Koreeda's Look Back sets North American release for December 30
GKIDS will release Hirokazu Koreeda's live-action adaptation of Look Back in select North American cinemas on December 30, 2026.
GKIDS has set a North American release plan for Hirokazu Koreeda’s live-action adaptation of Look Back. The film will open in select cinemas on December 30, 2026, before expanding to theatres nationwide on January 15, 2027, according to Anime.com News.1
GKIDS also released the film’s official trailer on its YouTube channel. The preview introduces the live-action cast and the film’s grounded take on the story, while confirming the distributor’s role in bringing the adaptation to North American audiences.2
Koreeda wrote and directed the film. Natsuki Deguchi, Aju Makita, Furi Nanase and Rokka Okada star, while Shin-Ei Animation produced the film’s animated sequences. That blend of live action and animation is a notable choice for a work that began as a manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto.1
The film has already travelled through the festival circuit. It premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, followed by North American appearances at the Toronto International Film Festival, Beyond Fest, the Chicago International Film Festival and the SCAD Savannah Film Festival.1
Look Back is separate from the 2024 animated film adaptation. Kiyotaka Oshiyama directed that version, with Studio DURIAN handling its animation.1 The two films share Fujimoto’s source material, but Koreeda’s version is a live-action interpretation with its own cast and production approach.
For viewers in North America, the staggered release means the first screenings will be limited before the film reaches a wider theatrical footprint. GKIDS’ trailer gives audiences an early look at the adaptation, but the December 30 date is the key immediate milestone.
Our opinion
A live-action Look Back is a sensible way to revisit a story already associated with a widely praised animated adaptation. Koreeda’s involvement makes this more than a routine remake announcement, while the theatrical rollout gives the film a chance to stand on its own rather than being treated as a quick streaming add-on. The proof will be in how confidently it balances Fujimoto’s intimate character drama with the visual language of live action, but the festival run and official trailer make this one worth watching before its North American opening.
The release dates are official, but local cinema listings may appear later and can vary by market. Check GKIDS’ regional announcements for the exact theatre schedule closer to December 30.