Jesse Eisenberg’s latest film, “A Real Pain,” has become one of the most talked-about movies at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The film, which Eisenberg directed and stars in alongside Kieran Culkin, has been acquired by Searchlight in a massive $10 million deal. The warm reception it received in Park City led to an intense bidding war among several distributors, with Searchlight ultimately securing the global rights.
In “A Real Pain,” Eisenberg and Culkin portray cousins who embark on a journey through Poland to honor their grandmother. However, their trip quickly turns into a fierce family rivalry. The film also features an impressive ensemble cast, including Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, and Daniel Oreskes.
This isn’t the only film Eisenberg is headlining at Sundance this year. He is also starring in Bleecker Street’s comedic offering, “Sasquatch Sunset.” However, it is “A Real Pain” that holds special significance for the actor. Eisenberg revealed during the premiere that the story is deeply personal to him. The cousins in the film join a Holocaust tour and visit a nondescript house, which turns out to be his family’s house from which they were taken in 1939.
Searchlight Pictures has big plans for “A Real Pain” and intends to release it theatrically later this year. The studio’s presidents, Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, expressed their admiration for Eisenberg’s vision and storytelling abilities. They believe that he has created a film that is both hilarious and profound, with a deeply personal story that resonates universally.
Eisenberg himself expressed his excitement about working with Searchlight and bringing this story to a wider audience. He described the experience of making “A Real Pain” as a labor of love and felt honored to have premiered it at Sundance.
The film was produced by a team that includes Dave McCary, Ali Herting, Emma Stone for Fruit Tree, Jennifer Semler, and Ewa Puszczynska. They all praised Eisenberg’s creative voice and were thrilled to collaborate with him on a project that explores ambitious themes. Having Kieran Culkin as part of the cast was an added bonus, and they were grateful for the opportunity to work with Searchlight.
The executive producers of “A Real Pain” are Ryan Heller, Jennifer Westin, Michael Bloom of Topic Studios, and Kevin Kelly. They expressed their pride in the film and their excitement to partner with Searchlight once again for its release.
The deal for “A Real Pain” was brokered by CAA Media Finance and WME Independent, with Searchlight executives Paul Hoffman and Chan Phung. The news of the sale was first reported by Deadline.
With its powerful storyline, talented cast, and the stamp of approval from Sundance, “A Real Pain” is poised to captivate audiences around the world when it hits theaters later this year. Jesse Eisenberg’s directorial debut promises to be a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant experience that will leave a lasting impact on viewers.
