109 Billion Followers (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

109 Billion Followers follows a lonely film student who records a man claiming to be the Grim Reaper. His extraordinary guidance takes her through different stages of her own life, opening a thoughtful path toward family, memory and the possibility of loving again.

109 Billion Followers is a 2026 English-language comedy-drama written and directed by Ela Thier. Its story begins with a film student and a mysterious man who says he is the Grim Reaper, then expands into an unusual exploration of identity, memory and love.

The film’s premise combines filmmaking, time travel and family relationships as its central character encounters younger versions of herself. The result is framed around a personal question: whether she can recover her ability to love before it is too late.

109 Billion Followers movie details

Story without spoilers

The film centers on Emma, a lonely film student who documents Gary, a man convinced that he is the Grim Reaper. What begins as a recording project develops into a fantastical journey through Emma’s own past.

With Gary’s guidance, Emma meets herself as a teenager, a young child and an infant. These encounters give her a chance to revisit the experiences connected to her family and emotional life, including her relationship with her mother. The story follows her attempt to understand herself and reconnect with love without revealing how that journey concludes.

What to expect

The supplied premise points to a blend of comedy and drama, with fantastical elements shaped by time travel and the figure of the Grim Reaper. Rather than presenting a conventional supernatural adventure, the story uses that setup to examine self-discovery, family relationships, dreams, unrequited love and the emotional distance created by loneliness.

Filmmaking is also part of the film’s foundation because Emma begins by documenting Gary. Viewers can therefore expect a character-focused story built around encounters with different stages of one person’s life, including childhood and infancy. The tone may move between unusual, playful and more emotionally serious territory, but the available details do not establish a specific visual style, pacing or ending.

Cast and creative team

Olivia Simmons plays Emma, the film student at the center of the story, while Jake Ryan portrays Gary, the man who believes he is the Grim Reaper. J.K. Simmons appears as the Reaper, with Angella Katherine as Gloria and Nina Arianda as Silvia.

The cast also includes Judy Gold as Miriam, Jared Scott as Boxer, Tam Mutu as Sebastian, Ari Derambakhsh as A'dab and b as Rocks. Ela Thier serves as both director and writer, making her the film’s credited creative lead.

• Olivia Simmons as Emma
• Jake Ryan as Gary
• Angella Katherine as Gloria
• J.K. Simmons as Reaper
• Nina Arianda as Silvia
• Judy Gold as Miriam
• Jared Scott as Boxer
• Tam Mutu as Sebastian
• Ari Derambakhsh as A'dab
• b as Rocks

Release and production context

109 Billion Followers is listed as a 2026 release with a release date of October 31, 2026. It is classified as a comedy-drama and is listed in English. No runtime, country of production or production company is provided in the supplied information.

Movies Dock view

With its combination of a documentary-minded protagonist, a self-described Grim Reaper and encounters across different points in one woman’s life, 109 Billion Followers has a distinctive premise. Its focus remains personal: Emma’s effort to understand her past and regain the capacity to love. The available details establish that emotional direction without revealing the film’s final resolution.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb