Nicolas Winding Refn's 'Her Private Hell' to debut in U.S. theaters July 24

Nicolas Winding Refn returns to feature filmmaking with the sci‑fi thriller Her Private Hell. The film stars Sophie Thatcher as Elle, who searches for her missing father as a strange mist engulfs a futuristic metropolis, and Charles Melton as an American GI named Private K. The ensemble also includes Havana Rose Liu, Kristine Froseth, Dougray Scott, Diego Calva, Shioli Kutsuna, Aoi Yamada, and Hidetoshi Nishijima, with an original score by Pino Donaggio.

Her Private Hell premiered out of competition at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, where it received a 12‑minute standing ovation. Neon will distribute the film in the United States, launching it in 800‑1,200 theaters on July 24, 2026, while Mubi has secured rights for several other territories. Early critical response is mixed; Rotten Tomatoes reports a low critic score of 43% after the trailer launch.

The movie’s promotional material emphasizes neon‑drenched visuals, a mysterious mist that appears to alter reality, and a blend of neo‑noir, operatic melodrama, and slasher horror. Its release is positioned as a major summer sci‑fi event for audiences seeking a visually striking thriller.