Overview

Materialists (2025), directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Celine Song (Past Lives), is a razor-sharp romantic comedy-drama that peels back the glossy veneer of New York City’s elite to reveal a world where luxury is currency, love is a transaction, and authenticity is the rarest commodity of all. Released by A24 in the United States on June 13, 2025, and streaming on digital platforms from July 22, 2025, the film stars Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans in a scintillating exploration of modern romance, status obsession, and the fragile line between having it all and losing yourself. With its witty dialogue, luminous visuals, and a beguiling soundtrack, Materialists is both a seductive love story and a biting commentary on the commodification of desire in a city where image reigns supreme.

Set against the backdrop of Manhattan’s high-stakes dating scene, Materialists follows a cunning personal shopper whose charm and ambition ignite a chain reaction of secrets, betrayals, and unexpected awakenings among the city’s wealthiest circles. Drawing on Song’s own experience as a matchmaker and her love for classic romance films, from Jane Austen adaptations to Nora Ephron’s timeless rom-coms, the film reimagines the genre for a cynical yet hopeful age. With a 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and critical praise for its “mature deconstruction of the conventional rom-com,” Materialists cements Song as a modern master of relationship dramas.

Plot

In the glittering chaos of New York City, Lucy Mason (Dakota Johnson) is a personal shopper turned matchmaker who thrives in the world of Manhattan’s ultra-wealthy. A failed actress with a knack for curating perfection, Lucy works at Adore, a high-end matchmaking agency that caters to the city’s elite—clients who measure love in net worth, height, and social clout. Voluntarily celibate and proudly an “eternal bachelorette,” Lucy has sworn off romance unless it comes with a multimillion-dollar penthouse. Her mantra is simple: “I’ll either die alone or marry someone wealthy.” Yet beneath her polished exterior lies a woman grappling with her own worth in a world that reduces everyone to a checklist.

Lucy’s carefully curated life unravels when she inserts herself into the orbit of two men who couldn’t be more different. At a lavish wedding she orchestrated for one of Adore’s clients, Lucy meets Harry (Pedro Pascal), a charismatic private-equity investor dubbed a “unicorn” for his wealth, charm, and $12 million downtown apartment. Their flirtation at the singles’ table sparks an instant connection, fueled by Harry’s effortless confidence and Lucy’s sharp wit. He offers her a glimpse of the life she’s always chased—swanky dinners, private jets, and a world where money solves every problem. But Harry’s vulnerability, revealed in a late twist, complicates the fantasy, forcing Lucy to question whether his wealth is a shield or a trap.

Complicating matters is John (Chris Evans), Lucy’s ex-boyfriend and a struggling theater actor who crashes back into her life as a cater waiter at the same wedding. John is the opposite of Harry—a scruffy, golden-retriever-hearted dreamer who shares a cramped apartment with roommates and can’t afford Manhattan’s parking fees. Their five-year relationship ended over money, with a disastrous fifth-anniversary dinner from a food cart marking their breaking point. Yet John’s lingering love for Lucy, evident in every tender glance, reignites old sparks and stirs doubts about her materialistic ideals. A flashback to their chaotic breakup on a crowded New York street reveals a love that was real but unsustainable, leaving Lucy torn between the comfort of familiarity and the allure of a new life.

As Lucy navigates this love triangle, her role as a personal shopper and matchmaker begins to blur, exposing the transactional nature of her world. She styles her clients’ lives, from their wardrobes to their relationships, but her own desires remain unfulfilled. A darker subplot involving a client’s traumatic dating experience—a heinous date that shocks even Lucy—challenges her complicity in a system that prioritizes profit over people. Meanwhile, her interactions with colleagues (Zoë Winters, Louisa Jacobson) and clients (Dasha Nekrasova, Marin Ireland) reveal the absurdity and heartbreak of a dating culture obsessed with perfection. When secrets from Harry’s past and John’s ambitions collide, Lucy must confront the cracks in her carefully crafted image and decide what she truly values: status, style, seduction, or something deeper.

Framed by a playful prologue and epilogue featuring a prehistoric couple exchanging flower rings, Materialists suggests that love has always been about what we offer each other—yet in today’s world, the stakes feel higher. With New York City as both a romanticized dreamscape and a ruthless marketplace, the film delivers a resolution that is both heartwarming and unsettling, leaving audiences to ponder: in a city where image is everything, what’s left when it cracks?

Key Highlights

• Stellar Cast: Dakota Johnson shines as Lucy, embodying a stylish yet aloof matchmaker with a mix of cynicism and vulnerability. Pedro Pascal’s Harry is effortlessly charismatic, blending old-money charm with surprising depth, while Chris Evans delivers a show-stopping performance as John, an “irresistible screw-up” whose tenderness steals the show. Supporting players like Zoë Winters (Succession) and Louisa Jacobson add sharp wit and emotional nuance. Critics praise the trio’s chemistry, noting their “swoon-worthy” performances as some of their “meatiest material yet.”
• Celine Song’s Vision: Fresh off her Oscar-nominated Past Lives, Song crafts a “mature deconstruction of the rom-com” that balances glossy romance with piercing honesty. Her experience as a matchmaker informs the film’s authenticity, while her love for Jane Austen and classic rom-coms infuses it with cultural wit and emotional curiosity. The film’s dialogue, described as “vivid” and “bracingly unsentimental,” distills complex themes into unforgettable lines.
• Gorgeous Visuals: Shot in New York City from April 29 to June 6, 2024, Materialists captures Manhattan’s luminous backdrops, from chic West Village offices to palatial penthouses. Cinematography by Shabier Kirchner (Past Lives) uses muted colors to ground the story, avoiding the glossy vibrancy of ‘90s rom-coms. Long takes, like the wedding after-party two-shot of Lucy and Harry, showcase Song’s theatrical roots and her actors’ prowess.
• Beguiling Soundtrack: Needle-drops like Harry Nilsson’s “I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City” underscore the film’s honeymoon-phase romance, while a subtle score enhances its emotional realism. The music creates a sense of wonder, balancing the story’s cynicism with moments of hope.
• Thematic Depth: Materialists explores the commodification of love in a “marriage market” that resembles a stock exchange. It critiques capitalism’s distortion of romance, where clients demand “customized” partners and wealth seduces like a drug. Yet Song avoids easy answers, portraying Harry as genuinely kind and John as flawed but devoted, making Lucy’s choice complex and relatable.
• Cultural Commentary: Set in a city of stark wealth divides, the film reflects on modern dating’s transactional nature, where checklists and “exchange value” dominate. Critics compare it to Sex and the City directed by Eric Rohmer, blending cosmopolitan glamour with philosophical inquiry. Posts on X highlight its “brutally honest” take on love and money, though some fans debate its ending.
• Critical Acclaim: With a 79% Rotten Tomatoes score, Materialists is lauded as “formally inventive, emotionally curious, and thoroughly adult.” Reviewers praise its “topical boldness” and New York’s dual portrayal as a real and romanticized cityscape. However, some note a loss of momentum in the second half due to an underdeveloped subplot.

Release Details

Materialists premiered in U.S. theaters on June 13, 2025, alongside How to Train Your Dragon, grossing $52 million worldwide ($36 million in the U.S./Canada, $16 million internationally) against projections of $7–9 million for its opening weekend. Distributed by A24 domestically and Sony Pictures Releasing internationally (excluding Russia, China, and Japan), the film is now available on VOD platforms like Fandango at Home and Amazon Prime as of July 22, 2025. With a runtime of approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, it’s rated R for mature themes and language, suitable for mature teens and adults. Special features include behind-the-scenes interviews with Song and the cast, available on digital releases.

Why You Should Watch

• A Modern Rom-Com Reinvented: Materialists sidesteps rom-com clichés, offering a cynical yet hopeful take on love that feels fresh and relevant. Fans of Past Lives or Sex and the City will appreciate its nuanced storytelling.
• Star Power: Johnson, Pascal, and Evans deliver captivating performances, with chemistry that keeps the love triangle relatable and engaging. Their “swoon-worthy” roles make the film a showcase of their talents.
• New York as a Character: The city’s glittering chaos—its penthouses, dive bars, and crowded streets—serves as a vibrant backdrop that mirrors the characters’ desires and struggles.
• Thought-Provoking Themes: The film’s exploration of love versus materialism, choice versus control, and self-worth versus status resonates universally, sparking post-viewing debates. X users note its “uncomfortable yet honest” mirror to modern society.
• Celine Song’s Craft: Song’s elegant dialogue, inventive framing, and ability to blend glamour with grit confirm her as a filmmaker to watch. Her next project is already eagerly awaited.
• Perfect for Discussion: As Song herself says, the film is “good” for couples to watch together, revealing compatibility through post-movie conversations about love and values. It’s not a first-date movie but a thought-provoking one for those navigating romance.

Conclusion

Materialists (2025) is a dazzling dramedy that captures the seductive allure and soul-crushing pressure of New York’s elite dating scene. Celine Song crafts a love story that is both glamorous and grounded, with Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans breathing life into a triangle of desire, regret, and awakening. Through its sharp wit, luminous visuals, and unflinching honesty, the film asks what we truly value when everything money can buy isn’t enough. As Lucy navigates status, style, and seduction, Materialists holds a mirror to our own obsessions, reminding us that love—messy, imperfect, and human—remains the only thing that endures when the facade cracks.