Materialists

15

From the acclaimed director of Past Lives, Celine Song returns with Materialists a sharp, stylish romantic dramedy that explores love, ambition, and what we’re really looking for in a partner.

Set in modern-day Manhattan, Materialists follows Lucy, a high-end matchmaker who seems to have it all, confidence, beauty, and a booming career catering to New York’s elite. But behind her glossy exterior lies a woman grappling with life’s oldest question: marry for love, or for money?

Lucy (Dakota Johnson) thinks she knows the answer. When she meets Harry (Pedro Pascal), a charming and wildly wealthy man at a wedding she helped create, it seems like a dream match even if she bluntly admits she’s only interested in marrying for financial security. But everything shifts when her ex-boyfriend John (Chris Evans), a broke actor-turned-cater-waiter, unexpectedly appears at the same event. The chemistry is instant and undeniable, and Lucy finds herself pulled between two very different visions of what her future could be.

Written and directed by Song, Materialists draws on everything from classic Jane Austen dilemmas to screwball comedies and glossy 2000s rom-coms. But this isn’t fluffy escapism. It’s a contemporary look at class, gender roles, and how much compromise we're willing to make for love.

The supporting cast includes Zoë Winters (Succession), Louisa Jacobson (The Gilded Age), Dasha Nekrasova, and Marin Ireland, and there’s standout work from Chris Evans, offering his most grounded and emotionally raw performance to date. A subplot involving one of Lucy’s clients adds extra depth, and Song’s direction is full of grace notes and quiet insight.

Whether you’re drawn to the cast, the New York backdrop, or Song’s singular voice as a filmmaker, Materialists is one of this year’s most anticipated releases.

Did you know?

The idea for the film first sparked a decade ago, when writer-director Celine Song spent six months working at a high-end matchmaking agency.

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