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Pillion

Play trailer 1:39 Poster for Pillion In Theaters Feb 6, 2026 1h 46m Romance Comedy LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 60 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Verified Ratings
A timid man is swept off his feet when an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker takes him on as his submissive.
Coming Soon In Theaters Feb 6, 2026 Notify Me
Pillion

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A remarkable directorial debut by Harry Lighton, Pillion is an unconventional romance that soars thanks to its nonjudgmental perspective and knockout performances.

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Critics Reviews

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Mark Kermode Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube) 2d
One of its strengths is that it does make you feel uncomfortable. Go to Full Review
Jonathan Romney Financial Times 2d
4/5
Streaked through as it is with melancholy, Pillion is ultimately upbeat — a feelgood film about the joys of being treated badly. Go to Full Review
Beth Webb Empire Magazine 3d
5/5
An unconventional love story that finds pathos amid the PVC, this triumphant directorial debut bares so much more than flesh. Bruising and brilliant. Go to Full Review
Sarah Manvel Movies We Texted About 12h
The greatest glory of Pillion is that its sexual boldness is in service to an important point about self-determination and personal desire. We can watch this for the action, the message, or both. Go to Full Review
Gustavo Herrera Taboada Cinencuentro 2d
With the exception of its rushed and predictable ending, Harry Lighton's film is a largely satisfying experiment that demonstrates it's still possible to innovate and subvert the conventions of the most conservative film genres...[Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Chris Wasser Sunday Independent (Ireland) 2d
4/5
Adapted from a novel, Box Hill, by Adam Mars-Jones, Pillion asks us to invest in a union that isn’t always sunshine and roses for one of its participants. But there is a tenderness here, and Lighton’s film is amusing and intense; provocative and profound. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Phil V 1d Original, funny, moving, heartwarming and sexy…a surprising joy and my film of the year. Harry Melling deserves an award for his totally believable acting and I can’t wait to see what Harry Lighton (writer/director) makes in the future. See more Nadine P 2d Absolutely stunning film. The variety of emotions it conjures up for the audience is breathtaking. And the acting is brilliant. This has been my favourite film of the year. See more Karen P 3d Unforgettable film in so many ways. Yes, it’s explicit but that isn’t the lasting footprint of this film. I left the cinema having been enlightened, embarrassed, happy and so very sad. Most reviews are talking about Harry Mellings’ Colin and his transformation but it’s the inability of Alexander Skarsgaards’ Ray to change that is the true heartbreak. It’s a masterclass in the subtlety of truly great acting where so few words are needs to elicit such emotion from an audience. There won’t be Oscar nominations as it’s a small, independent film with a small budget, but there really, really should be. See more Rachael D 3d Absolutely blow away by this. Watching this film felt like falling in love for the first time, having the best sex of my life, experiencing total heartbreak, and ending on a silver lining. The best adult film I've seen since Joaquin Phoenix played Joker. See more Rob W 4d Crept in as my film of the year. Richard Curtis does Jean Genet; not necessarily for the faint hearted. See more Anthony N 6d A must see - fantastic depiction of the complexities of a dom sub relationship, of finding yourself and exploring the barriers some people put up to emotionally wall themselves. Stellar cast performances and excellent cinematography - Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling are phenomenal. See more Read all reviews

Movie Info

Synopsis A timid man is swept off his feet when an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker takes him on as his submissive.
Director
Harry Lighton
Producer
Lee Groombridge, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Emma Norton
Screenwriter
Harry Lighton, Adam Mars-Jones
Distributor
A24
Production Co
Element Pictures, British Film Institute (BFI), BBC Film
Genre
Romance, Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 6, 2026, Limited
Runtime
1h 46m