Dakota Johnson

Chris Evans

Pedro Pascal

Zoë Winters

Marin Ireland

Louisa Jacobson

Dasha Nekrasova

Emmy Wheeler

Eddie Cahill

Sawyer Spielberg

Joseph Lee

John Magaro

Nedra Marie Taylor

Sietzka Rose

Halley Feiffer

Madeline Wise

Ian Stuart

Dan Domenech

Emiliano Díez

Rachel Zeiger-Haag

Alison Bartlett

Lindsey Broad

Baby Rose

Fernando Belo

Will Fitz

Beshoy Mehany

Swanmy Sampaio

Ayla Rodriguez

Douglas Aibel

Nick Stergiopoulos

Anthony Gasparro

Molly Mikula

Amy Beth Silver

Katina Danabassis

Celine Song

Shabier Kirchner

David Hinojosa

Pamela Koffler

Christine Vachon

Thurman Martin III

Maggie Ambrose

Keith Fraase

Dimitri Kouri

Ben Kahn

Alice Johnson

Yuval Levy

Becca GT

Meghan Currier

Matthew Glasner

Jesse Getchell

Daniel Pemberton

Taylor Shung

Danny Cohen

Len Blavatnik

Andrea Scarso

Timo Argillander

Daniel Timmons

Danielle Kampf

Ryan Billia

Mandy Bisesti

Kathleen Brown

Jessica Butanowicz

Donyale McRae

Emma Strachman

Courtney Ullrich

Romance

Drama

Materialists

Killer Films

IPR.VC

Access Entertainment

Finland

United States of America

English

new york city

love triangle

affectation

wedding

class differences

ex-boyfriend ex-girlfriend relationship

woman director

sexual assault

matchmaker

adoring

Definitely not a Rom-Com. (And that's a good thing.)

-

Some false advertising with this one. 

There's romance, yes. There are a few laughs, yes. This, however, is not a romantic comedy.

What it is is a two-hour philosophical journey on the themes of self-worth, value, and materialism through the lens of three very flawed characters. 

As a cynic, I appreciated that. With such beautiful principal actors it would be very easy to gin up a 90's or 00's type of rom-com, but this was exceedingly more thoughtful and interesting. 

If I have any complaint at all, it's the ending, which (IMHO) did not fit with the overall theme of the story and a little forced. 

But still, very good. 9/10 stars.

Manuel São Bento

Celine Song's Materialists is a stunningly mature, emotionally intelligent romantic drama, one that redefines the very concept of modern love without falling into the usual pitfalls of the genre. Anchored by three outstanding performances, Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal share extraordinary chemistry that feels raw, layered, and heartbreakingly authentic. Song's screenplay dissects with surgical precision the transactional nature of today's dating world, where intangible values like affection and vulnerability often struggle against the ever-growing checklist of material, social, and political boxes. Money, body image, height, political leanings - even something as seemingly trivial as the texture of one's hair - are thoughtfully explored as factors that, in theory, should dictate compatibility. But through intimate silences, aching glances, and conversations that pierce right through the soul, Song reminds us that love, in all its flawed, inexplicable glory, cannot be quantified.

Technically, Materialists is a masterclass in restraint. There's barely a musical score to be found, allowing every silence, every breath, and every hesitant word to carry the full weight of the characters' feelings. The cinematography makes the bold, unconventional choice to focus on the listener rather than the speaker, granting the audience rare insight into the unsaid, the reactions that words alone can't convey. Lingering shots in moments of silence exude not only tension but a rare, electric chemistry between the characters. The film crafts its emotional crescendo without a single moment of forced dramatization, making the eventual choices of Johnson's character feel entirely organic. Song bravely avoids providing easy answers: there's no judgment, no clear winner in the love triangle. Whether one follows love with all its imperfections, as in the Dakota-Evans connection, or chooses the materially perfect partner lacking in emotional spark, as represented by Pascal's character, Materialists argues that either path is valid - and equally human.

If there's one area where Song perhaps leans too heavily, it's in the recurring client interviews of Johnson's character, which, while often sharp and humorous, begin to border on repetitive. The thematic point about society's shallow dating expectations lands early on, and a couple of these scenes feel like they're spelling out what the rest of the movie has already conveyed so gracefully. But this minor excess does little to detract from the overall impact. Materialists stands as one of the finest romantic dramas in recent memory, brilliantly avoiding the traps of cliché and formula. It's a profoundly insightful exploration of why we fall in love, and how that choice - no matter how irrational, imperfect, or impractical - might be the truest thing about us.

Rating: A-

Materialists( 2025)

Some people just want more.

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A review by rssp55

Written by rssp55 on Fri Jun 13 2025

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