Following its spectacular world premiere at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, the highly anticipated “glitter, sex, and violence” opera from the director of ‘Drive’ and ‘The Neon Demon’ prepares for its North American theatrical rollout.
Independent film distributor NEON has officially announced the nationwide theatrical release of Her Private Hell, the stunning new feature film from visionary Danish auteur Nicolas Winding Refn. Marking Refn’s highly anticipated return to feature filmmaking after a ten-year hiatus, the neon-soaked psychological thriller will open exclusively in 800 to 1,200 theaters across North America on July 24, 2026.
Written by Refn alongside Esti Giordani, Her Private Hell stars burgeoning scream queen Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets, Companion) and breakout actor Charles Melton (May December) in lead roles. The stellar international ensemble cast also includes Havana Rose Liu, Kristine Froseth, Dougray Scott, Diego Calva, Shioli Kutsuna, Aoi Yamada, and Hidetoshi Nishijima.
Set against the backdrop of a hyper-stylized, futuristic metropolis, Her Private Hell weaves a complex tapestry of overlapping storylines. The central narrative follows a troubled young woman (Thatcher) on a desperate search for her father just as a mysterious, toxic mist engulfs the city, unleashing an elusive and deadly presence. Her quest collides head-on with an American GI (Melton) on his own harrowing odyssey to rescue his daughter from a literal and metaphorical underworld. Meanwhile, a group of actresses gathers at a posh hotel to shoot a Barbarella-esque sci-fi movie, completely unaware that a heinous killer known as “Leather Man” is stalking the city streets.
Her Private Hell recently celebrated its world premiere Out of Competition at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, where it ignited the Croisette and received a thunderous 12-minute standing ovation from the audience. Masterfully blending elements of neo-noir, operatic melodrama, and classic slasher horror, the film features an enchanting original score by legendary Italian composer Pino Donaggio (Carrie, Body Double) in his first-ever collaboration with Refn.
Refn, who previously won Best Director at Cannes for his 2011 masterpiece Drive, describes his latest creation as a deliberate return to sensory-overload cinema fueled by “film glitter, sex, and violence.” Rated R for its intense visuals and bold themes, Her Private Hell is produced by Refn’s byNWR banner and fully financed by NEON.
Audiences are invited to experience the unique consciousness of Her Private Hell exclusively on the big screen beginning Friday, July 24, 2026. For theater locations, showtimes, and ticket information, visit the official NEON Website.
About NEON:
NEON is an award-winning independent film production and distribution company behind ground-breaking theatrical releases. Renowned for championing singular, creator-driven cinema, NEON’s diverse slate continues to push visual and narrative boundaries on a global scale.
