Materialists

"Some people just want more."

2025 1h 56m EN

😐

6.3

MID

★6.3TMDB · 1,460

RomanceDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex.

“Some people just want more.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Dakota Johnson
Lucy
Chris Evans
John
Pedro Pascal
Harry
Zoë Winters
Sophie
Marin Ireland
Violet
Dasha Nekrasova
Daisy
Emmy Wheeler
Rose
Louisa Jacobson
Charlotte

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Celine Song
Writers: Celine Song
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America, Finland

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 5.4× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released last year.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Finland.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Celine Song, shot by Shabier Kirchner. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Daniel Pemberton. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Keith Fraase shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Some people just want more.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Celine Song directs. Shabier Kirchner behind the camera. Daniel Pemberton scores. Keith Fraase cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America, Finland. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Made its money back 5.4× over at the box office.
2Released last year.
3International production across 2 countries: United States of America, Finland.
4Directed by Celine Song, shot by Shabier Kirchner. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Daniel Pemberton. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Keith Fraase shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Some people just want more.".
9IMDB entry: tt30253473 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 10 themes, including "new york city", "love triangle", "wedding", "class differences".

The technical file

Cinematography: Shabier Kirchner
Original score: Daniel Pemberton
Editing: Keith Fraase
Production design: Anthony Gasparro
Costume design: Katina Danabassis
Makeup / hair: Kathleen Brown
VFX supervisor: Yuval Levy
Sound: Daniel Timmons
Stunt coordinator: Becca GT
Runtime: 116 min · 1h 56m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.78:1 (16:9)
Status: Released
Budget: $20,000,000
Box office: $107,949,056
Return: 540% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Materialists (2025)

Also by

Celine Song

Past Lives
2023 · ★ 7.7

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Community reviews

What people are saying

rssp552025-06-13
★ 9/10
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 Bento2025-07-03
★ 8/10
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-
Horseface2025-07-27
★ 1/10
What is going on with Hollywood? Hollywood HDR is a fudging cancer. It means "destroy the image completely, turn off all the lights, and present the audience with moving shadows." Yet another movie that cannot be watched, because it's so insanely dark. Zero stars. Not a movie.