Following the critical acclaim of Past Lives – Our Past, South Korean-Canadian filmmaker Celine Song presents Materialists, her take on a classic romantic comedy. Led by stars like Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans, the film premiered in French theaters on July 2, 2025, and will be broadcast on Canal+ on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 9:09 PM. Blending the charm of a traditional New York romance with sharp contemporary insights, the movie explores love and relationships in an age obsessed with social status and material success.
Set against the backdrop of bustling Manhattan, this story follows Lucy Mason (Dakota Johnson), a professional matchmaker at a boutique agency specializing in upscale dating services. She expertly orchestrates romantic connections for her clients, yet finds herself at a loss when it comes to her own love life. Everything changes when she becomes entangled in an unexpected love triangle, caught between two totally different men.
On one side, Harry Castillo (Pedro Pascal) stands out as a charismatic financier, embodying a promise of stability and social success. On the other, John Finch (Chris Evans), his former partner, a struggling actor and bartender with uncertain earnings but an honest heart. Blending material comfort with deep emotional bonds, Lucy faces an intimate dilemma that mirrors the conflicting values of a generation navigating the commodification of relationships.
In her second feature film, Materialists, Celine Song explores themes that echo those from her previous work, Past Lives, particularly how past romantic experiences influence current decisions. The director drew inspiration from her own journey—before turning to writing and filmmaking, she worked at a matchmaking agency in New York, where she observed firsthand how some clients’ criteria for an ideal partner can be surprisingly materialistic.
The film was shot in 35mm across New York City and its surrounding areas, including High Falls, between April and June 2024. Shabier Kirchner's cinematography captures an elegant, almost otherworldly cityscape, while Daniel Pemberton’s score underscores this refined atmosphere. In this modern romantic drama, Celine Song reimagines the classic love triangle, drawing intentional parallels to iconic romances like Billy Wilder’s The Apartment and Rob Reiner’s When Harry Met Sally.
Our Review of Materialists
Directed and penned by Celine Song, Materialists (2025) positions itself as a sophisticated take on contemporary romantic comedy—more mature, critical, and formally refined. Bringing together Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans, the film delves into the mechanics of love in the age of affective capitalism, subtly questioning how relationships are negotiated within New York’s elite circles. An enticing premise that’s well-executed in its direction but hindered by an emotional coolness that keeps it at arm’s length.
The story follows Lucy Mason (Dakota Johnson), a sharp and aloof matchmaker based in New York, who seems to understand love better in others than in herself. Central to the narrative are Harry Castillo (Pedro Pascal), a charismatic and refined financier, and John Finch (Chris Evans), his ex-partner—a drifting actor whose sincere honesty stands out amid his rival’s opulence. The love triangle unfolds through a straightforward narrative punctuated by symbolic flashbacks of their past breakup, where love collapses under the weight of financial insecurity.
The film alternates between sharp, witty matchmaking scenes and contemplative moments of solitude. Its deliberately slow, almost theatrical pacing aims for introspection—far from the fast tempo typical of standard rom-coms. This formal choice underscores the film’s critical stance, which offers an incisive look at how relationships are often reduced to monetary values: income, status, possessions. Yet, the satire of “sentimental capitalism” struggles to sustain itself over the course of the film, sometimes retreating behind a too-sedate structure that inadvertently reins in genre conventions rather than challenging them.
An added subplot involving a client victim of assault could have rooted the film more urgently in feminist themes. Unfortunately, it feels too abrupt and instrumentalized, never surpassing illustrative storytelling. This lack of emotional grounding extends to the characters’ arcs as well.
Shabier Kirchner’s cinematography lends a refined aesthetic, depicting New York as a luxurious set—bathed in golden light, filled with impeccable costumes and minimalist spaces. Daniel Pemberton’s musical score enhances this visual sophistication with subtle yet dramatic notes that echo Lucy’s inner ambiguity without overwhelming it.
Dakota Johnson delivers a restrained, composed performance that aligns with her character’s icy, distant approach to love. Her portrayal feels convincing but also adds to the film’s overall sense of a muted emotional palette. Pedro Pascal charms as usual, but his role remains more a projection of fantasies—powerful and secure—than a fully fleshed-out individual. Chris Evans offers raw honesty as John but struggles to establish a convincing romantic tension with his counterparts. Only Zoë Winters, in a supporting role, manages to inject genuine emotion during a challenging scene, bringing a rare moment of human depth to the film.
The lack of chemistry within the love triangle diminishes the film’s emotional resonance, leaving viewers often as outsiders rather than witnesses to a genuine upheaval. Even the pivotal flashback—meant to condense five years of relationship into one scene—lacks dramatic impact. The breakup between Lucy and John, driven by their financial hardships, is sketched with a bluntness that dilutes its symbolic weight.
Ultimately, Materialists will appeal to viewers who enjoy smart, stylized romances that embed social commentary about love, gender, and class beneath their surface. Those who appreciate reflective contemporary fiction, with carefully crafted dialogue and a delicate atmosphere, will find much to admire. However, fans craving raw emotion, passionate tension, or heartwarming stories may leave somewhat unsatisfied. The film is thoughtful and articulate, but it doesn’t always evoke what it aims to expose.
Materialists
Film | 2025
Scheduled for theatrical release: July 2, 2025
TV Broadcast: March 17, 2026, at 9:09 PM on Canal+
Romantic comedy | Duration: 1h 57min
Directed by Celine Song | Starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, Chris Evans
Original title: Materialists
Country: United States
With Materialists, Celine Song offers a modern twist on the romantic comedy, exploring how personal feelings clash with social and economic pressures. Set against a chic, stylized New York City, the film examines how love choices often boil down to a trade-off between passion and stability, shedding light on the conflicting priorities of a generation navigating the commodification of relationships.
For viewers drawn to this perspective, Past Lives – Our Past Lives, Celine Song’s debut film, offers a captivating exploration of relationships and life choices spanning the years. Another notable reference is When Harry Met Sally by Rob Reiner, a quintessential New York romance that humorously and accurately examines the complexities and ambiguities of romantic relationships.
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