It turns out women still want romance — just not necessarily the version wrapped in a neat bow with a swelling soundtrack and a wedding finale.
That’s where Materialists, the buzzy new romantic dramedy starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans, comes in. It’s not your mother’s rom-com — but it might be exactly what a modern audience is craving.
A Box Office Surprise in a Sea of Sequels
In a summer dominated by big-budget sequels and action blockbusters (Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon), Materialists surprised many by punching above its weight at the box office. It outperformed expectations, proving that stories centered on relationships — even complicated ones — still draw crowds, especially when told with originality.
Hollywood has increasingly relegated rom-coms to streaming platforms — think Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy or The Idea of You. But the success of films like Anyone But You and now Materialists shows there’s still appetite for love stories on the big screen. The catch? Today’s audience wants romance with a side of realism.
A Love Story for the Complicated Now
In Materialists, Dakota Johnson plays Lucy, a high-end matchmaker torn between two very different suitors: Harry (Pedro Pascal), a rich financier who can offer her luxury, and John (Chris Evans), a charming but financially struggling ex who still makes her heart race.
While the film flirts with the glossy trappings of a traditional rom-com, it pivots into deeper territory — including a subplot involving sexual assault that critics argue was introduced but not fully explored.
Still, the film resonates. For some viewers, it was a refreshing, if imperfect, take on modern love. Hira Mustafa, who saw it with friends, said she appreciated the film’s ambition but felt the romance fell flat. “It lacked emotional depth,” she told Yahoo. “It introduced serious topics but didn’t follow through.”
Others, like TikTok moviegoer Audrey Atienza, embraced the film’s introspective tone. “Maybe I’m a sucker for love,” she said, “but I feel like the movie demonstrated why Lucy chose the person who made her feel seen, not just secure.”
Debating the Ending: Love or Settling?
The film’s ending — Lucy choosing love with the broke-but-devoted John over a life of comfort with Harry — has sparked debate online. Critics dubbed it “broke men propaganda,” while defenders called it emotionally honest.
Alexis Oteng, host of the ChickFlicks podcast, argued that the decision made emotional sense. “It’s not about money versus love,” she said. “It’s about being loved for your whole self — even the messy parts.”
A New Type of Rom-Com
Reviewers note that Materialists was marketed with a playful, early-2000s rom-com aesthetic, but the actual film is more cerebral and socially reflective — a mix of sharp commentary and emotional realism. Jamie McAleney, a TikTok film reviewer, said the marketing may have set up misleading expectations.
“This isn’t Notting Hill. It’s not trying to be,” she explained. “It’s a rom-com for people who are tired of pretending love always makes perfect sense.”
Audiences Still Want Fresh Stories
In a recent Globanow.com News/YouGov poll, 46% of respondents said none of the summer’s biggest titles excited them. Only 13% were most looking forward to Mission: Impossible. The takeaway? Blockbusters aren’t the only way to get people into theaters.
Dakota Johnson, speaking to Hot Ones, summed up the sentiment: “Humans don’t want the same thing over and over. They want something new. They want to feel.”
And Materialists delivers on that promise — even if imperfectly. It may not be the rom-com everyone expected, but it’s a signal that audiences are ready to embrace more layered, original stories about love — with all its contradictions.
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