Revenge Thriller Motor City Acquired by RLJE Films

RLJE Films, a distribution vertical within the IFC Entertainment Group, has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to Motory City, the visceral and unrelenting crime-revenge thriller starring Alan Ritchson (Reacher), Shailene Woodley (Big Little Lies), Pablo Schreiber (Halo), and Ben Foster (Hell or High Water).

Directed by Potsy Ponciroli (Greedy People) from a screenplay by Chad St. John (London Has Fallen), the dialogue-free film features a propulsive, needle-drop–driven score curated by musician Jack White.

Motor City made its world premiere at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, followed by its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it drew acclaim for its raw intensity and powerhouse performances. RLJE Films will release Motor City exclusively in theaters in 2026.

Motor City takes place in 1970s Detroit, where a working-class romantic is framed by a ruthless gangster after falling for his girlfriend. After years in prison, he returns with only one mission: revenge.

Director Potsy Ponciroli commented, “We shot Motor City to be immersive, every frame, every sound, designed for a theater. It’s a love letter to Detroit, to 70s cinema, and to the kind of filmmaking you can feel. It’s the kind of movie that makes you happy that theaters still exist.”

“Motor City hits like a freight train – raw, stylish, and completely unforgettable,” said Chief Acquisitions Officer of RLJE Films Mark Ward. “Led by an extraordinary cast, Potsy Ponciroli has crafted an electric cinematic journey that demands to be seen on the big screen.”

Motor City is produced by Greg Silverman and Jon Berg for Stampede Ventures (Dead of Winter), Joshua Harris for Peachtree Media and Gramercy Park Media, and Cliff Roberts.

Mark Ward negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers for RLJE Films, Range Select, and WME Independent.