A road trip turns into a nightmare in Passenger (2026), André Øvredal’s supernatural horror film about a demonic hitchhiker that refuses to let go. Starring Jacob Scipio, Lou Llobell and Melissa Leo, the movie follows a young couple whose van-life adventure takes a terrifying turn after they witness a deadly highway accident.
After its US theatrical release on May 22, 2026, Passenger arrived on digital platforms in July before making its streaming debut on Paramount+ in August. If you’re wondering where to watch Passenger online, here’s everything you need to know, including its streaming release date, rental options, cast, filming locations and age rating.
About Passenger (2026)
The premise is deceptively simple: Tyler (Jacob Scipio) and his fiancée Maddie (Lou Llobell) are living the van-life dream, cruising across the USA before they settle down and start a family. Then they witness a horrific road accident, and without realising it, they don’t leave that scene alone. Something has hitched a ride, and it’s not going to let go.
That “something” is a demonic presence known as the Passenger, played by Joseph Lopez. The harder they try to outrun it, the worse things get. A local woman named Diana (Melissa Leo) knows a thing or two about what’s hunting them, but whether she can actually help is another matter.
| Release Date | May 22, 2026 (US theaters) |
| Genre | Supernatural Horror |
| Director | André Øvredal |
| Writers | Zachary Donohue & T.W. Burgess |
| Producers | Walter Hamada & Gary Dauberman |
| Cinematography | Federico Verardi |
| Music | Christopher Young |
| Distributor | Paramount Pictures |
| Production Companies | Paramount Pictures, 18Hz Productions |
| Runtime | 94 minutes (1 hr 34 min) |
| Rating | R for strong violent content, some gore, and language |
| Filming Location | Washington State, USA |
| Streaming Platform | Paramount+ |
The film draws on the folklore of the “Vanishing Hitchhiker,” one of America’s oldest and most widespread supernatural road legends, with the first academic study of its variants published as far back as 1942. Øvredal and his writers put their own spin on it, turning the classic ghost-on-the-road idea into something that pursues rather than simply appears.
Announced in October 2024, the project came together quickly. By January 2025, the core cast was locked, and principal photography began almost immediately.
One fun production note: Øvredal has cited John Carpenter as a major influence, particularly Carpenter’s ability to blend grand ideas with relentless genre thrills. The director has called Passenger his scariest movie yet, high praise from someone who’s already given us some memorably nasty horror films.
The release date was originally set for May 29, 2026, but Paramount moved it up a week to May 22 to claim Memorial Day weekend, one of the biggest moviegoing periods of the year. The shift was made to sidestep competition from A24’s Backrooms and another Paramount release, Scary Movie 6. Øvredal called it “a once in a lifetime release date.”
RELATED: Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure (2028): Teaser, Release Date, Cast and Everything We Know
Cast of Passenger (2026)
| Actor | Character | You May Know Them From |
|---|---|---|
| Jacob Scipio | Tyler Genocchio | Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Bad Boys for Life |
| Lou Llobell | Maddie Brecker | Foundation (Apple TV+) |
| Melissa Leo | Diana Larson | The Fighter (Oscar winner), Snowden |
| Joseph Lopez | The Passenger | — |
| Miles Fowler | Lucas Tedesco | — |
| Alan Trong | Daniel | — |
| Devielle Johnson | Neighborhood Watch Volunteer | — |
| Bonni Dichone | Diner Waitress | — |
Jacob Scipio as Tyler
Scipio broke through in the Bad Boys franchise playing Armando, and Passenger gives him his first real leading-man showcase in a genre film. He plays Tyler as someone trying to hold it together while everything around him falls apart, which is a reasonable description of most of the film’s runtime.
Lou Llobell as Maddie
British-Spanish actress Llobell is best known internationally for playing physicist Gaal Dornick in Apple TV+’s Foundation. She carries a lot of the emotional weight of the film, and Maddie’s journey from road-trip optimist to someone desperately trying to survive is the heart of the story.
Melissa Leo as Diana
An Oscar winner for The Fighter (2010), Leo brings serious credibility to what is essentially a supporting role. She plays Diana, a woman living with a community of older residents who seems to understand the threat Tyler and Maddie are facing. Critics noted her role felt underdeveloped given her abilities, but she brings gravity to every scene she’s in.
Joseph Lopez as The Passenger
Lopez plays the film’s titular monster – a terrifying, hooded demonic figure that seems to materialise from the road itself. It’s a physical performance as much as anything else, and the character is designed to feel impossible to outrun, in both a literal and supernatural sense.
Where to watch Passenger (2026)?
Here’s the full picture on how and where you can watch Passenger right now.
| Format | Platform / Availability | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theaters (US) | Nationwide via Paramount Pictures | May 22, 2026 | Confirmed — theatrical run ended |
| Digital / PVOD | Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, etc. | July 7, 2026 | Confirmed — available to rent/buy |
| Streaming | Paramount+ (all subscription tiers) | August 20, 2026 | Confirmed — streaming now |
| Physical Media (Blu-ray/DVD) | Major retailers | August 2026 | Pre-orders appeared; exact date not officially confirmed |
Theaters
Passenger had its wide theatrical run from May 22, 2026. It’s no longer playing in most cinemas, though late or limited screenings may still exist in some markets.
Digital Rental and Purchase
Since July 7, 2026, you can rent or buy Passenger on digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, Google Play, and similar services. This is the best option if you’re not a Paramount+ subscriber and don’t want to sign up.
Paramount+
The easiest way to watch for free (included in your subscription) is Paramount+. The film began streaming there on August 20, 2026, and is available on all subscription tiers: Essential (with ads) and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME (without ads). No additional fees are required.
Physical Media
Blu-ray and DVD editions are expected in August 2026. Pre-orders appeared through major retailers ahead of an official announcement, so a physical release is coming, but check your preferred retailer for the confirmed date and special features.
RELATED: Where to watch The Dog Stars: Streaming and Hulu Date
Box Office and Reviews
Passenger landed in a crowded horror season alongside Backrooms (A24) and Obsession, and its performance reflected that competition.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $15 million (estimated) |
| Domestic Box Office | ~$15–17 million |
| International Box Office | ~$9–17 million |
| Worldwide Total | ~$17–32 million (reported across sources) |
| Rotten Tomatoes (Critics) | 48% (73 reviews) |
| Rotten Tomatoes (Audience) | 53% |
| Metacritic | 52/100 (mixed or average) |
| CinemaScore | B– |
The RT consensus puts it neatly: “A stylish ride weighed down by the litany of clichés it picks up along the way, Passenger drives in circles but has some memorable bumps and jolts during the journey.”
In plain terms: critics found it effective but familiar, with strong atmosphere and some genuinely unsettling set pieces let down by a thin plot. Audiences were slightly warmer. Some reviewers, including RogerEbert.com, gave it a positive write-up for its old-school craft. Others felt it played like a string of well-executed jump scares without enough story holding them together.
On a $15 million budget, the film needed roughly $37–38 million worldwide to break even using standard industry estimates. Whether it crossed that line depends on which box office source you consult, figures vary, and streaming and digital revenue will likely push it into the black over time.
- Passenger (2026): Where to Watch, Streaming Date, Cast & Everything You Need to Know - November 7, 2026
- Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure (2028): Teaser, Release Date, Cast and Everything We Know - November 7, 2026
- Where to watch The Dog Stars: Streaming and Hulu Date - November 6, 2026
