Materialists Review: Sharp, Bold Take on Modern Love
Celine Song returned to the director’s chair with her sophomore film Materialists, delivering a sharp, emotionally complex, and deeply insightful exploration of modern romance. After receiving widespread critical acclaim for her debut feature Past Lives, Song stepped into riskier territory. She left behind the quiet, nostalgic melancholy of her first film and embraced something sharper, messier, and far more provocative.
Materialists arrived in theaters on June 13, 2025, and instantly sparked vibrant conversation among critics, audiences, and industry insiders. Song pulled back the curtain on romance, exposing the often-unspoken role money, status, and material gain play in modern dating. She skillfully blended biting satire with genuine emotional stakes, producing one of the most discussed romantic dramas of 2025.
The Premise: Love in a Transactional World
Set in New York City’s elite dating scene, Materialists follows Lucy, a successful professional matchmaker who treats love like a transaction. Dakota Johnson portrays Lucy with precise control, bringing a balance of charm, calculation, and vulnerability. Lucy builds her career on pairing wealthy, high-net-worth individuals with potential spouses who meet their rigid requirements. For her, love often comes with spreadsheets, income checks, and asset reports.
Her world shifts when she meets Harry, a private equity billionaire played by Pedro Pascal. Harry embodies everything Lucy preaches to her clients: power, wealth, and social standing. At the same time, Lucy reconnects with her ex-boyfriend John, played by Chris Evans. John offers emotional connection, passion, and authenticity, but lacks the financial stability that defines Lucy’s professional world.
As Lucy juggles her feelings for both men, her carefully curated system of romance starts to unravel. The film explores the harsh questions many avoid: Does love exist independently of money? Can relationships truly thrive without financial security? Song forces her characters—and her audience—to confront these uncomfortable truths.
The Performances: A Stellar Cast Anchors the Story
Dakota Johnson delivers one of her most nuanced performances to date. She plays Lucy with a sharp edge but allows cracks of vulnerability to peek through her polished exterior. Johnson never overplays Lucy’s cold pragmatism, instead revealing the emotional exhaustion that fuels her obsession with stability.
Pedro Pascal shines as Harry, effortlessly embodying the charm and quiet menace of immense wealth. He doesn’t simply serve as Lucy’s rich love interest; he symbolizes everything seductive—and dangerous—about financial security. His chemistry with Johnson electrifies their scenes, especially as their relationship grows increasingly transactional.
Chris Evans brings warmth and humanity to John. His portrayal of the struggling actor-turned-barista grounds the film emotionally. Evans plays John as sincere but never naive, offering Lucy something she secretly craves: unconditional love that asks for nothing in return.
The supporting cast, including Zoë Winters and Marin Ireland, elevate the secondary storylines. Winters portrays Sophie, one of Lucy’s clients whose disastrous match triggers the film’s moral conflict. Ireland plays Sophie’s mother with quiet power, injecting depth into what could have been a minor role.
Direction and Writing: Celine Song’s Evolved Vision
Celine Song refuses to repeat herself. While Past Lives focused on nostalgia and fate, Materialists attacks the present with sharp, clear-eyed cynicism. Song draws from her own six-month experience working at a matchmaking agency, infusing her screenplay with authentic, unsettling details.
She writes dialogue that snaps and stings, allowing characters to speak in blunt truths rarely heard in romantic films. Instead of idealizing love, Song exposes its commodification. Her writing balances humor and discomfort, forcing the audience to sit in the awkwardness of wealth’s intrusion into matters of the heart.
Song works closely with cinematographer Shabier Kirchner, who shoots the film on 35mm film to create a lush, tactile visual experience. New York glows under soft, warm lighting, juxtaposing the characters’ cold calculations about love and money. Every frame feels deliberate, drawing viewers into Lucy’s glamorous but hollow world.
The Tone: Comedy Meets Existential Romance
Materialists refuses to follow the traditional rom-com formula. Instead, Song presents an existential romantic drama wrapped in the aesthetics of luxury and modern privilege. The film echoes Jane Austen’s comedies of manners but updates them for a world ruled by income brackets and venture capital.
The humor lands with sharp precision. Song pokes fun at the absurdity of data-driven romance. Characters calculate age gaps, income differentials, and fertility windows with clinical detachment. Yet, beneath the satire lies real emotional weight. Lucy’s constant negotiation between security and love speaks to a universal anxiety many face in relationships today.
Song crafts a film that entertains while making audiences uncomfortable. She never offers easy answers, allowing the story’s ambiguity to linger long after the credits roll.
Critical Reception: Divided but Engaged
Critics responded to Materialists with largely positive, though occasionally polarized, reviews. Many praised Song’s bravery in tackling difficult subjects with honesty and intelligence. Reviewers from major outlets commended her for exposing the transactional nature of modern love without resorting to judgment or moral grandstanding.
Dakota Johnson’s performance received widespread acclaim, with critics calling her portrayal layered, mature, and career-defining. Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans also earned praise for their complementary performances, creating a believable and compelling love triangle.
Some critics, however, felt the film’s cynicism occasionally overwhelmed its emotional resonance. A few argued that the film flirted with cruelty, depicting relationships as purely mercenary without offering much hope for redemption. Others admired this boldness, seeing it as an honest portrayal of a culture obsessed with material gain.
Review aggregator sites reflected this split. The film scored 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and 70 out of 100 on Metacritic. CinemaScore audiences rated it a B–, while PostTrak reported a 69% positive audience response. Despite some division, most reviewers agreed that Song had cemented her place as one of the most exciting young directors in Hollywood.
Box Office and Financial Performance
With a modest production budget of approximately $20 million, Materialists entered theaters alongside major summer releases. During its opening weekend, it earned around $12 million at the domestic box office, placing third behind larger studio blockbusters. As of mid-June 2025, the film had grossed $15.5 million worldwide.
While not a commercial juggernaut, Materialists performed solidly for a mid-budget adult drama, particularly given the current theatrical climate. Its strong word-of-mouth and continued streaming potential promise a healthy long-term audience.
Industry Reaction and Cultural Impact
The film’s release ignited debate far beyond typical film reviews. Real-life matchmakers criticized the accuracy of Lucy’s profession, arguing that the film exaggerated ethical lapses for dramatic effect. Professional matchmakers highlighted boundary violations and questionable vetting processes depicted in the film that most reputable agencies would never allow.
Dakota Johnson herself weighed in on the state of Hollywood while promoting the film. In a recent interview, she criticized the industry’s reliance on formulaic remakes and data-driven content decisions. She praised Materialists for taking risks and embracing nuanced, character-driven storytelling.
Celine Song, for her part, defended the film’s provocative tone. She insisted that modern love involves constant negotiations over power, money, and stability, whether people admit it or not. Her film simply shines a light on conversations that often occur behind closed doors.
Conclusion: A Bold Second Act
Materialists stands as a bold, sophisticated second feature for Celine Song. She challenges audiences to confront the uncomfortable intersections of love, money, and power. Anchored by Dakota Johnson’s riveting performance and supported by excellent turns from Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans, the film succeeds in sparking conversation and reflection.
For viewers willing to engage with its uncomfortable truths, Materialists offers one of 2025’s most thought-provoking cinematic experiences. It challenges audiences to reconsider how material wealth shapes their own definitions of romance, commitment, and happiness. Celine Song proves once again that she remains one of the most fearless voices in contemporary filmmaking.
