PAPER TIGER – James Gray's Crime Thriller Starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller
11 November 2026 | Film News
Acclaimed filmmaker James Gray returns to the crime thriller with PAPER TIGER, a gripping new drama starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller, arriving in UK and Irish cinemas on 1 January 2027.
Set against the dangerous backdrop of New York's emerging Russian mafia in 1986, PAPER TIGER explores family loyalty, betrayal and the devastating consequences of becoming entangled in a criminal underworld.
The story follows Irwin (Miles Teller), a naive engineer who accepts what appears to be a lucrative business opportunity from his brother Gary (Adam Driver), a former police officer.
However, when Irwin witnesses something he was never meant to see at the Gowanus Canal, the brothers find themselves drawn into an increasingly dangerous confrontation with the Russian mafia.
As the threat of violence escalates, Irwin desperately attempts to protect his family, while his wife Hester (Scarlett Johansson) recognises the growing danger and raises the alarm. Meanwhile, Gary faces an impossible choice as he struggles to protect those closest to him.
James Gray Returns to Familiar Territory
A five-time Cannes Film Festival Competition filmmaker, James Gray has established himself as one of contemporary cinema's most distinctive directors over a career spanning more than three decades.
His feature directorial debut, Little Odessa (1994), won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, establishing his reputation for emotionally complex storytelling.
With PAPER TIGER, Gray returns to the crime thriller, exploring the complicated relationships between family members against a backdrop of organised crime, mounting tension and moral uncertainty.
An Acclaimed Ensemble Cast
The film brings together three of Hollywood's most recognisable performers.
Adam Driver, whose credits include Marriage Story and Paterson, stars as Gary, the former police officer whose business proposition places his family in danger.
Miles Teller, known for his performances in Whiplash and Top Gun: Maverick, plays Irwin, an engineer whose hopes of financial security lead him into a world of violence and intimidation.
Scarlett Johansson, whose filmography includes Marriage Story and Lost in Translation, portrays Hester, Irwin's wife, who becomes increasingly concerned about the consequences of her husband's involvement.
From Cannes to UK Cinemas
PAPER TIGER received its world premiere in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival, where it attracted strong critical notices.
The film subsequently made its UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on 10 October 2026, ahead of its nationwide theatrical release.
Bringing together James Gray's distinctive filmmaking style and a formidable ensemble cast, PAPER TIGER promises a tense and emotionally charged story of family, loyalty and survival.
PAPER TIGER opens in UK and Irish cinemas on Friday 1 January 2027.