Paper Tiger is a crime drama thriller directed and written by James Gray. The 2026 movie stars Adam Driver, Miles Teller, and Scarlett Johansson and is set in 1986 Queens, New York, where two brothers become involved with the Russian mafia. The film explores family, loyalty, greed, crime, and the American Dream.
The story follows two brothers whose business opportunity turns into a dangerous situation. What first looks like a way to improve their lives becomes a nightmare when they become caught in the Russian mafia’s world. Their family is placed under pressure, and their relationship is tested as fear, betrayal, and criminal threats grow. The Cannes Film Festival describes the film as an intense drama about two brothers caught in a dangerous scheme.
Paper Tiger premiered in competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and has a reported U.S. theatrical release date of November 13, 2026, through NEON. The film has a runtime of 115 minutes.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Paper Tiger |
| Genre | Crime, Drama, Thriller |
| Director/Writer | James Gray |
| Starring | Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Miles Teller, Gavin Goudey, Roman Engel, Cindy Katz |
| Runtime | 115 minutes |
| Age Rating | R |
| Release Date | November 13, 2026 (U.S.) |
| Distributor | NEON |
Paper Tiger Age Rating
Paper Tiger is rated R for pervasive language and sequences of violence, according to the rating information provided for the film.
The R rating fits the movie’s dark crime story. Paper Tiger deals with organized crime, Russian mafia activity, threats, intimidation, violence, and serious family conflict. Strong and frequent profanity is also a major part of the mature content. The film’s tension comes not only from physical danger but also from the fear and pressure placed on the characters and their families.
An R rating means the movie is intended for mature audiences. Children under 17 generally need to be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian to see an R-rated movie in theaters. Parents should expect adult language, violence, and mature themes.
Is Paper Tiger Suitable for Kids?
Paper Tiger is not suitable for young children. The movie has strong language, criminal violence, threats, and mature themes involving organized crime and family danger. These elements make it much more appropriate for adults than children.
For younger teens, the movie is not recommended because of the frequent profanity and serious violence. Older teens ages 16–17 may be able to handle the story if they are already comfortable with dark crime dramas, but parents should still use caution. The movie is mainly aimed at mature audiences.
Age-by-Suitability Table
| Age Group | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Ages 3-7 | No, not suitable for young children. |
| Ages 8-12 | No, not recommended for this age group. |
| Teens (13-15) | Not recommended because of strong language, violence, and mature themes. |
| Teens (16-17) | Viewer discretion advised; mature older teens may handle it with caution. |
| Adults | Yes, suitable for mature audiences. |
Paper Tiger Parents Guide
Paper Tiger is a dark crime thriller with strong adult themes. The story involves Russian organized crime, family conflict, intimidation, financial pressure, and moral choices. The movie can become tense and frightening because the characters and their families face serious threats.
- Sex & Nudity: There are no reported explicit sex scenes or graphic nudity in the available content information. The story is focused more on crime, family relationships, and violence.
- Violence & Gore: Paper Tiger contains moderate to strong violence. The movie includes criminal intimidation, physical assaults, threats involving weapons, and dangerous confrontations. Some scenes may be disturbing because family members are placed in danger. The available information does not suggest that extreme gore is the main focus.
- Profanity: Strong and frequent language is one of the main reasons for the R rating. Parents should expect repeated use of strong expletives during tense conversations and criminal situations.
- Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking: Characters drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes, fitting the movie’s 1980s setting. Substance use is not described as the main focus of the story.
- Frightening & Intense Scenes: Paper Tiger can be tense and emotionally heavy. Characters face threats from organized crime, and the danger to their families creates ongoing fear and suspense. The psychological pressure and paranoia may be more unsettling for some viewers than the physical violence.
Tips for Parents
Parents should be aware that Paper Tiger is made for mature audiences. If an older teen wants to watch it, parents may want to preview the trailer first and consider whether the teen is comfortable with strong language, crime-related violence, and serious family danger.
The movie also deals with greed, corruption, loyalty, betrayal, and moral compromise, which can give parents useful topics to discuss with older teens after watching.
Paper Tiger Official Trailer
You can watch the official Paper Tiger trailer here:-
Paper Tiger is scheduled for a U.S. theatrical release on November 13, 2026, distributed by NEON. NEON currently lists the movie among its upcoming theatrical releases.
A specific streaming release date has not been announced in the information currently available, so parents should not expect a confirmed streaming date yet.
FAQs
Q: What is the age rating for Paper Tiger?
Paper Tiger is rated R for pervasive language and sequences of violence. The rating makes it unsuitable for young children and younger teens.
Q: Is Paper Tiger appropriate for kids?
No, Paper Tiger is not appropriate for kids because it contains strong language, crime-related violence, threats, and mature themes.
Q: Is Paper Tiger suitable for teenagers?
Paper Tiger is not recommended for younger teenagers. Mature older teens may be able to watch it with caution, but parents should consider the movie’s strong language, violence, and dark crime story.
Q: Does Paper Tiger contain violence or gore?
Yes, Paper Tiger contains violence, including criminal threats, assaults, dangerous confrontations, and weapon-related situations. The available information suggests that the movie’s violence is more about crime and tension than extreme graphic gore.
Q: Does Paper Tiger contain sexual content or nudity?
The available parents-guide information does not report explicit sex scenes or graphic nudity in Paper Tiger. The movie focuses mainly on organized crime, family conflict, violence, and psychological tension.
Q: Where can I watch Paper Tiger?
Paper Tiger is scheduled to open in U.S. theaters on November 13, 2026, through NEON. A confirmed streaming release has not been announced yet.