Miles Teller plays an engineer and Adam Driver his ex-cop brother, pulled into a Russian-mob scheme around illegal oil dumping near the Gowanus Canal in 1986, with Scarlett Johansson as Teller's wife. Gray is the rare director who keeps making films about the outer boroughs he grew up in, and this one arrives from Cannes as the festival's opening statement. If you only get one NYFF night, the opener set in Queens and Brooklyn is the natural choice.
What to expect
Lincoln Center runs the film across several screens through the evening, with the festival's opening-night buzz filling the plaza and lobbies. The film is a period crime drama built around family loyalty, with real New York locations standing in for the mid-1980s city.
Good to know
- Take the 1 train to 66 St-Lincoln Center; the campus is a short walk from the station exit.
- Several showtimes are spread through the evening, so check every slot before assuming it is sold out.
- NEON is handling the US release, so this is an early chance to see it on a big screen.
- Expect crowds around the Lincoln Center plaza on opening night; arrive with time to spare.
- A strong pick for James Gray fans and anyone drawn to New York crime stories.
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Common questions
What is Paper Tiger about?
Two brothers in 1986 Queens, played by Miles Teller and Adam Driver, get caught up with Russian criminals over illegal oil dumping, endangering the family.
Did it play anywhere before NYFF?
It premiered at Cannes earlier in 2026.
Is it part of the New York Film Festival?
Yes, it is the festival's Opening Night selection.
