Jaume Collet-Serra‘s highly anticipated reboot of Sylvester Stallone‘s ’90s action classic Cliffhanger has finally landed a release date. The contemporary reimagining of the high-adrenaline adventure swaps the Rocky star out for Pierce Brosnan and Lily James, who are both set to swing into action on the big screen more than 30 years after the original film hit theaters. Row K Entertainment acquired U.S. distribution rights to the latest version of the survival thriller out of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September, and has wasted no time in getting the film locked into a prime slot on its theatrical slate for 2026.
According to The Playlist, the new take on Cliffhanger “blends the genre intensity of The Shallows with the emotional stakes of The Grey, promising a grounded, vertigo-inducing spectacle anchored by human vulnerability rather than pyrotechnic excess.” Row K previously referred to it as an “event-level film” but has strategically placed it in its theatrical release calendar for Aug. 28, 2026. August is typically considered a “dump month” for movies, but releases during this period can also benefit from a less crowded schedule, spaced apart from big summer blockbusters and studio tentpoles that might otherwise take precedence.
Row K only launched in late August and has moved quickly to secure some high-profile titles for its slate, including Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire (Jan. 16, 2026), Maude Apatow’s directorial debut Poetic License (May 15, 2026), and the Nick Robinson and Emilia Jones romance Charlie Harper (Sept. 25, 2026). Cliffhanger is one of its most notable acquisitions, especially considering how much of a success the original 1993 film was with audiences. Stallone’s high-altitude outing grossed $255 million at the worldwide box office against a production budget of $70 million, making it a huge commercial hit – the kind that Row K will be looking for.
A ‘Cliffhanger’ Sequel Is Already in the Works
The original Cliffhanger film follows Stallone’s former mountain ranger Gabe Walker as he sets out to save a group of stranded hikers, only to find himself inadvertently embroiled in a high-stakes heist in the Rocky Mountains. Collet-Serra’s reboot offers a slight twist on the original tale, with a story centered around Brosnan’s character, Ray Cooper, who runs a chalet in the Dolomites with his daughter, Sydney. According to the film’s description, trouble arises when the pair embark on “a weekend trip with a billionaire’s son, where they are targeted by a gang of kidnappers. Ray’s daughter Naomi, still haunted by a past climbing accident, witnesses the attack and escapes. To save her family, she must confront her fears and fight for survival.”
More to come…
- Director
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Jaume Collet-Serra
- Writers
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Mark Bianculli
- Producers
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Neal H. Moritz, Toby Jaffe, Lars Sylvest, Thorsten Schumacher