---
title: "Briarcliff Entertainment Acquires SXSW Heist Thriller Comedy 'Drag' Starring Lizzy Caplan"
date: 2026-05-19
source: Deadline
source_url: https://deadline.com/2026/05/briarcliff-acquires-sxsw-heist-thriller-comedy-drag-1236915735/
tags: [sxsw-2026, film, acquisition, briarcliff-entertainment, lizzy-caplan, danny-devito, john-stamos, independent-film]
summary: "Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired domestic distribution rights to Drag, the offbeat thriller comedy starring Lizzy Caplan and John Stamos that premiered at SXSW 2026. Produced by Danny DeVito's Jersey Films 2nd Avenue, the film follows two estranged sisters whose simple heist goes wrong, and is set for a fall theatrical release."
---

# Briarcliff Entertainment Acquires SXSW Heist Thriller Comedy 'Drag' Starring Lizzy Caplan

Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired domestic distribution rights to _Drag_, the offbeat thriller comedy that premiered at SXSW 2026, with CEO Tom Ortenberg setting a fall theatrical release.

## The Film

Written and directed by Greg Yagolnitzer and Raviv Ullman in their feature directorial debuts, _Drag_ follows two estranged sisters who attempt to rob a secluded home in rural upstate New York. What begins as a simple heist spirals into a nightmarish ordeal after one sister throws out her back and becomes immobilized on the second floor. The race to escape before the homeowners return becomes an exploration of sibling rivalry, physical pain, and the chaotic bonds of family.

## Cast and Producers

The film stars **Lizzy Caplan**, **Lucy DeVito**, **John Stamos**, and **Christine Ko**. It marks the first independent film hatched by **Jersey Films 2nd Avenue**, the production company founded by Danny DeVito, Lucy DeVito, and Jake DeVito — previously known for the animated FXX series _Little Demon_ and the Amazon sports docuseries _Game 7_.

The producers described the film as "exactly the kind of hard hitting and fun independent movie we love to make at Jersey. It's a blast to see with a crowd on the big screen."

## SXSW as Film Launchpad

The _Drag_ acquisition reinforces SXSW's continued role as a launching pad for independent films seeking distribution, even as the festival's tech component undergoes transformation. Ortenberg called it "a brilliantly original film that's suspenseful, hilarious, and completely unpredictable."

The deal was negotiated by Tom Ortenberg, Jessica Rose, and Danielle Goodman Strong for Briarcliff, with CAA Media Finance representing the filmmakers.