‘The Gallerist’ Gets First Trailer and Release Date Starring Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega

Cathy Yan’s dark comedy ‘The Gallerist’ first made waves at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The film premiered at the Eccles Theater on January 24, where Natalie Portman, Jenna Ortega and Charli xcx were among the stars promoting it.

In August, Roadside Attractions and Vertical acquired US distribution rights and set a theatrical release. The film was financed by MRC, with Portman also producing alongside Sophie Mas and Tom McCarthy.

Now audiences are getting their first look. As Film Updates shared, the first trailer for ‘The Gallerist’ has arrived, starring Portman, Ortega, Sterling K. Brown, Daniel Brühl, Charli xcx, Zach Galifianakis, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

The film is set to open in theaters on December 4. The trailer, released by Roadside Attractions and Vertical, introduces a high-society art world with a dark secret at its center.

Portman plays Polina Polinski, an uptight Miami gallerist and recent divorcée facing mounting financial trouble after a nasty separation. According to Collider, she conspires to pass off an accidental corpse as the centerpiece of her debut exhibition at Art Basel Miami.

The scheme draws attention from influencers and police alike. Wikipedia’s plot summary describes the centerpiece as a large hyperrealist sculpture called “The Emasculator,” which goes viral after influencer Dalton Hardberry sees it.

First trailer for Cathy Yan’s ‘THE GALLERIST’ starring Natalie Portman, Jenna Ortega, Sterling K. Brown, Daniel Brühl, Charli xcx, Zach Galifianakis, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Catherine Zeta-Jones. In theaters December 4. https://t.co/psaWtrveXZ

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) November 5, 2026

Ortega plays Kiki Gorman, Polina’s assistant, while Zeta-Jones plays Marianne Gorman, a legendary art dealer and Kiki’s aunt. Brown appears as Tom, a canned tuna tycoon and Polina’s ex-husband.

Galifianakis plays Dalton, the social media influencer, and Charli xcx plays his girlfriend, Alex. Randolph plays Stella Burgess, an up-and-coming artist, Brühl appears as a wannabe art collector, and Youssef Kerkour plays Doug.

Yan, the director of ‘Birds of Prey’, co-wrote the screenplay with James Pedersen. Principal photography began on December 18, 2024, and wrapped on February 6, 2025. The film runs 94 minutes, according to Collider. Production companies include MountainA, Concordia Studio, Slow Pony and MRC.

🚨First look at Charli xcx in Cathy Yan’s “The Gallerist”, starring Natalie Portman, Jenna Ortega, Sterling K. Brown, Zach Galifianakis, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. In theaters December 4th. https://t.co/CO8rjTs5Ka

— xcx source (@xcxsource) November 5, 2026

Critics were divided after the film’s festival debut. ‘The Gallerist’ holds a 55% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 40 reviews and a Metacritic score of 48, indicating mixed or average reviews.

Vanity Fair called it playful satire, and Variety found it intermittently clever. The Hollywood Reporter and The Guardian were less impressed, with The Guardian describing it as a major stumble.

Even with mixed reviews, the ensemble cast gives ‘The Gallerist’ plenty of star power. Its premise pokes fun at the art world, influencer culture, and the lengths people will go to for success. With a December release, the film arrives during a busy stretch at the box office. Its offbeat premise could help it stand out among more traditional holiday fare.

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