Paper Tiger First Reactions: Scarlett Johansson – Adam Driver Starrer Sparks Oscar Buzz After Acclaimed Screening at Cannes Film Festival 2026

Cannes Film Festival 2026: Heading in to Cannes, James Gray’s Paper Tiger was being considered as one of the picks for 2026’s Palme d’Or. Now, the Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver has emerged as a major Oscars contender after receiving rave reviews and a standing ovation at this year’s edition of the Cannes Film Festival. 

Paper Tiger First Reactions: Critical Reception 

According to multiple reports, Paper Tiger received a rapturous 10 minute standing ovation at the Palais des Festivals of Cannes Film Festival 2026. Following the premiere, multiple critics, who were spellbound by the film shared glowing reviews of the film. 

Stephanie Zacharek of TIME magazine described it as ‘an old school thriller in the best way’ and  “quietly operatic in its intensity”. The Hollywood Reporter said that was director James Gray’s best film. And David Ehrlich of Indie Wire praised the crime tragedy for being ‘both sweepingly mythic and hauntingly personal all at once’.   

Paper Tiger: Premise 

Based in Queens circa 1980s, Paper Tiger revolves around a pair of Jewish American brothers, Gary Pearl (Adam Driver) and Irwin Pearl (Miles Teller) who are ambitious and desperate. But after getting entangled with the Russian mafia in a deadly scheme, their lives turn completely upside down.  

Paper Tiger Full Cast: Who’s Starring

The main cast for Paper Tiger includes Adam Driver, Miles Teller and Scarlett Johansson. Elena Solovey, Dimiter D Marinov and Jeff Adler make up the supporting cast. The film marks the on screen reunion of Driver and Johansson, who previously shared screen space in 2019’s ‘Marriage Story’.

Paper Tiger Release Details

American distributor and film production house NEON acquired the film’s distribution rights for North America. Other release details haven’t been officially shared yet.  

Awards Potential: Why the Film Sparked Oscar Buzz 

Currently, Paper Tiger is in contention for Palme d’Or, often considered to be the biggest prize at Cannes. Now, the film has entered the conversation for Oscar buzz. The crime thriller was singled by critics for its compelling acting performances,  tight screenplay and masterful production. 

Another big advantage for the film is that NEON has successfully steered films like Anora (2024) and Parasite (2019) to Oscar glory in recent years.

James Grey’s History at Cannes 

Director James Gray is no stranger to Cannes. In fact, Paper Tiger is his sixth film to premiere at Cannes. But despite being a regular at the French film festival, he has not won any of the big awards at Cannes. Whether Paper Tiger breaks the streak remains to be seen, but it does have some strong chances.  

Disclaimer: This article is based on official announcements and details in the public domain. Release date, cast, and storyline are subject to change by the makers