“Exit 8" Brings Japanese Horror Game Terror to SM Cinemas across the Philippines This Week!

Kazunari Ninomiya stars in Exit 8, the highly anticipated horror film based on the viral game. The Cannes-selected film opens exclusively in SM Cinemas this September 17.

JAPANESE BLOCKBUSTER "EXIT 8" COMING TO SM CINEMAS THIS WEEK

Japanese horror fans and gamers, brace yourselves. Exit 8, the chilling film adaptation of the viral indie game by KOTAKE CREATE, officially hits SM Cinemas this September 17, 2025—fresh off its success at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it earned an 8-minute standing ovation.

Already a massive commercial success in Japan, Exit 8 raked in 15 million USD in just 11 days. With buzz building among gaming communities and horror film fans alike, its Philippine premiere is set to shake up the local box office.

The rules are simple: spot the anomaly, or risk starting over. Exit 8 brings the eerie logic of the original game to life in terrifying cinematic form.

A Viral Game Becomes Cinematic Horror

At the heart of Exit 8 is a hauntingly simple yet deeply unsettling premise: a man is trapped in an endless, sterile subway passageway. His only goal is to find Exit 8—but to do so, he must not overlook anything out of the ordinary.

The rules are clear:

• If you spot an anomaly, turn back.

• If not, keep moving forward.

• But fail to notice something wrong, and you're sent back to the beginning.

  
  

This endless loop of fear, tension, and psychological suspense captured gamers’ imaginations worldwide. Now, it's being brought to life on the big screen with stunning fidelity.

A trail of blood leads to Exit 8, but something isn’t right. The smallest oversight could send you back to the beginning in this looping nightmare.

Staying True to Its Origins

Directed by Genki Kawamura, Exit 8 marks his second feature after a string of award-winning producing credits (Your Name, Weathering with You). Deeply inspired by the game's ability to blur reality and dream, Kawamura assembled a cast that could deliver performances with quiet intensity and surreal presence.

Kazunari Ninomiya delivers a gripping performance as The Lost Man, trapped in a subway maze where reality bends and time resets.

Meet the Cast

🧍‍♂️ Kazunari Ninomiya as The Lost Man - A member of legendary band Arashi, Ninomiya made his Hollywood debut in Clint Eastwood’s Letters from Iwo Jima (2006). He’s a two-time Japan Academy Prize winner and brings both nuance and gravitas to the role of the lone wanderer.

🧍‍♀️ Nana Komatsu as The Woman - Known for The World of Kanako and Martin Scorsese’s Silence, Komatsu is a Chanel ambassador and multi-awarded actress whose haunting presence fits perfectly into the unsettling world of Exit 8.

🚶 Yamato Kochi as The Walking Man - A rising star in Japanese theatre, Kochi brings stage intensity and eerie precision to this mysterious role.

Nana Komatsu plays The Woman, a mysterious presence in the endless corridor. Known for her haunting performances, she adds depth to Exit 8’s unsettling world.

Festival Darling Meets Box Office Monster

• ⭐ 8-minute standing ovation at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival

• ⭐ 96% on Rotten Tomatoes

• ⭐ Scheduled screenings at TIFF and Busan Film Festival

• 💰 $15M in Japan in 11 days

• 🎮 Backed by a massive global gaming fanbase

  
  

With its unique structure, dreamlike atmosphere, and minimalist dread, Exit 8 is poised to be one of the year’s most talked-about horror films.

Philippine Release Info

📍 Exclusive to SM Cinemas

📅 Premieres September 17, 2025

🎟️ Tickets available soon via SM Cinema app and website

Whether you're a gamer, horror fan, or someone who just wants to feel your heart race—don’t miss Exit 8 on the big screen.