Ready for a wild and eerie adventure full of high-stakes, art, and a corpse? So are we.
Natalie Portman is known for her versatility in roles such as “Black Swan” 2010 and “Thor” 2011, so it’s always exciting for fans to see what she brings to the table in an original film. Well, it’s time for audiences to tune in, because what is more original than an absurdist thriller-comedy? Earlier this year, “The Gallerist,” starring Natalie Portman and Jenny Ortega (“Wednesday” 2022-present, “Scream” 2022, “Scream VI” 2023), premiered at Sundance and was soon after acquired by Roadside Attractions and Vertical to be distributed in the US.
“The Gallerist” was such a hit at Sundance that the distributors are positive the film will be even more beloved by audiences than it was with them. Roadside Attractions Co-Presidents Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff and Vertical CEO Partner Peter Jarowey commented that “Cathy Yan’s [director] wildly original film was a winner for us at Sundance; she assembled a phenomenal ensemble cast led Natalie Portman’s standout performance as a woman at the intersection of art and crime, revealing a dazzling comic edge along the way. It’s as fun as it is terrifying.”
What We Know About ‘The Gallerist’
GettyThe thriller-comedy, “The Gallerist,” follows a gallery owner, Polina (Portman), in the throes of Art Basel Miami. In the intense world of art, Polina is desperate to prove herself, and her financial struggles, plus a cruel separation, only make matters worse. What starts as a search for the perfect piece for her debut show quickly spirals into destruction, crime, and deception as she attempts to pass off a corpse as her centerpiece. The film blends the effects of ambition and passion with the havoc of spectacle and reputation. If audiences can expect anything in “The Gallerist,” they can expect a hilariously terrifying world where the protagonist and antagonist might just be the same person.
Other than the iconic and powerful team-up of Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega, we also know that the cast includes Zach Galifianakis (“The Hangover” 2009), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers” 2023), Sterling K. Brown (“Paradise” 2025-present), Daniel Brühl (“Rush” 2013), Grammy winner, singer, and songwriter Charli XCX, and Ortega’s “Wednesday” co-star Catherine Zeta Jones (“The Mask of Zorro” 1998, “Chicago” 2002).
“The Gallerist” was written by James Pedersen (“Hight Heat” 2022), directed by Cathy Yan (“Dead Pigs” 2018), and produced by Natalie Portman, Ash Sarohia (“Killing Gunther” 2017), Sophie Mas (“Arco” 2025), Jonathan King (“Spotlight” 2015), Tom McCarthy (“Stillwater” 2021), Rae Baron (“Alaska Daily” 2022), and Zola Elgart Glassman (“Panama” 2022).
The running time is one hour and thirty-four minutes.
‘The Gallerist’ Set to Release in December
GettyLuckily for art, comedy, thriller, and Natalie Portman fans, audiences only have to wait until the end of this year to see “The Gallerist.” The film initially released on January 24, 2026, at Sundance, but thanks to the new deal, it will release in theaters around the US on December 4, 2026. So grab your favorite snack and your ride-or-die best friend, because you’re going to need them both for this film.
