A Real Pain

A Real Pain is a 2024 comedy drama film, written, directed, and produced by Jesse Eisenberg. It stars Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, and Daniel Oreskes. Emma Stone serves as a producer under her Fruit Tree banner.

It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2024. The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on October 18, 2024.

Premise
A Real Pain follows mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) who reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.

Cast

 * Jesse Eisenberg as David Kaplan
 * Kieran Culkin as Benji Kaplan
 * Will Sharpe as James
 * Jennifer Grey as Marcia
 * Kurt Egyiawan as Eloge
 * Liza Sadovy as Diane
 * Daniel Oreskes as Mark
 * Ellora Torchia as Priya

Production
In August 2022, it was announced Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin would star in the film, with Eisenberg directing from a screenplay he wrote, with Emma Stone and Dave McCary set to produce. It marks Eisenberg's second feature film as writer/director, after 2022's When You Finish Saving the World.

Principal photography began in May 2023.

Release
It premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2024. Shortly after, Searchlight Pictures acquired worldwide rights to the film for $10 million in an all-night auction.

The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on October 18, 2024.

Reception
Damon Wise of Deadline Hollywood praised Culkin for his performance, calling it a career-high.