Cat Person (film)

Cat Person

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	January 21, 2023 (2023-01-21)
Founder	Susanna Fogel (director), Michelle Ashford (screenwriter)
Headquarters	United States
Products	Psychological thriller film

Cat Person is a 2023 psychological thriller helmed by director Susanna Fogel, featuring a script penned by Michelle Ashford. The narrative is adapted from the 2017 short story authored by Kristen Roupenian. The cast includes Emilia Jones, Nicholas Braun, Geraldine Viswanathan, Hope Davis, Fred Melamed, and Isabella Rossellini.

The film had its debut at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2023, and was later distributed in the United States on October 6, 2023, through Rialto Pictures.

Plot

Margot, a college sophomore, works part-time at a neighborhood cinema. Her roommate Taylor, who manages a feminist subreddit titled "The Vagenda," holds a distrustful view of men. Margot starts dating Robert, a regular patron of the theater, but soon envisions him assaulting her violently.

Following their initial date, Robert discovers Margot is 20 years old. After being denied entry at a bar, they return to his home to engage in sexual activity. During this encounter, Margot contemplates informing Robert that she has changed her mind but instead simulates an orgasm out of fear of possible aggression. She learns Robert is 33 and notices that his home lacks the cats he previously mentioned.

Margot thinks about ghosting Robert and imagines various fatal outcomes for him. Taylor sends Robert a message indicating Margot’s disinterest. While Robert initially accepts this, he later retaliates with hostile texts calling Margot derogatory names.

Realizing that Robert is stalking her, Margot reports the behavior to law enforcement. The police inform her that although his actions do not constitute a legal offense at this time, she should remain cautious. Contemplating self-defense options, she considers purchasing a taser or firearm but ultimately opts for tracking devices.

While placing a tracker on Robert’s vehicle, Margot encounters a dog she had seen near her dormitory before meeting Robert, confirming he had been stalking her earlier. When Robert finds Margot in his garage, she panics and accidentally sprays pepper spray on herself before losing consciousness.

Margot awakens inside Robert’s residence. He confesses to having stalked her prior to their relationship and proposes drugging her to erase memories as a precaution against legal consequences. A physical struggle ensues as Margot attempts to flee.

During the altercation, they tumble down basement stairs, knocking over a space heater that ignites a fire. A cat escapes the house, verifying Robert’s earlier claim about owning cats. Both survive by hiding in the cistern.

Margot recuperates in a hospital while Robert leaves town without leaving contact details. Back at work, Margot encounters a new man approaching her.

Production

The movie is an adaptation of Kristen Roupenian’s 2017 short story Cat Person, initially published in The New Yorker. On June 20, 2021, StudioCanal partnered with Imperative Entertainment to develop the story into a psychological thriller. Susanna Fogel was attached as director with Michelle Ashford writing the screenplay. The lead roles were assigned to Nicholas Braun and Emilia Jones. In October 2021, the cast expanded to include Geraldine Viswanathan, Hope Davis, Michael Gandolfini, among others.

Principal photography commenced on October 14, 2021, taking place primarily in Jersey City and Newark, New Jersey.

Release

Cat Person had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2023. The film was released theatrically in the United States by Rialto Pictures on October 6, 2023. It became available on video-on-demand platforms starting December 1, 2023, exclusively through Hoopla and Spectrum on Demand.

Following its Sundance screening, distribution bids came from companies such as Netflix, Bleecker Street, and Open Road Films. Nonetheless, StudioCanal rejected these offers due to CAA's requirement for a theatrical release. With a production budget of $12 million, Cat Person was eventually acquired by Rialto Pictures for a limited theatrical run in October but earned only $338,541 at the box office.