The Gallerist (2026): Trailer, Cast, Story & Release Date
The first trailer for The Gallerist is out, and Natalie Portman’s dark comedy about the art world looks deliciously twisted. Directed by Cathy Yan, the film stars Portman as a struggling Miami gallerist who turns a dead body into her career-defining artwork, with Jenna Ortega as her assistant. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026 and arrives in theatres in the United States on 4 December 2026.
Movie Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie | The Gallerist |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Dark comedy thriller |
| Director | Cathy Yan |
| Writers | Cathy Yan, James Pedersen |
| Lead Cast | Natalie Portman, Jenna Ortega, Zach Galifianakis, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Sterling K. Brown, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Daniel Brühl, Charli XCX |
| Trailer | First trailer released 5 November 2026 |
| Theatrical Release | 4 December 2026 (United States) |
| Runtime | 94 minutes |
| Premiere | Sundance Film Festival, 24 January 2026 |
Details in this post are based on reports from The Playlist, BroadwayWorld and Wikipedia, published around the first trailer release on 5 November 2026. If the release date changes, this post will be updated.
The Story of The Gallerist
Polina Polinski, played by Natalie Portman, is an ambitious Miami gallery owner facing mounting financial hardship after a messy divorce. She is betting everything on her debut show at Art Basel Miami, the biggest stage in the art world.
She invites obnoxious art influencer Dalton Hardberry, played by Zach Galifianakis, to preview the work of emerging artist Stella Burgess, played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Dalton savages the work — and then dies in a freak accident, impaled on Stella’s giant sculpture, The Emasculator.
Rather than call the police, Polina and her assistant Kiki, played by Jenna Ortega, decide to pass the corpse off as a provocative work of contemporary art. The body goes viral, legendary dealer Marianne Gorman, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, smells a fortune, and what began as an act of desperation spirals into a sly game of deception, spectacle and ticking-clock chaos.
The Gallerist Cast and Crew
- Natalie Portman as Polina Polinski
- Jenna Ortega as Kiki Gorman
- Zach Galifianakis as Dalton Hardberry
- Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Stella Burgess
- Catherine Zeta-Jones as Marianne Gorman
- Sterling K. Brown as Tom, Polina’s ex-husband
- Daniel Brühl as Cristos, an art collector
- Charli XCX as Alex, Dalton’s girlfriend
- Directed by Cathy Yan
- Written by Cathy Yan and James Pedersen
Where to Watch The Gallerist
The Gallerist opens in theatres in the United States on 4 December 2026, released by Roadside Attractions and Vertical. An India release date and streaming plans have not been announced yet.
Dark comedies and Hollywood thrillers are a regular feature here — the site’s earlier posts on the Hollywood thriller Frequency of Fear and the animated sequel The Angry Birds Movie 3 cover two more Hollywood titles to watch.
The Gallerist FAQs
When is The Gallerist releasing?
It opens in theatres in the United States on 4 December 2026.
What is The Gallerist about?
A struggling Miami gallerist passes off a dead art influencer’s body as a work of contemporary art, and the stunt goes viral at Art Basel Miami.
Who stars in The Gallerist?
Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega lead the cast, with Zach Galifianakis, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Sterling K. Brown, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Daniel Brühl and Charli XCX.
Who directed The Gallerist?
Cathy Yan, who also co-wrote the screenplay with James Pedersen.
Where can I watch The Gallerist?
In US theatres from 4 December 2026. An India release date and streaming plans have not been announced yet.
