The Thing with Feathers OTT release date in India: Here's when and where you can stream Benedict Cumberbatch's psychological drama

Benedict Cumberbatch’s The Thing with Feathers debuts on Lionsgate Play in India on January 9, 2026. This adaptation of Max Porter’s novella explores grief through a surreal, gothic lens.

Benedict Cumberbatch in a still from The Thing with Feathers

The critically acclaimed psychological drama The Thing with Feathers is set to make its OTT debut for Indian audiences. The film will be available to stream on Lionsgate Play (OTTplay Premium) beginning January 9, 2026, following a successful run in select theatrical regions and international film festivals. With this launch, the Indian audience will be able to watch the film version of Max Porter's acclaimed novella on OTT for the very first time.

Plot and adaptation

Directed and written by Dylan Southern, The Thing with Feathers is an adaptation of the 2015 novella Grief Is the Thing with Feathers. After his wife's untimely death, the protagonist, "Dad" (Benedict Cumberbatch), must fend for himself and his two young sons.

When Crow, a gigantic, anthropomorphic, and frequently rambunctious bird-like being, shows around, he breaks the household's mood of stagnant mourning. Acting as a therapist, babysitter, and antagonist simultaneously, Crow physically embodies the family's loss. Through cuts between the father's, the children's, and the mysterious Crow's points of view, the film examines the chaotic and nonlinear character of grief.

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Lead performances

Cumberbatch, whose portrayal of a man physically breaking down under the weight of his emotions has garnered plaudits, gives a performance that changes the course of the film. The voice of the CGI/practical hybrid character "Crow" is provided by David Thewlis. Henry and Richard Boxall, the real-life twins, make their acting debut as the two little boys. Vinette Robinson and Sam Spruell fill out the family's emotional and social lives in supporting roles. Dylan Southern's debut narrative feature follows this endeavour. He is mostly renowned for his music documentaries, like "Meet Me in the Bathroom."

The film explores the concept of "hope is the thing with feathers" by substituting the "bird of hope" with a "bird of grief" from Emily Dickinson's original poem, which serves as the inspiration for both the title and the source material. With almost thirty language translations and an International Dylan Thomas Prize, Max Porter's original novella was a worldwide phenomenon.

From stage to screen

Famously, Cillian Murphy starred in the stage production of the story before it became a film. The 2025 film adaptation by Southern chose a style that combined gothic fable with psychological reality, using both digital and practical effects to bring the "Crow" to life while maintaining the grounded emotional implications of the family's tragedy.

An early 2025 screening of The Thing with Feathers took place at the Sundance Film Festival, followed by a Berlinale screening. Critics have praised the film's unusual visual style and its reluctance to provide sentimental, easy answers to the issue of death.

Streaming details

Lionsgate Play (OTTplay Premium) will be the exclusive streaming platform for the movie in India. Beginning January 9, 2026, subscribers will have the option to stream the film with its original English audio.

The Thing with Feathers FAQs:

Q: When is The Thing with Feathers releasing on OTT in India?

A: The Thing with Feathers is scheduled to premiere on Lionsgate Play (OTTplay Premium) in India on January 9, 2026.

Q: Is The Thing with Feathers based on a true story?

A: No, The Thing with Feathers is a fictional psychological drama. It is an adaptation of the 2015 novella Grief Is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter.

Q: What is the meaning behind the title?

A: The title, The Thing with Feathers, is a play on the famous Emily Dickinson poem, "Hope" is the thing with feathers.

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