Neon Posts English-Subtitled Trailer for Exit 8 Live-Action Film
Exit 8 Film Adaptation Coming to North America
NEON, the distribution company known for its work with Oscar-winning films like Parasite and Anora, will be releasing a film adaptation of KOTAKE CREATE's infinite-loop horror game, Exit 8, in North America. The company has released an English-subtitled trailer to promote the upcoming release. The film is scheduled to premiere in North American theaters on April 10.
Japanese Box Office Success
The Exit 8 film adaptation has already seen success in Japan. It was released in August 2025 and immediately ranked second in the box office during its opening weekend. Within its first three days, the film sold 672,000 tickets and grossed 960,867,600 yen, which is equivalent to approximately 6.46 million US dollars. At the time, it boasted the highest-earning opening three days for a live-action film released in Japan in 2025. By October 19, the film had accumulated a total of 4,899,067,900 yen, or about 32.10 million US dollars.
International Recognition
The film garnered attention on the international stage with its world premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025. Following the screening, the film received an eight-minute standing ovation, a testament to its impact on the audience. The film's poster was also recognized, winning the Prix Luciole poster competition at Cannes.
Cast and Crew
The film stars Kazunari Ninomiya, known for his roles in live-action films such as Letters from Iwo Jima, Ōoku, Gantz, and Assassination Classroom. This film marks his first collaboration with writer-director Genki Kawamura, who has served as a producer on popular animated films such as your name., Fireworks, Should We See it from the Side or the Bottom?, and Suzume.
Game Premise
The film is based on the indie horror game Exit 8, created by KOTAKE CREATE, a one-person game developer. In the game, the player is trapped in an underground passageway at a subway station, stuck in an endless loop. The objective is to escape to "Exit 8" by carefully observing the environment and identifying any anomalies that may foreshadow danger. The player must remain vigilant and detect subtle changes to find the correct path to freedom.
Game Availability
The Exit 8 game was first released on PC via Steam in November 2023. Since then, it has become available on a variety of platforms, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. A virtual reality version of the game was released on the Meta Quest Store in July 2025, followed by a PC release via Steam in September 2025. The game has also been released on iOS and Android devices in March 2025, making it accessible to a wide range of players. The game's popularity is evident in the fact that videos related to the game have amassed over 100 million views on YouTube.
