minute standing ovation, and will have its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in the Centerpiece section. Neon plans an early 2026 theatrical release and negotiated the deal with CAA Media Finance, Goodfellas, TOHO, and Story. The acquisition is part of a strong Cannes slate for Neon, which also includes Palme d’Or winner It Was Just an Accident and other acclaimed films. Kawamura, who won Best Director at San Sebastian for his debut feature, adds to his growing reputation with this psychologically intense thriller.