#FIRSTLOOK: CINEPLEX PICTURES TO RELEASE “KOHUKO” IN THEATRES

Cineplex Pictures has partnered with Award® winning producer and distributor GKIDS to present the highly anticipated feature film Kokuho. Based on the original novel by Shuichi YOSHIDA and directed by Sang-il Lee (Pachinko Season 2, Hula Girls, Rage), Kokuho will open in Toronto on February 6, 2026 expanding nationwide on February 2026. The film will debut in IMAX with an Exclusive Early Access screening at Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas and VIP on January 21, with tickets going on sale January 19. The live-action epic follows the struggles of an actor across decades as he gives everything to become the greatest at his craft.

Kokohu has been officially shortlisted in two categories at the 98th Academy Awards: Best International Feature and Best Makeup and Hairstyling for artists Kyoko Toyokawa, Naomi Hibino, and Tadashi Nishimatsu. In November, Kokuho officially became the highest-grossing live-action film of all time in its domestic market with over 12.3 million tickets sold to date, breaking a 22-year-old record and setting a new historic benchmark for Japanese live action films.

The film features a breakthrough performance by Ryo Yoshizawa, who trained for 18 months in the art and history of Kabuki theatre to embody Kikuo, an actor pursuing greatness at any cost. Spanning decades, the film tells a sweeping story of ambition, glory, and heartbreak. Oscar® nominee Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai, Inception, Godzilla, Silence) delivers a commanding performance as a legendary Kabuki master, honoring the tradition, discipline, and enduring legacy of Kabuki.

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About Cineplex Pictures:
Cineplex Pictures, a division of Cineplex, is a Canadian film distributor specializing in theatrical releases across various genres. Past releases include The Housemaid, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, The Queen of My Dreams, John Wick: Chapter 4, and The Boy and the Heron, with upcoming titles such as The Strangers: Chapter 3, Michael, and The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping among others.