Verity

A Manuscript in the House

The plot of the film is still shrouded in mystery but here's what we do know so far.

Writer Lowen Ashleigh, played by Johnson, is short of money but presented with the offer she can't refuse. Finish the last few books in bestselling author Verity Crawford's (Hathaway) series, for Crawford's husband Jeremy. Unable to continue writing after a terrible accident, Jeremy tasks Lowen with completing her series.

While going through Crawford's notes, at the Crawford's family house, Lowen stumbles upon a manuscript that was never intended to be found. That's about all there is to know about the plot of the film.

A darker film

Released theatrically back in 2024, Justin Baldoni-directed It Ends With Us, starring Blake Lively, adapted another one of Hoover's books. If that film was a tear-jerker romantic drama, Verity promises to be a nail-biter of a thriller.

Verity marks the second adaptation of one of Hoover's novels. First self-published in 2018, the thriller was a departure for the romance author, and has since gone on to become one of her most popular books. Fans of the book will no doubt have their fingers crossed (and crossed arms) as they wait to see how certain controversial parts of the book fared in its onscreen adaptation.

Anne Hathaway and Colleen Hoover produced the film

Just like she did with It Ends With Us, Hoover once again produced an adaptation of one of her own novels. For Verity, she shared producing duties with Hathaway.

Hathaway as the Woman Upstairs

Colleen Hoover's psychological thriller centres around Crawford, a best-selling author. Hathaway's Crawford is seen largely through her writing.

For Hathaway, who last worked with Showalter in 2024's The Idea of You, Crawford is quite the departure from the role she played in that film. Hathaway has played edgy characters before (see The Witches, Colossal), but Verity gives Hathaway a lead role in a straight-up thriller.

Johnson as the Writer Who Stays

While Crawford sits at the centre of Hoover's psychological thriller, it's through Lowen that we meet the Crawford family. Dakota Johnson takes on the role of Lowen in the film adaptation. Known for her ability to bring a stillness to her characters (see Materialists, where last year Johnson played a matchmaker), Johnson's Lowen is tasked with learning all there is to know about Crawford. And Lowen's research of late could not be more important.

Showalter Changes Gear

After helming warm comedies like 2017's The Big Sick and Hathaway-starrer The Idea of You, Verity marks a departure for Showalter. Penned by Nick Antosca, known for creating and producing tense and unsettling projects like true-crime series The Act he co-created. It is interesting to see how Showalter and Antosca adapted one of Hoover's most controversial novels for the big screen.

The Husband and the Rest of the Cast

Also starring opposite Hathaway and Johnson are Josh Hartnett (Oppenheimer, Trap) as Jeremy Crawford, Sienna Kulovitz as Harper, Brady Wagner as the Crawford family's son, Crew, and Ismael Cruz Cordova as Corey. Volker Bertelmann (All Quiet on the Western Front, Conclave), Jim Frohna, and Jay Cassidy (A Star Is Born, Silver Linings Playbook) rounded out the film's key creatives.

What to Expect

While jump-scares will not be Verity's forte, those seeking a slow burn, preferably one confined largely to one location with a small ensemble, will likely find much to love here. For those curious as to just how tense Bertelmann's compositions can get, we'd point you to 2024's Conclave. In it his compositions lent heft to scenes defined largely by little more than shut doors and uncomfortable silences.

Produced by Stacey Sher, Alex Hedlund, Jordana Mollick, Antosca, Showalter, Hathaway, and Hoover, Verity was produced and released by Amazon MGM Studios in association with Somewhere Pictures, Big Indie Pictures, and others. Certified A (adults-only) by India's CBFC, the film clocks in at a trimmed-down 118 minutes for Indian theatres. Of course, given that debates around Hoover's novel's ending have persisted for years, expect discourse to continue well after your own viewing of Verity concludes.

Who It's For

If Gone Girl had you on the edge of your seat, this should, too.

Audiences who found themselves gripped by the secrets and deceptions doled out in Gone Girl and similar thrillers are likely to enjoy Verity, especially given its similarly tight-knit cast and largely confined setting. That said, if you're the sort to prefer your scares served up with a heaping portion of family-friendly fare, this probably isn't it. Perhaps try watching it with friends, then.

Those eager to catch Hathaway and/or Johnson in turns markedly different from their typical moulds should likewise find much to discuss in Verity. Thriller fans may also appreciate our breakdowns of similarly twisty fare like The Mongoose and Animals.

In Cinemas and Coming Home

Verity premiered in Indian cinemas on 2 October 2026 in an English-language release. No Hindi-dubbed version has been announced at this time. Listings in the country's first few weeks of release included screenings at INOX and PVR multiplexes.

As of publication, no date has been confirmed for its post-theatrical run in India. In the US, meanwhile, the picture became available to stream (on rental or purchase) via Prime Video from 27 October 2026. We'll be sure to update this page once more details have been shared.

In the meantime, check out our Hollywood movies page for the latest on what else is showing in English-language theatres.

Official Trailer

Amazon MGM Studios unveiled the official Verity trailer on 11 August 2026. Running 2 minutes and 25 seconds in length, you can watch it here.

FAQs