After premiering at Cannes last May and opening in Japanese theaters last August, the live-action film adaptation of KOTAKE CREATE’s Exit 8 game has a date with North America. Neon announced plans to distribute the film in theaters nationwide starting on April 10, 2026. Exit 8 played a number of festivals around the world since Cannes, and opened in Japan on August 29, 2025, landing in second place in the weekend box office behind Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle . Kawamura’s previous directorial effort was 2022’s A Hundred Flowers . Prior to that, he produced anime hits like Your Name. , Weathering with You and Belle . The film’s North American premiere took place at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025. Here’s the official description: Arashi superstar Kazunari “Nino” Ninomiya plays the Lost Man, a backpacked commuter trapped in an endless, sterile subway corridor. To escape at Exit 8 — where his ex awaits his thoughts about her pregnancy — he must obey one rule: if anything looks off, turn back. Miss a single anomaly and he’s snapped to the start, condemned to loop again. The premise becomes a taut metaphor for guilt, responsibility, and the paralysis of indecision. The original game from indie developer KOTAKE CREATE, titled The Exit 8 , first hit Steam in November 2023, with ports following on PlayStation platforms, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, Xbox Series and mobile and VR devices. Source: Deadline
