Directed by Michael Showalter and written by Nick Antosca, the American psychological erotic thriller feature Verity released in United States theaters on October 2, 2026, distributed by Amazon MGM Studios in North America and Sony Pictures Releasing internationally. Produced by Eat the Cat, Semi-Formal Productions, Shiny Penny, Somewhere Pictures, and Heartbones Entertainment, the 117-minute film is adapted from Colleen Hoover's bestselling 2018 novel of the same name, starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett. The film generated massive anticipation across literary and cinema circles, praised for its atmospheric tension, dark erotic suspense, faithful adaptation of Hoover's shock twists, and lead performances by Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson. WHERE TO WATCH & STREAMING AVAILABILITY Verity is available across major theatrical cinema chains globally, including AMC Theatres, Regal Cinemas, Cinemark, and Vue. Following its exclusive theatrical window, the feature will be hosted for subscription streaming globally on Amazon Prime Video, alongside digital transactional video-on-demand release across platforms like Apple TV, Google TV, and Fandango at Home. INTRIGUING FACTS & TRIVIA The project reunites director Michael Showalter and star Anne Hathaway following their hit collaboration on the 2024 romantic comedy The Idea of You. Co-producer Colleen Hoover, author of the original source novel, worked closely with screenwriter Nick Antosca to adapt the story's controversial double-ending manuscript structure for the big screen. Principal photography took place on location in New York City, featuring practical blood effects and dark Gothic architecture to bring the claustrophobic Vermont estate to life. BACKSTORY & THEMATIC ANALYSIS The narrative follows Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson), a struggling, reclusive writer on the brink of financial ruin. Lowen receives the job offer of a lifetime when Jeremy Crawford (Josh Hartnett), husband of injured bestselling author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway), hires Lowen to complete the remaining books in Verity's successful series after Verity is left incapacitated by a devastating car crash. Lowen arrives at the Crawford family estate to sort through Verity's notes and outlines, only to uncover an unpublished, unfinished autobiography hidden in Verity's office. As Lowen reads through the chilling manuscript, she discovers horrifying admissions regarding the deaths of the couple's twin daughters. Falling deeper into a seductive relationship with Jeremy while observing Verity's eerie behavior in the house, Lowen finds herself trapped in a maze of obsession, deceit, and lethal psychological games where truth and fiction blur. Thematically, Verity explores grief, maternal cruelty, unreliable narration, creative obsession, and the dark boundaries of human deception. By contrasting two female writers fighting for control over the same narrative and man, the story illustrates how easily written words can manipulate reality and mask horrifying truths. BEHIND-THE-SCENES INSIGHTS Director Michael Showalter collaborated with cinematographer Jim Frohna to design claustrophobic interior lighting and sharp shadow work inside the Crawford mansion, highlighting the psychological isolation of the main characters. Oscar-winning composer Volker Bertelmann crafted a dark, atmospheric score blending unsettling acoustic strings with pulse-pounding synth rhythms to accentuate the film's erotic thrill and suspense. Through its star-studded ensemble cast, intense psychological twists, and faithful handling of a global publishing phenomenon, Verity stands as a major entry in modern psychological cinema.