Overview
- The film opened in U.S. theaters on Friday, May 22, 2026, and is a 94-minute, R-rated horror intended for theatrical release.
- Passenger follows a young couple living van life who are hunted on highways by a malevolent figure and stars Jacob Scipio and Lou Llobell with Melissa Leo in a supporting role.
- Reviewers and the film’s press interviews praised director André Øvredal’s control of mood, on-location shooting, cinematography, sound design, and the leads’ on-screen chemistry.
- Major criticism focused on a thin screenplay, clunky or perfunctory character development, heavy reliance on jump scares, and an underexplained monster mythology tied to roadside folklore.
- Paramount moved the release forward to favor a theatrical launch, and early coverage suggests the film will resonate most with committed horror fans rather than broad mainstream audiences while fitting into Øvredal’s genre-focused body of work.