Cannes 2026: Scarlett Johansson misses James Gray’s call as ‘Paper Tiger’ earns 7-minute standing ovation

Director James Gray had one small problem during the Cannes 2026 premiere of Paper Tiger on Saturday night: Scarlett Johansson did not answer his FaceTime call.

Following the film’s premiere at the Grand Palais, the crime drama received a standing ovation lasting roughly seven minutes, with Gray attempting to call Johansson so she could witness the audience reaction remotely. The actor, however, is currently filming a new The Exorcist project and was unable to attend the festival in person. Gray jokingly waved his phone toward the audience as the call went unanswered.

Johansson stars alongside Miles Teller and Adam Driver in the 1980s-set drama, which follows two brothers pulled into escalating conflict with the Russian mob after a failed business scheme in Queens. Teller and Driver attended the Cannes premiere alongside Gray, receiving loud cheers from the crowd during the post-screening ovation.

Addressing the audience afterward, Gray reflected on his long relationship with Cannes. “Cinema needs you guys more than ever,” he said, praising the festival’s continued importance for theatrical filmmaking and independent cinema.

Paper Tiger marks Gray’s sixth premiere on the Croisette following films including Armageddon Time, The Immigrant and We Own the Night. The film is also backed domestically by Neon, which is currently seeking a record seventh consecutive Palme d’Or winner at Cannes.

This year’s Cannes has largely leaned toward auteur-driven international cinema over major studio premieres, with standout reactions already greeting Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s All Of A Sudden and Paweł Pawlikowski’s Fatherland. The 2026 jury is headed by South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook.