Lead: At the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 6, 2025, two high-profile performances — Channing Tatum in Roofman and Brendan Fraser in Rental Family — emerged as crowd-pleasing contenders that strengthen an already crowded best-actor conversation and position both films as possible audience-award favorites.
Key Takeaways
- Channing Tatum stars in Roofman, a Paramount release that opens wide on Oct. 10, 2025.
- Brendan Fraser headlines Rental Family, directed by Hikari, with Searchlight scheduling a Nov. 21 release.
- Both roles cast their leads as well-meaning professional liars and resonated strongly with festival audiences.
- Critics singled out Tatum for a career-best performance and Fraser for a warmly humane turn, boosting awards-season buzz.
- Rental Family is Hikari’s second feature (following 37 Seconds) and was co-written with Stephen Blahut.
- Takehiro Hira, Akira Emoto and newcomer Shannon Gorman are notable cast members of Rental Family.
- Industry talk places both films among likely contenders for Toronto’s Audience Award and potential Oscar attention.
Verified Facts
Roofman played at TIFF and is set for a wide theatrical release on Oct. 10, 2025, from Paramount Pictures. The film marks a tonal shift for its director, who has previously made dramas about love and crime; critics at the festival have pointed to Channing Tatum’s performance as one of the film’s central strengths.
Rental Family screened at the Royal Alexandra Theatre on Sept. 6, 2025. The film is the sophomore feature from director Hikari, who co-wrote the script with Stephen Blahut. Brendan Fraser portrays an American actor working for a Japanese rental-relationship service; other credited performers include Takehiro Hira and veteran actor Akira Emoto, with Shannon Gorman making her acting debut.
Industry release plans reported at the festival list Searchlight Pictures as the distributor for Rental Family, with a U.S. release scheduled for Nov. 21, 2025. Fraser, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for The Whale, is now being discussed again as an awards-season candidate.
Festival response to both films combined audience warmth and positive critical notices, a mix that often elevates titles during the fall awards cycle. Paramount has positioned Roofman among its key awards-season titles for the studio.
Context & Impact
Toronto has long functioned as a proving ground where crowd-pleasing films can translate festival momentum into awards traction. When performances connect emotionally with both critics and general audiences, distributors gain leverage for awards campaigns and seasonal positioning.
Tatum’s role in Roofman—described by reviewers as a departure into more comedic territory for the filmmaker—could be the most visible showcase of his career in years. That kind of showcase role can be decisive for voters who weigh range and craft late in the season.
For Fraser, Rental Family reinforces the narrative of a sustained comeback. His portrayal of a compassionate, slightly adrift actor working in an unfamiliar culture taps into the sympathetic, audience-friendly qualities that can resonate in both festival and awards voting contexts.
Beyond individual nominations, both films may benefit from Toronto’s audience metrics: strong viewer response can trigger additional screenings, targeted publicity, and expanded release windows that amplify awards visibility.
Potential Ripple Effects
- Increased awards-committee attention for lead-actor categories
- Boosted ticketing and publicity for October–November releases
- Expanded international interest in rental-family concept films
Official Statements
“Roofman will receive a wide theatrical release on Oct. 10; Rental Family is slated for a Nov. 21 release.”
Paramount Pictures / Searchlight Pictures
Unconfirmed
- Precise awards-season outcomes for either lead actor remain predictions based on early festival reception.
- Claims that both films have exceptionally high “Q scores” or are the single best-testing titles of the year are based on trade reporting and have not been independently verified.
Bottom Line
Toronto’s early buzz gives both Roofman and Rental Family meaningful momentum heading into fall release windows. Strong festival reactions have elevated Channing Tatum and Brendan Fraser as names to watch in the best-actor conversation, but final awards trajectories will depend on wider audience reception, critics’ consensus, and the studios’ campaign strategies.