Maude Apatow’s ‘Poetic License’ Lands at Sony Pictures Classics After Row K Collapse

In March 2026, we learned that distributor Row K was facing major financial issues and was unable to pay its bills. A Variety article cited eight employees who described a cataclysmic atmosphere internally, punctuated by calls — or outright threats — of lawsuits from angry creditors.

As a result, several projects were suspended, including the “Cliffhanger” reboot, which was recently picked up by Neon, and Maude Apatow’s “Poetic License,” which has now been shipped off to another studio.

“Row K” acquired “Poetic License” out of TIFF last year, but Sony Pictures Classics has now stepped in and picked up the film. According to Variety, SPC is planning a release next year.

The film follows Liz (Leslie Mann), a former therapist and soon-to-be empty nester who moves to a new town and finds herself caught between college seniors Sam (Cooper Hoffman) and Ari (Andrew Barth Feldman), prompting her to reassess the life she’s built and the one she still craves.

The film stars Apatow’s own mother, Leslie Mann, alongside Cooper Hoffman, Andrew Barth Feldman, Nico Parker, and Maisy Stella, as well as Martha Kelly, Will Price, and Cliff “Method Man” Smith.

“Poetic License,” which currently sits at 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 77 on Metacritic, is eyeing a spring 2027 release. There are no details yet on the SPC/Row K deal, but I’m guessing it landed somewhere in the low seven-figure range.

Maude Apatow is best known for her role as Lexi Howard in HBO’s “Euphoria,” but she has also appeared in several films directed by her father, Judd Apatow, including “Knocked Up,” “This Is 40,” “The King of Staten Island,” and “The Bubble.” She has also starred in “Assassination Nation” and “The House of Tomorrow.”