The Gates is a 2026 American thriller film starring Mason Gooding, Algee Smith, Keith Powers, James Van Der Beek, Sofia Hublitz, Kylr Coffman, Elle Evans, and Brad Leland. Written and directed by John Burr, the plot follows three friends who witness a murder while driving through a gated community.
The film premiered at Los Angeles on February 24, 2026, and was released in the United States on March 13 by Lionsgate Premiere.
By late September 2024, principal photography, which took place at Owasso, wrapped. Daysha Broadway edited the film. Jongnic Bontemps composed the score for the film. The film is James Van Der Beek's final film role before his death on February 11, 2026, who portrayed Jacob, a pastor, in the film.
The film premiered at iPic Theaters Westwood in Los Angeles on February 24, 2026, and was released in select theaters across the United States by Lionsgate Premiere on March 13.
Robert Daniels of RogerEbert.com gave the film two out of four stars and wrote, "Van Der Beek keeps the film interesting and guarded, even when it tries so hard to blurt out its every theme and lesson. So while The Gates itself isn't a total smash, it's a more than sturdy final effort from a beloved actor."