Daddio (film)

Daddio is a 2023 American drama film produced, written and directed by Christy Hall. It stars Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn.

Daddio was released in select cinemas in the United States and Canada on 28 June 2024.

Premise
After landing at JFK International Airport, a young woman takes a cab back to her apartment in Manhattan. During the ride, she and the cab driver, Clark, have unexpectedly honest conversations about numerous topics, including their past and present relationships, sex and power dynamics, loss, and vulnerability.

Cast

 * Dakota Johnson as Girlie
 * Sean Penn as Clark

Production
It was originally conceived as a stage play. In October 2017, it was announced that Daisy Ridley would star in the film, based on a spec script by Christy Hall. That December, the script was included on that year's "Black List" of the most-liked unproduced scripts in Hollywood. In June 2021, it was announced that Johnson had replaced Ridley and that Penn was also cast in the film. Johnson was the one to initially suggest Penn and personally sent him the script.

Principal photography occurred in New York City and Jersey City, NJ in December 2022. It was shot in 16 days. The film entered post-production in January 2023.

All scenes taking place within the cab were shot on a soundstage using on-set virtual production, which consisted of large LED video screens on which digital environments were rendered. The actors performed in front of the screens in real time.

Release
Daddio premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on September 1, 2023. It also screened at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2023, as part of its special screening program. In September 2023, Sony Pictures Classics acquired distribution rights to the film for North and Latin America as well as some European and Asian territories, scheduling it for a theatrical release sometime in 2024. It was released in the United States and Canada on June 28, 2024.

Daddio was released in Germany on 27 June and in Argentina on 28 June 2024. The film is scheduled to be released in Russia and the CIS on 11 July 2024.

Box office
In the United States and Canada, the film made $424,091 from 628 theaters in its opening weekend.

Critical response
Peter DeBruge of Variety gave the film a positive review and wrote, "Every aspect of Daddio is designed to spark conversation. But it’s sweeter and more satisfying than you might expect..." Stephen Farber of The Hollywood Reporter also gave the film a positive review, calling it "A deftly executed debut feature." Todd McCarthy of Deadline Hollywood also gave the film a positive review and wrote, “Sean Penn is at his absolute best here in a tremendously engaging performance as a salty working-class guy with an endless supply of opinions and ways of drawing out his passengers, while Dakota Johnson more than holds her own as a game passenger increasingly willing to share her problems with the amateur shrink behind the wheel.”