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Pillion

Play trailer 2:02 Poster for Pillion In Theaters Feb 6 1h 46m Romance Comedy LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 79 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 Reserve Tickets
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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Katie Walsh Tribune News Service 3h
3/4
The edgy and explicit "Pillion" might be set within the parameters of a relationship that many would consider "alternative," but the heart of it is the same as any love story that becomes a lesson in self-love. Go to Full Review
Melissa Anderson 4Columns 9h
Pillion plays like a sub/dom rom-com, wearily plotted in such a way that callow Colin, by the end, knows exactly what he wants, filling in the “About Me” prompt in a dating app with nonnegotiable specifics. Go to Full Review
Kristen Lopez The Film Maven 11h
A-
Pillion remains one of the best movies of the year, one that is funny as it is relatable, romantic as it is trying. Melling and Skarsgard have a fabulous chemistry together. This is another one I can't wait to experience again. Go to Full Review
Carla Hay Culture Mix 5h
The well-acted drama Pillion is more than a movie about a submissive man involved with a mysterious dominant lover in a BDSM relationship. It's a bittersweet story about emotional vulnerabilities when giving and receiving love. Go to Full Review
Robert Kojder Flickering Myth 7h
3.5/5
Erotic, amusing without condescension, and even sweet, Harry Lighton knows exactly what he wants to say about this kink scene, his characters, and what message to take Go to Full Review
Stefan Pape Common Sense Media 10h
4/5
This comedy-drama about a BDSM relationship is unlike anything mainstream cinema typically offers. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Phil V Dec 4 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 Dec 3 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 Dec 2 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 Dec 2 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 Dec 1 Crept in as my film of the year. Richard Curtis does Jean Genet; not necessarily for the faint hearted. See more Anthony N Nov 29 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
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
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)