Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan star as the parents of a child who witnesses a violent crime in "Josephine," a drama that opens in select theaters Nov. 20 before expanding nationwide Dec. 4. It is not a family film. The movie is rated R, and the Motion Picture Association cites rape, graphic nudity, some language and sexual content.
Directed by Beth de Araújo and based on her personal life experiences, the film follows eight-year-old Josephine (Mason Reeves) after she witnesses a crime in Golden Gate Park. As she begins acting out, her parents struggle to help her cope while facing their own fears about how to talk with her about it. Tatum and Chan also served as producers.
"Josephine" won both the U.S. Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, and Sumerian Pictures acquired the U.S. rights in February. The cast also includes Philip Ettinger, Syra McCarthy and Eleanore Pienta. The runtime is 1 hour and 39 minutes.
Critics have mostly praised the performances. Mashable's review calls it one of the most important films of the year, though some reviewers found it bleak and hard to sit through.
For faith audiences, the story touches questions many Christian parents and pastors know well: how to protect a child from evil without hiding the truth, and what a family owes to justice.
In the trailer, the father presses his daughter to swear she is telling the truth, a small moment that shows how heavy those questions become.
Content advisory: the film deals with sexual violence and is intended for adult audiences.
