Influenced is a 2026 American comedy film directed by Rachel Israel from a screenplay by Jill Kargman, Carol Hartsell
and Sean Crespo. It stars Kargman, Laura Bell Bundy, Justin Bartha, Eugene Cordero, Clara Wong, Nathan Lee Graham, Christine Taylor, Jessica Capshaw, Jason Biggs, David Krumholtz and Dan Hedaya, with Gwyneth Paltrow, Drew Barrymore, and Matt Damon in cameo roles.
It had its world premiere at the Miami Jewish Film Festival on January 18, 2026, and was released on May 8, 2026, by Menemsha Films and Brainstorm Media.
Contents
Plot
The film follows a newly divorced Jewish mother in Manhattan who attempts to reach one million instagram followers and enter the Upper East Side influencer scene while helping her twins prepare for their bar and bat mitzvah. At the twins' celebration, their study of b'tzelem Elohim—the teaching that human beings are created in the image of God—inspires them to establish a charity. After bonding with Blagdanarova Hammerman, a Latvian socialite immigrant, she embarks on a journey to help others that leads her to reconnect with her husband.
Cast
Jill Kargman as Dzanielle
Gwyneth Paltrow as Kim, Dzanielle's cousin
Drew Barrymore as herself
Jason Biggs as Thief, who robs the nail salon
David Krumholtz as Gary, an "unhoused" man
Christine Taylor as McKinley, Dzanielle's friend
Jessica Capshaw as Amy, Dzanielle's friend
Justin Bartha as Jordan, Dzanielle's husband
Laura Bell Bundy as Blagdanorova Hammerman, Dzanielle's new friend from Latvia
Eugene Cordero as Yuki, a well known dog-walker
Clara Wong as Zhija Du, a pregnant nail salon worker
Jenny Mollen as Liz Hittler, Dzanielle's friend
Sol Miranda as Pillar, Dzanielle's housekeeper
Olli Haaskivi as Mike
Nathan Lee Graham as Connor, Blagdanarova's butler
Dan Hedaya as Morty Hammerman, Blagdanarova's husband
Rebecca Naomi Jones as Pam, Dzanielle's friend
Mindy Cohn as Tess, Blagdanarova's assistant
Judd Goodstein as Jared, Dzanielle's son
Ellie Biron as Dhakota, Dzanielle's daughter
Matt Damon as himself
Production
In July 2024, it was announced Jill Kargman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Drew Barrymore, Jason Biggs, David Krumholtz, Christine Taylor, Jessica Capshaw, Justin Bartha, Laura Bell Bundy, Eugene Cordero, Clara Wong, Jenny Mollen, Sol Miranda, Olli Haaskivi, Nathan Lee Graham, and Dan Hedaya had joined the cast of the film, titled Miracle on 74th Street, with Rachel Israel directing from a screenplay by Kargman, Carol Hartsell, and Sean Crespo. Principal photography had concluded in New York.
Release
Influenced had its world premiere at the Miami Jewish Film Festival on January 18, 2026. It also screened at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival on February 25, 2026. Menemsha Films and Brainstorm Media will distribute the film in the United States. It was released in the United States on May 8, 2026.