The Gates (2026 film)
| The Gates | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | John Burr |
| Written by | John Burr |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Ray Huang |
| Edited by | Daysha Broadway |
| Music by | Jongnic Bontemps |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Lionsgate Premiere |
Release dates |
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Running time | 98 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Gates is a 2026 American thriller film starring Mason Gooding, Algee Smith, Keith Powers, James Van Der Beek, Sofia Hublitz, Kylr Coffman, Elle Evans, and Brad Leland. Written and directed by John Burr, the plot follows three friends who witness a murder while driving through a gated community.
The film premiered at Los Angeles on February 24, 2026, and was released in the United States on March 13 by Lionsgate Premiere.
Cast
- Mason Gooding as Derek
- Algee Smith as Kevin
- Keith Powers as Tyon
- James Van Der Beek as Jacob, a pastor
- Sofia Hublitz as Roxy
- Kylr Coffman as Officer Bobby
- Elle Evans as Elizabeth
- Brad Leland as Christopher
Production
By late September 2024, principal photography, which took place at Owasso, wrapped.[2] Daysha Broadway edited the film.[3] Jongnic Bontemps composed the score for the film.[4] The film is James Van Der Beek's final film role before his death on February 11, 2026, who portrayed Jacob, a pastor, in the film.[5]
Release
The film premiered at iPic Theaters Westwood in Los Angeles on February 24, 2026,[6][7] and was released in select theaters across the United States by Lionsgate Premiere on March 13.[8]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 53% of 19 critics' reviews are positive.[9] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 44 out of 100, based on five critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[10]
Robert Daniels of RogerEbert.com gave the film two out of four stars and wrote, "Van Der Beek keeps the film interesting and guarded, even when it tries so hard to blurt out its every theme and lesson. So while The Gates itself isn't a total smash, it's a more than sturdy final effort from a beloved actor."[11]
References
- ^ "One Pager" (.PDF - Click "One Pager"). Lionsgate Publicity. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- ^ "After several days of filming in Owasso's Oakridge Neighborhood for 'The Gates', crews are wrapping up at this location tonight". Instagram. September 30, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ^ "Daysha Broadway, ACE" (PDF). WPA. January 2026. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ^ "Jongnic Bontemps Scoring John Burr's 'The Gates'". Film Music Reporter. February 18, 2026. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ^ Garner, Glenn (February 18, 2026). "'The Gates' Trailer: James Van Der Beek Plays A Murderous Pastor In One Of His Final Roles". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ^ "Had an absolute blast at our Lionsgate premiere of 'The Gates'! This film has something to say and brings you on a ride that will keep you guessing the whole way through! Directed by the talented John Burr and led by the incredible trio in Mason Gooding, Algee Smith, Keith Powers, and, of course, the incomparable James Van Der Beek. RIP". Instagram. February 24, 2026. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ^ TheMovieReport.com (March 1, 2026). 'The Gates' movie premiere Mason Gooding, Algee Smith, Keith Powers & filmmakers - February 24, 2026. Retrieved March 3, 2026 – via YouTube.
- ^ Gonzalez, Umberto (January 30, 2026). "Mason Gooding Thriller 'The Gates' Sets March Specialty Theatrical Release at Lionsgate Premiere | Exclusive". TheWrap. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
- ^ "The Gates". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- ^ "The Gates". Metacritic. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
- ^ Daniels, Robert (March 13, 2026). "The Gates". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved March 13, 2026.