Brendan Fraser’s cinematic journey, from cult hits like George of the Jungle and The Mummy to Oscar-winning drama in The Whale, has raised a generation of fans, making them laugh, cry, and inspire them. Now, at 57, he brings extraordinary compassion to a new role in Searchlight Pictures’ Rental Family, the real-world concept behind it being oddly captivating.

What struck a chord with Fraser during the production of the film was more than just a fascinating Japanese innovation; it was a deep and thoughtful exploration of connection.

Brendan Fraser's character in the film Rental Family deeply moved him beyond expectations. But what captured his attention the most was the Japanese concept of renting a family that challenged his understanding of family and belonging. The actor talked about loneliness, empathy, and connection as life's essentials through the lens of the rental family concept in a recent interview.

"The truth is, in Japan, you can rent most anything, but you can also rent a family. Because there is a real need for people to feel as if they're having a need met, fulfilled that's missing in their lives," Fraser told Discussing Films. 

According to Fraser, the Japanese custom of rental family brought to light a problem of a highly connected society where people are still very much isolated and yearning for acknowledgment and a place to belong. Thus, Fraser referred to that need as very real and a major force behind the rental family concept's moving power.

"Sometimes they need people to stand in, as you know, quasi-extras [...] It's not for everyone, but for the people who do ask, they are reaching out a hand saying, 'Can you help me?', more than 'Can I give you your money to give me something that will satisfy me?' I love that idea," Fraser added in the interview. 

What primarily touched the actor was the custom's simplicity. He felt that the idea was important and universal, as it told the story of how humans need to connect, even if it was just for the sake of pretending. The Japanese custom, agencies have operated since the 1980s, and hundreds of niche companies providing these stand-in roles, seemed to him as a natural reaction to emotional isolation in modern life, which is masterfully depicted in his dramedy, Rental Family.

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Wondering what to expect from Fraser's newest lighthearted drama that efficiently tucks in the heavy real-world concept?

In Rental Family, Brendan Fraser plays the role of Phillip Vandarploeg, an American actor in Tokyo who is struggling, but gets a job with a rental family agency, a business that provides stand-ins for lonely clients at weddings, funerals, and other occasions. 

Phillip's initial intention of taking the job is just to meet his expenses, but eventually, he starts to get close to the people he meets. Thus, the line between pretend roles and real kindness gets blurred. 

The film, directed and co-written by Hikari, made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 and was released in theatres on November 21, 2025, through Searchlight Pictures. Besides Fraser, the cast includes Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, and Akira Emoto.

Through his bittersweet Hollywood years, Brendan Fraser has never shied away from selecting roles that appeal to audiences' emotions. And now, through his encounters, Rental Family viewers will experience otherwise unseen nuances of belonging, empathy, and the essence of family. It will reportedly arrive on digital January 13, 2026, and on Blu-Ray this February 17. 

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What do you think about the custom of renting a family? Let us know in the comments.