Josephine is a 2026 American drama film written and directed by Beth de Araújo and distributed by Sumerian Pictures. The film stars Mason Reeves as the eight-year-old title character, alongside Channing Tatum (Magic Mike, The Lost City) as her father Damien and Gemma Chan (Eternals, Crazy Rich Asians) as her mother Claire. The film also produces Gemma Chan alongside Joshua Beirne-Golden and director Beth de Araújo. It runs 1 hour 54 minutes and was filmed on location in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California.
Josephine won the Grand Jury Prize – Dramatic at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it was one of the most talked-about films of the year. It currently holds a Metascore of 86/100 on Metacritic and an IMDb rating of 8.0. The film is distributed by Sumerian Pictures and produced by Free Association, Kaplan Morrison, and Kinematics.
The story begins when eight-year-old Josephine and her father Damien go for an early morning run through Golden Gate Park. When they briefly get separated, Josephine witnesses a woman being violently sexually assaulted. Damien returns, calls the police, and the perpetrator is caught — but the real story has only just begun. The film follows what happens next: Josephine is too young to fully comprehend what she witnessed, and her parents are ill-equipped to counsel her. As Josephine begins acting out in school, growing aggressive, and mistrusting all men including her father, the film traces the devastating ripple effects of a single act of violence on an entire family.
Josephine Age Rating
Josephine is officially rated R by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) — Bulletin No. 2944, dated July 8, 2026 — specifically for rape, graphic nudity, some language, and sexual content. The distributor on the MPA certificate is Sumerian Pictures. The R rating reflects deeply serious adult content — the depiction of sexual violence and its aftermath — that makes this film appropriate only for mature adult audiences.
Sexual Violence & Disturbing Content
This is the most critical content concern. The film opens with an eight-year-old child witnessing the brutal rape of a woman in Golden Gate Park. The assault is depicted on screen, and its impact on Josephine forms the entire basis of the film. Reviewers describe the film as “unflinching” in its portrayal of the trauma, and note that some audience members at Sundance were seen looking away during certain scenes. The film also deals with the subsequent criminal justice process — including Josephine being required to testify as the sole witness — adding further emotional weight to an already extremely heavy subject.
Graphic Nudity & Sexual Content
The MPA specifically cites graphic nudity and sexual content alongside rape as reasons for the R rating. Given the context of the film, this content is directly connected to the depiction of the sexual assault rather than being incidental or romantic in nature.
Frightening & Intense Scenes
The film is described by critics as “difficult to watch,” “emotionally devastating,” “harrowing,” and “impossible to forget.” Beyond the assault itself, the film depicts a child psychologically unraveling — acting out aggressively, losing trust in adults, and struggling to process trauma she is too young to understand. The overall atmosphere is one of sustained tension, grief, and emotional pain throughout the entire runtime. Reviewers consistently note that the film is deeply upsetting even for adult audiences who go in prepared.
Language
The MPA cites some language as part of the R rating. Strong profanity is not a primary focus of the film but appears in the context of emotional confrontations and distress.
Is Josephine Suitable for Kids and Teens?
Ages 10–13: Absolutely Not. A film centered on a child witnessing rape and its traumatic aftermath is entirely inappropriate for this age group under any circumstances.
Ages 14–15: No. The graphic sexual violence and the deeply distressing subject matter make this entirely unsuitable for younger teenagers.
Ages 16–17: Not Recommended. Even mature older teens should not watch this film without serious parental consideration. The content is genuinely disturbing even for adult audiences. Parental guidance is strongly advised.
Adults: Yes, with Full Awareness. Josephine is a critically acclaimed, award-winning film that handles an extremely difficult subject with honesty and care. Adult viewers who approach it with full knowledge of its subject matter will find it a powerful, emotionally affecting work.
Overall, Josephine is strictly for adult audiences only, in line with its R rating for rape, graphic nudity, sexual content, and language.
What Parents Can Do
- Do not show this film to children or teenagers. Despite featuring a child protagonist, the film deals with adult subject matter — sexual violence and trauma — that is not appropriate for young viewers.
- Adult viewers should approach the film knowing it is a genuinely difficult watch. Multiple Sundance reviewers noted its emotional intensity even for prepared adult audiences.
- The film can serve as a meaningful resource for adult conversations about how families cope with childhood trauma, the limits of parental helplessness, and the failures and strengths of the criminal justice system in cases involving child witnesses.
First look
FAQs
Q: What is the age rating for Josephine (2026)?
A: Josephine is officially rated R by the MPA for rape, graphic nudity, some language, and sexual content.
Q: Is Josephine appropriate for teenagers?
A: No. The film depicts sexual violence and its traumatic aftermath in an unflinching way that is not suitable for teenagers or children of any age.
Q: What is Josephine about?
A: An eight-year-old girl witnesses a woman being raped in Golden Gate Park. The film follows the devastating psychological and emotional impact this has on Josephine and her family in the aftermath.
Q: Did Josephine win any awards?
A: Yes. Josephine won the Grand Jury Prize – Dramatic at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
Q: When does Josephine release?
A: A wide US theatrical release date has not yet been announced. The film is distributed by Sumerian Pictures.