Dakota Johnson's Sundance film Cha Cha Real Smooth acquired by Apple TV+

Apple has acquired the worldwide rights of one of Sundance Film Festival's coveted films Cha Cha Real Smooth, starring Dakota Johnson. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the streamer has paid $15 million for the deal. Cooper Raiff is the writer-director of the coming-of-age dramedy, which is also the maiden project for Dakota Johnson as producer. 

Cha Cha Real Smooth follows a college graduate who works as a party host strikes a friendship with a young mother and her autistic teenage daughter (Vanessa Burghardt) at a bar mitzva. Also part of the cast are Leslie Mann, Evan Assante, Brad Garrett, Raúl Castillo, and Odeya Rush.

Raiff's debut Shithouse was the 2020 SXSW grand jury prize winner. This is his second directorial project.

Picturestart and Endeavor Content have co-financed the film. Ro Donnelly, Erik Feig and Jessica Switch are also the producers. Jeff Valeri, Shayne Fiske Goldner and Julia Hammer are the executive producers.

Johnson's other feature Am I OK? that was screened at the festival was also bought by HBO Max and Warner Bros. 

Previously, Apple had landed CODA for a mammoth $25-million-deal, which has been lauded for its story and casting.