Materialists is a project on the 2025 movie schedule that caused quite a stir. While some Materialists' reviews (like ours) were very positive, others pointed out flaws, and online, there was a debate going on about the film. However, along with the “controversy” surrounding Celine Song’s romance has come a lot of success, and there’s no question that this A24 flick is a hit. The director doesn’t really want viewers to know that, though.

Now, this movie made over $105 million globally at the box office, which is impressive, especially since its estimated budget was $20 million. Plus, according to THR, it’s one of this year’s highest-grossing original films. Now that it’s hit streaming, even more people are watching it, as its No. 1 place on HBO Max proves. However, Celine Song doesn’t really want audiences to be aware of all that buzz, as she told The Hollywood Reporter:

She explained that she doesn’t want her movie to be commodified. She doesn’t want it to be used for corporate interest, and she simply wants Materialists to exist. Song said:

Song’s point here makes sense. I think she’s saying that when a film is used to sell a product, it’s hard to genuinely care for it. However, if a project is simply just art, it’s easier for audiences to deeply care and create a genuine connection with it.

When you think about the message of Materialists, this statement goes right along with it. The movie follows Dakota Johnson’s matchmaker, Lucy, as she tries to work the math of relationships to help her clients. Meanwhile, she’s also grappling with her own love life, as she finds herself having to choose between Pedro Pascal’s rich, steady and charming Harry or her ex, Chris Evans’ struggling actor but deeply caring and kind-hearted John.

The film dives deep into the collision of the math of relationships, the desire for financial stability, and the magic of love. And Materialists’ ending asks audiences to examine how they see love, relationships and the work and acceptance that comes with them. It also slaps audiences in the face with how money plays into all of it. In fact, that point of the movie is what caused the viral “broke man propaganda” debate.

Just like how Materialists ask audiences to examine their relationship with love and the role money plays in how they handle it, Song is hoping that audiences see the movie in a nuanced way, too.

The best way for audiences to do that is to make up their own mind about this film. They shouldn’t let outside buzz or, in Song’s words, “corporate interests” influence their experience if possible (which I think is true for all art); that way, their opinion and reading of the piece can be 100% their own. By doing that, the film can just be itself too.

Now, if you are looking to see Materialists, you can stream it with an HBO Max subscription.

SPOILERS are ahead for Materialists.

With just two months left in the year, I can say confidently that Celine Song’s Materialists is still one of the best 2025 movie releases I’ve seen. It’s been months since I first watched the romance movie starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans, and it’s among the few films that I’ve continued to think about, and more importantly take into my life. While I absolutely loved it, the movie has been the object of a lot of conversation since its release that I think seems to have steered some people away from it getting its proper flowers.

Now that it’s streaming on HBO Max, and certainly a lot more people will be watching it, and adding to the heated debate, I wanted to add in my thoughts, and talk about why I think the reaction to Materialists is proof we need more modern romances in the world.

My Experience Watching And Falling For Materialists

I went to go see Materialists with a couple of friends over the summer after being taken aback by writer/director Celine Song’s debut movie, Past Lives. (And, of course the Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal of it all drew me in further). It remains one of the most memorable experiences I had in movie theaters this year, not only because of Song’s gorgeous filmmaking, and the really poignant story she tells about modern love, but because of the hours of conversation it sparked among my friends after the credits rolled.

Of course, we had a blast discussing whether Dakota Johnson’s matchmaker character Lucy should have chosen to get back together with her ex, John (Chris Evans), as she does at the end, stuck it out with Harry (Pedro Pascal), a wealthy man who initially sweeps her off her feet, or remained single. But, it ultimately led us to a discussion about our own relationships, and beliefs on being in love versus the practicalities of a longterm partnership. It made me reflect on my own patterns and preconceptions about relationships and marriage, and has continued to in the months since every now and again. As someone who loves romance movies and TV shows, I think it’s important to point out how rare of an experience I found this to be.

Explaining The Controversy Of Materialists

Which brings me to the viral “controversy” around Materialists – which I put in quotes, because the controversial part has more to do with audiences in my opinion than the content itself. Anyways, when I went to see this movie, I had heard about it sparking a lot of conversation about how the romances are handled. Obviously, once I saw it, I could totally understand why. There’s a lot to unpack about Lucy’s journey with John and Harry, and what the movie is perhaps trying to tell us about what’s important when settling down with a partner.

The loudest conversation that ended up ruling the internet’s discussion about it was viewers deeming it “broke boy propaganda” because John is a struggling actor and waiter who Lucy decides to stick with, rather than pursuing a wealthy, more “eligible” bachelor like Harry. When Refinery29 spoke to Song about this dialogue about her movie, she said she found it “disappointing” before saying this:

Alongside Song’s comments on her disapproval of the way the internet has been talking about John, she also spoke to the larger reason it bothers her. In her words:

I think Song makes an interesting point here, because it speaks to our current overarching value systems when it comes to relationships. Isn’t it interesting how the movie was pulled down a tier because it was decided that the message was that it was promoting women being with a man who’s characterized as being “broke,” rather than celebrating the main characters for choosing love over materialism?

I'm Shocked At How Many People Missed The Point Of The Movie

That last question is particularly interesting to me (as someone who did like the ending) because it’s literally just a movie! I find it really interesting that a horde of people criticized Lucy for choosing the man with the least impressive bank account, despite clearly having a long held connection and real spark with him, even in the world of make believe movies, where there’s no actual stakes to her making the decision. One of our prior pieces from another writer also wrote about how she doesn’t believe the ending that Lucy and John will stay together. It felt like everyone decided to be her judgey mom who's like, "But, how much does he make, Lucy? Are you sure it's going to last, Lucy?"

I think the argument that has fueled conversations about Materialists misses the point, because they are treating Lucy like she’s a real person who needs to make this sensible decision, when we should be talking about the movie as a piece of entertainment and commentary on love. It’s a lot more interesting from a story point of view that Lucy chooses John because it’s not the sensible option; it's the human option. They’ve already broken up before. He still lives with roommates, and sure, she could find another Harry-type with a sizable bank account. Love is messy. Love is not logical, and that’s why it’s kind of beautiful. How many of us know someone who's in a relationship that doesn’t fully “make sense,” but absolutely works anyway? I keep going back to one quote in the film when John asks Lucy why people get married. As she replies:

The movie is telling us that love is a leap of faith, and it’s hopeful. You can have a list of have-tos all you want, but ultimately, settling down is choosing someone you think things will work with who you want to grow old alongside. If Lucy had picked Harry, whom she didn’t really love, she would have had security, sure, but that’s not what she was searching for the most.

I Think The Romance Genre Being Largely Dead For Over A Decade Has A Lot To Do With It

To wrap my thoughts up here, I think the reaction to Materialists shows a scary lack of romanticism in the current landscape when it comes to movies like this. A section of the internet wrote off this movie because they decided it was telling women to “settle” for men without deep pockets, when I think it's actually commenting on the human experience of deciding how to navigate partnership in the modern dating pool. It's reminded me that there simply aren't enough mainstream movies being made about people in relationships, now in 2025, and reminded me that there are a lot of interesting conversations to be had about this particular time for people looking for a partner.

I hope to see more filmmakers tell the kind of thought-provoking storylines about relationships that Materialists does, because at the end of the day, I think defining who we love, and why we love is one of the most important and vital conversations we can have. At a time where the romance genre rarely has viral moments like this, I think we might be a little out of practice.

Spoilers for the end of Materialists are ahead.

Of the projects on the 2025 movie schedule, few have sparked the debate that Celine Song’s latest romantic drama, Materialists, has. The film follows Dakota Johnson’s Lucy, a matchmaker who embarks on her own relationship journey with the “perfect on paper” Harry, who is played by Pedro Pascal. This relationship becomes complicated as she also decides to foster a friendship with her ex-boyfriend John, who is a struggling actor played by Chris Evans. Lucy ends up choosing John over Harry, which fans were vocally annoyed about due to his financial struggles. However, the filmmaker has a different opinion on the ending of Materialists, and it was incredibly thoughtful.

Celine Song was asked to comment on some of the criticisms of Materialists, including some snarky ones on Letterboxd, during an interview with Refinery29. Many people have been calling the film “broke man propaganda” for essentially promoting a relationship with someone of a lower socio-economic class at a time when the economy is arguably struggling, as this might not be financially wise.

While these reviews have been infused with humor, Song expressed that she doesn’t find this commentary very funny at all, because it misrepresents feminist ideas. She explained:

Essentially, Song believes that limiting the character of John to just his socioeconomic status strips him of his person. He is a fully fleshed out character, with a lot of love for and a connection to Lucy, which Harry lacks despite being more wealthy and established.

Song intended for the film to be told from a feminist perspective, which emphasises the value of the person, and she has historically fought against systems of oppression, including classism. She continued to comment on this idea, saying that to reduce the John character to being a “broke man” diminishes him. She said:

There is a lot of truth to what Song is saying, especially if you consider why John is poor in the film. He is hardworking, but also has chosen a career in the arts, which has become less and less of a lucrative field in modern society, which places less value on the arts and cultural contribution. The point of the film is that Lucy decides to marry John at City Hall because of who John is as a person, and her emotional connection to him, rather than what he is able to provide for her. This doesn’t promote “being broke” but rather partnerships based on love rather than opportunity.

I think it's admirable and truly thoughtful for Song to defend her film in such a way, putting it more in a cultural context. However, the alternative argument towards the message in Materialists is still quite compelling. While we can reduce it to snarky Letterboxd reviews meant to be humorous, there is some truth to recognizing John’s faults. He isn’t just “poor,” he also lacks a certain maturity that lands him in certain situations.

Audiences have pointed out that deciding to take a car to dinner when he can’t afford to park it is a result of poor planning. And maybe his flaw isn’t that he’s a cater-waiter with roommates, it’s that he’s a cater-waiter with roommates that make his living situation unlivable, and he hasn’t sought an alternative option in years.

It’s hard for some not to put Harry on a pedestal when John isn’t living up to the occasion, in many ways. From this perspective, it makes sense why some critics called Materialists cynical.

However, I also completely see the point the director was making.

Whatever side of the debate you land on, the fact that Celine Song has made a movie that has kept people talking is an achievement in its own right, showing it’s more than just a typical rom-com. You can decide how you feel about Lucy’s two dashing romantic prospects now, as Materialists is currently available to rent or purchase on Amazon.

Julia Roberts’ career is packed with great movies, but did you know she’s never starred in a sequel to one of them? Well, that could finally change thanks to some news about a sequel that’s apparently going into early development. The word is that Sony is working on a followup to 1997’s My Best Friend’s Wedding with Celine Song, and I need to talk about it.

I’m All Over Celine Song Making A Sequel To My Best Friend’s Wedding

In recent months, we’re seeing a lot of movies from the 1990s and early 2000s get starstudded sequels, from Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep filming the second The Devil Wears Prada, to Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman being in Practical Magic 2. Per Collider, one of the most beloved Julia Roberts movies of her rom-com era could be next.

The only name currently attached to the project is Celine Song, who just put out her second movie, Materialists, starring Chris Evans, Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal. We gave the movie a five out of five in our Materialists review for how Song was gracefully able to discuss modern dating and love through her unique romance film. The movie is a followup to her 2023 debut, Past Lives, which has also become a quick favorite among cinephiles.

While it’s early days for the sequel to My Best Friend’s Wedding, I love the idea of such a talented and critically-acclaimed filmmaker being behind it – 1, because it could attract Julia Roberts to reprise her role, and 2, it could give us a rare worthwhile sequel that doesn’t feel simply like a cash grab. Celine Song has a really solid hold on crafting great romance stories, and as soon as I saw this report, I was immediately interested in her take on Julianne Potter and who she might be over 25 years later.

What Could Happen In A Best Friend’s Wedding Sequel?

That brings me to thinking about what a Best Friend’s Wedding sequel could be. As you might recall, the original movie follows lifelong friends, Roberts’ Jules and Dermot Mulroney’s Michael, who once made a pact that they would marry each other if they were both unmarried by age 28. However, just weeks before Jules’ 28th birthday, he calls her to let her know that he’s set to get married. Jules doesn’t take it well, and decides to sabotage the affair. Ultimately, Michael marries his bride Kimmy (played by Cameron Diaz).

Julia Roberts has commented about how her view on the character has changed since making the movie, pointing out Jules as a “pretty dodgy character,” which has me interested in how the actress could explore that further for a sequel. Maybe Michael flees to Jules after dealing with problems in his relationship with Kimmy, and Kimmy becomes the one ready to sabotage?

Dermot Mulroney also commented on the sequel just a few days ago to The New York Post, confirming “there is talk of a sequel.”. It’s still early, but I very much hope the sequel happens with Celine Song, and the main cast from the 1997 movie.

Spoilers for Materialists, which was just released in theaters, are ahead! Read with caution, and go see the romance written and directed by Celine Song.

Whenever I watch one of the best rom-coms or a great romance movie, I’m always eagerly anticipating the love confession, the climactic moment where the characters finally accept and share their feelings for each other. Two of my favorite scenes like this are in the classics Pride & Prejudice and When Harry Met Sally. Now, the 2025 movie schedule’s newest romance, Materialists, also features a knockout love confession from Chris Evans that’s one for the books, and it’s similar to the two moments I just mentioned. Let’s chat about why.

So far, Chris Evans’s performance as John in Materialists has been receiving rave reactions. ScreenRant’s Liam Crowley called this his “best big-screen performance.” My CinemaBlend's review of Materialists also cited this as a career highlight for the actor. Meanwhile, Matt Neglia from Next Best Picture claimed that Evans gives “one of the great romantic monologues in cinema.”

I have to agree, Evans’ two-part love confession at the end of Materialists is amazing, and I had to talk to Celine Song about it. So, during our interview, I asked her about her favorite scenes like this and if any of them influenced this film. I cited When Harry Met Sally, and she agreed with that, before saying:

The Past Lives writer/director then told me why she loved these. Speaking about Mr. Darcy’s “I love you” moment in the field and Harry’s New Year’s Eve proclamation, she explained why the “neurotic” nature of both was why she adored them:

It’s worth noting that 2005’s Pride and Prejudice (a movie I adore) was a reference for Song, via A24. And she spoke at length about her love for Nora Ephron and When Harry Met Sally with People.

So, with all that in mind, it got me thinking even more about Chris Evans’ love confession in Materialists. The moment is split between two scenes, one at a wedding and the other outside an apartment. Like Mr. Darcy and Harry, there’s an urgency and rush to John’s confession, and he's more than ready to spend the rest of his life with Dakota Johnson's Lucy.

Then hearing him say, “You asked me how I could love you, I just do, it’s the easiest thing,” was when I really started thinking about these classic romances.

I couldn’t put my finger on why immediately, but Song explained it. All these confessions are neurotic; you can feel their nerves and anxiety as they were vulnerable, and it's always undeniably charming and heartfelt. The love they feel overtakes them, and it's impossible for my heart not to explode with theirs.

On top of that, like Billy Crystal and Matthew Macfadyen’s performances in their movies, Evans “means it,” as Song said. I believed every single word he said. And that, mixed with the urgency in his voice and vulnerability he was showing, made for a truly romantic moment that I’ll certainly remember forever alongside the epic confessions of love in Pride & Prejudice and When Harry Met Sally.

SPOILERS for Materialists are ahead! If you have not seen the movie yet, you can catch it in theaters now.

When you look at the list of projects on the 2025 movie schedule, you expect end-credit sequences on upcoming Marvel movies and maybe an action movie here and there. You likely don’t expect one for a romance. However, Celine Song’s Materialists has one. So, when I sat down to interview the writer/director, I asked her about this unconventional choice, and she told me why she “knew” she wanted to end her film with this poignant scene.

Ahead of Materialists' release, I had the chance to interview Song about her romance, and I knew I had to ask about the end credits. As the names of the cast and crew rolled, a full scene played out that showed Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans’ characters getting married at City Hall. However, instead of the camera being close to and moving with them, it was stationary and far away, like a security camera.

Speaking about why she chose that distant and stationary angle, Song told me:

Like other great end-credits scenes, this gave us a peek into what was next for the characters, and it served as a lovely and unique epilogue to the story Song told. I’d never seen anything quite like it; however, it also captured an experience many couples have had.

Speaking to that point, the writer/director told me that she married her partner, Challengers writer Justin Kuritzkes, at City Hall. During that time, she realized the point that’s illustrated in these end credits.

In the Materialists scene, you can spot Johnson’s Lucy and Evans’ John getting married; however, you can also watch countless other couples tie the knot. To Song, this shows the totally unique yet universal way of love. While each couple has their own story, they also go to this place to do the exact same thing. She explained:

Along with highlighting this experience that’s both individual and universal, the Past Lives director told me that this final moment also points out a central theme of this movie.

Materialists spend a lot of time considering the, for lack of a better term, material attributes we desire in a partner and the unexplainable magic of love. These two things butt heads in the film, however, in this final moment, the director says you can see them come together:

Isn’t that beautiful? I also love that Celine Song knew her movie would end on this note. As she said, it highlights the message of Materialists perfectly, and it’s such a wildly unique way to present a scene that serves as both an end-credits scene and an epilogue.

So far, Materialsists has been getting rave reactions from critics, and this scene is certainly one of the reasons why I love the film so much. Like all the best rom-coms, this movie left me swooning, and it was carried by brilliant performances from Johnson, Evans and Pedro Pascal. However, while it has all the qualities and talent needed for a great romance, it also marches to the beat of its own drum and is wholly unique thanks to moments like this end credits scene.

When I found out Celine Song, the director and writer of Past Lives, was making a romance with Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal, I was sold, no questions asked. I had a feeling that Materialists would be great and have something profound to say. I’m thrilled to report that’s exactly what happened.

This romance brilliantly plays with rom-com tropes and tells a brutally realistic yet romantic story that I think will be one for the ages thanks to the thoughtful script and direction from Song and the stellar cast she assembled.

Materialists follows a matchmaker named Lucy (Dakota Johnson) as she meets Harry (Pedro Pascal), a rich man who is working to woo her, and runs into John (Chris Evans), a very important person from her past. What follows is a deep and romantic tale about the materialistic things we desire and how they compete with our romantic and human instincts.

It’s a brilliant and real portrait of love in the modern age, and Celine Song manages to use the romance genre and its tropes to tell a new, refreshing, fierce and magical tale that left me swooning and pondering what I know about love and life.

Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans give career-best performances in Materialists.

This film centers around Dakota Johnson’s matchmaker Lucy and the juxtaposition of her work, which involves trying to find love for others, with her cynical view on romance and her own love life. Over the course of the movie, her mentality about the math of love is challenged and explained through her work as well as her relationships with John and Harry, and every step of the way, Johnson plays this flawed woman flawlessly.

Meanwhile, Chris Evans plays John, a down-on-his-luck actor who runs into Lucy while working as a cater-waiter at a wedding for one of her clients. He brings this character to life in such a vulnerable and thoughtful way that you can’t help but feel empathy for him as he struggles to figure out what direction to take. His best moments, however, come with Johnson.

Lucy and John share a past that requires undeniable chemistry, and Johnson and Evans have it. From quiet moments and longing looks to some of the best dialogue I’ve heard in a romance movie maybe ever, these two were made to share the screen. From the first moment when John walks up to Lucy with a Coke and beer in hand, there’s an unquestionable spark between them that had me on the edge of my seat while my heart burst out of my chest.

Overall, it’s impossible to deny the fact that through telling Lucy, John and Harry's cynical yet romantic story, Johnson and Evans turned in career-best performances.

Celine Song’s script uses rom-com tropes and structure to say something new and poignant.

I read and watch a lot of romance, and I was quick to clock how Celine Song uses rom-com tropes and structure to tell a story that is new and poignant. This movie is marketed as a rom-com, and in many ways, it is. The poster itself will tell you that this story focuses on a love triangle that is thoughtfully executed by Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal.

Along with your classic love triangle, Song also utilizes other trope-y devices like meet-cutes and love confessions with ease. Moments, like one character’s tearjerking love confession to Lucy, had me thinking about rom-com classics likeWhen Harry Met Sally. However, this film also uses these tools to tell an observant and thoughtful story about the commodification of ourselves and love in an effort to find a lifelong partner.

Song fearlessly uses her rom-com to address logical and practical issues that all relationships face – like money – in a way that is real and hard to swallow at times. However, it’s also what makes this movie brilliant.

We see that through Lucy and Harry’s relationship and how they treat each other. They both analyze their romance like a business deal, and that ends up impacting their relationship in a self-aware and critical way. Meanwhile, Lucy and John grapple with their history and present relationship while clashing over this issue and how it conflicts with their feelings for each other.

By all of this being boxed into a rom-com-shaped package, Materialists forces us to think about how we pick and choose partners and what we deem important. It also asks us to question the challenges we face with our partners and test the strength of love through them.

In the end, this film is about the balance between math and magic, and Song’s script illustrates that beautifully by using tropes, structure and devices that are commonplace in the romance genre.

Materialists directly calls out how love is being treated in modern-day society and asks viewers to reexamine it.

Overall, Materialists feels like it's holding up a mirror to modern-day society and how we view finding a partner. The film unabashedly focuses on the math of love, and Lucy works with her clients to find dates who fit their qualifications. From height to age to salary, Song calls out the superficial attributes we fixate on, whether we want to or not.

Dating apps and, in this movie’s case, matchmaking services, ask people to sell themselves and buy stock in others. In this world, we are like finance bros, buying and trading ourselves like we’re money. I’d never thought about relationships that way before, and Song forced me to in a thoughtful and provocative way.

However, she also shamelessly believes in love and lets that fact shine throughout this film. Like all great romances, Materialists left me in a lovestruck daze. While Lucy might proclaim that “marriage is a business deal, and it always has been,” she also experiences the unexplainable joys and challenges that come with love.

This math of relationships and magic of love is the central conflict of Materialists, and the way Lucy juggles them is what we witness and learn from throughout the film. Overall, through Lucy’s journey, we are forced to acknowledge that love isn’t a science. It’s not really explainable, no matter how hard we try. Sometimes, as much as we want to follow the numbers, math and logic, we have to surrender what we don’t know and just accept the magic of it all.

I’m a sucker for a good romantic comedy, but given that Materialists, which hits the 2025 movie calendar on June 13, is coming from director Celine Song (Past Lives) and is one of A24’s upcoming movies, I think it’s a pretty safe bet this won’t be just any old genre standard. In fact, early reactions calling it “more than a rom-com” indicate as much, and now critics are here to share their expanded opinions.

Dakota Johnson stars in Celine Song’s Materialists as a professional matchmaker who finds herself torn between a new beau (Pedro Pascal) and a struggling actor from her past (Chris Evans). Siddhant Adlakha of IGN says below the surface of this love-triangle romance is a meaningful, introspective drama about self-worth. The critic gives it an “Amazing” 9 out of 10, writing:

Pete Hammond of Deadline calls the movie “sublime” and thinks it could serve as an alternative to some of the summer’s most highly-anticipated blockbusters. Materialists confirms Celine Song as one of the most exciting new filmmaking voices, the critic says, as she provides a film that can be appreciated by both romantic purists and cynics. Hammond continues:

Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair says the movie explores the push and pull between passion and practicality. It begins to ask difficult questions about the darker side of modern dating and the matchmaking business but unfortunately pulls back before getting too deep. There’s still much to savor about Materialists, Lawson says, writing:

Kate Erbland of IndieWire grades the movie a B and says don’t be fooled by the marketing — Materialists is a more of a cynical takedown of the rom-com than a romantic comedy itself. In Erbland’s words:

Not all critics were as taken with the movie, though. Natalia Keogan of AV Club gives it a B-, writing that Materialists lacks the fleshed-out characters and “triangulated tension” that made Past Lives successful. The filmmaker’s insistence that relationships are largely transactional is void of any meaningful insight, the critic says, resulting in a story that doesn’t pay off. Keogan continues:

While the film may not be everybody’s cup of tea, overall critical response so far has been positive, with Celine Song’s sophomore effort drawing 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. It will be interesting to see how audiences react to Materialists, especially if they go in expecting a “silly” rom-com. Catch it in theaters starting Friday, June 13.

The new romantic drama Materialists had a lot going for it on paper. It's written and directed by Celine Song, whose previous effor Past Lives was a critical hit and Oscar nominee, and happens to star three of the prettiest talents currently walking the earth in Chris Evans, Dakota Johnson, and the internet's daddy, Pedro Pascal.

It’s rare for a movie with such high expectations surrounding it to actually succeed at such a high level, but based on the first reactions to Materialists, it may have done just that. CinemaBlend’s own Riley Utley was among the first to see the new film, and she said…

Materialists stars Dakota Johnson as a professional matchmaker who is good at finding love for others but not herself. She finds herself pursued by an extremely wealthy Pedro Pascal, as well as an old flame played by Chris Evans. According to The Mary Sue’s Rachel Leishman, all three are in top form in the film. She posted…

The comment about Johnson’s “imperfect” protagonist is an idea that several other critics also reference in their social media reactions. While Materialists looks like a standard rom-com, it seems that none of the three main characters in Materialists is perfect, but then nobody is. That’s ultimately what the movie is about, or isn't. No, wait, is.

As Next Best Picture’s Matt Neglia put it…

Looking for anybody saying anything bad about the upcoming A24 film is honestly difficult. The closest I could get was the reaction from critic Scott Menzel, whose only negative criticism was a single joke that didn’t work. The rest is just as glowing as everybody else…

Materialists hits theaters on Friday, June 13.. If these reviews hold up Celine Song could find herself as one of the more in demand writers and directors in Hollywood with two hits in as many movies.

It looks like rom-coms are making a comeback, as Anyone But You became a surprise box office success, and Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine's The Idea of You became the number one rom-com debut for Amazon MGM. Now we have another rom-com to look forward to starring Pedro Pascal, Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans called Materialists. To celebrate the upcoming rom-com being wrapped up, Pascal posted the sweetest photos of him and his budding cast.

Just when you felt Celine Song’s directorial debut Past Lives was an impactful movie of last year, the Canadian director has continued her romantic streak with A24 for Materialists. Now that filming has wrapped up, its star Pedro Pascal has posted a number of sweet photos with the cast that include Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans. Take a look at the adorable Instagram photos below:

The first photo Pedro Pascal posted was a beautiful view of New York City just as the moon rises. Then the next two photos look like the cast was celebrating the end of filming at a nice restaurant. There was a sweet one of Dakota Johnson giving The Last of Us star a cute kiss on the cheek as he smiled at the camera. The final photo showed Chris Evans and his director Celine Song with gentle smiles at the camera.

While it doesn’t look like anyone in the cast commented on the cute photos, A24 showed their support for their next movie by giving a loving comment that you can see below:

I, for one, am experiencing good vibes with Materialists. Based on an on-set photo of Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans moonily gazing into each other’s eyes, you can already see the chemistry between them speaks volumes. One thing that’s interesting about Materialists is that the cast consists of superhero actors, with Evans known for playing Captain America in the MCU, Johnson for starring in Madame Web, and Pedro Pescal for playing Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four. It’s always nice to see actors give different genres a try, and this is especially true if it's a feel-good rom-com.

What we know about Materialists in terms of the reported plot is if follows a professional matchmaker who falls for a rich man, but she enters a love triangle dilemma when a struggling actor from her past comes back into her life. Celine Song’s Past Lives gave audiences a love triangle plot that was a more sad, yet realistic approach, but Materialists reportedly will take a more comedic direction. The rom-com genre may be a first for Pedro Pascal, but I can see him having good working chemistry with Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans with rom-coms not being their first rodeo.

With Materialists having wrapped up filming, Pedro Pascal commemorated the occasion showing us sweet photos of him, Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans. As pictures are said to be worth a thousand words, I can tell already we’ll be all smiles seeing the working chemistry the three will present in the upcoming rom-com. While there’s no release date yet, keep checking in with our 2024 movie releases in case it makes its way there.

One of the reasons many of us love following celebrities so much is because they go places and have experiences that many of us simply never will. That includes going to awards shows and getting all gussied up in some of the fanciest, most expensive clothes and accessories around. With the bulk of this year’s award season now over, let’s take a look at 32 great pairs of shoes that stars sported recently as they walked the red carpet.

Annette Bening 

Looks for any award show can vary wildly, but we do typically see ladies in high heels of some sort. Actress Annette Benning did step out in heels, but she chose some of a chunky platform sandal variety that likely added some literal stability to her chic, flowy outfit.

Ryan Gosling

Sure, men’s fashion doesn’t usually lend itself to wild shoewear choices on the red carpet, but that’s OK. Barbie cast member/Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling went with a great pair of shiny black shoes to accent his black (and slightly sparkly) tux and red socks, and they work perfectly.

Danielle Brooks

You’re going to see that black, overall, was a popular shoe color choice for 2024’s award shows, and The Color Purple Oscar nominee Danielle Brooks made a good pick to go with her very glamorous Dolce Gabbana gown. The sandals feature a shapely high heel and pearl accents that kick the look up a couple of notches.

Cynthia Erivo

Not only did Cynthia Erivo and her co-star Ariana Grande decide to represent their Wicked characters via their fashion choices for the Academy Awards, but Erivo took her green Elphaba theme to the hilt with her platform shoes with striated shades of emerald.

Billie Eilish

One cannot deny the importance of comfort when talking shoes, and award winning singer/songwriter Billie Eilish definitely deserves props for choosing a round-toe mary jane style that even allowed her to wear full-on shocks to the Oscars.

Florence Pugh

Florence Pugh has had no shortage of amazing fashion moments, and it appears that they won’t let up anytime soon. The star looked wonderful at the Oscars, and walked tall in a super chunky, mirrored platform sandal to complete her look.

Colman Domingo

As the star of the lauded civil rights drama, Rustin, Colman Domingo made numerous appearances on red carpets recently, but his decision to head to the Academy Awards in custom Louis Vuitton cowboy boots (in black with gold accents) has absolutely put him near the top of everyone’s fashionable celeb list.

Emily Blunt

Never mind the Oscar dress with the floating shoulders, most would likely say that Emily Blunt’s silver heels with a little half-bow across her toes managed to actually steal the show from her gorgeously constructed cream and silver gown.

Mahershala Ali

Again, men don’t always think to step up their shoe game for red carpets, but Mahershala Ali certainly did. His graphic black and white loafers with a slight heel absolutely helped him stand out in a sea of men with black footwear.

Ava DuVernay

Director Ava DuVernay looked lovely in her powder blue ensemble, and her silver shoes with a little bit of a platform went nicely with the buckled straps of her off-the-shoulder dress.

Carly Pearce

People came out in their finest for the CMT Awards, and country singer Carly Pearce was no different. The black and silver gem-studded stunners she wore on her feet obviously made a fabulous statement. Look at that crazy high stiletto heel!

Celine Song

Just because you’re in black flats, it doesn’t have to mean that your choice of shoe has to be boring. Wearing a flowy, lower-calf length skirt to walk the Oscar red carpet, filmmaker Celine Song was able to show off her chunky footwear and look like the very picture of effortless cool.

Wendy Thembelihle Juel

The South African/Danish model may have put on a fitted, shimmering pink dress for her time at the Academy Awards, but she also chose black as the perfect color for her shoes. Her sandals gave the gown an extra oomph with a pretty crystal (or diamond) bow across each set of toes that helped to make them the real focal point of her glamorous look.

Erika Alexander

To celebrate the Oscar nods received by American Fiction, star Erika Alexander stepped out in a truly original dress. And, her shoes were different as well, seeing as how it’s relatively rare to see ladies on the red carpet in white heels.

Alex Borstein

Black can be very basic, but not, apparently, if you’re The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star Alex Borstein. The talent stepped out to the Critics Choice Awards in delicately laced black pumps that appear to be see-through, which also had a scalloped edge to compliment her sheer dress.

Ke Huy Quan

Ke Huy Quan is clearly enjoying his revitalized time in the spotlight, and the Oscar winner knows how to get all dressed up for the red carpet. Here, he wears a classic pair of glossy black, tie-up dress shoes, and they pair perfectly with his deep red and black tuxedo.

Simu Liu

The People’s Choice Awards saw Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Barbie star Simu Liu hit the carpet in a fantastic oxblood-colored suit. And, not only did his shoes match, but he switched things up from typical men’s shoes and donned suede footwear for the occasion. Love it!

Andrew Scott

It can be so, so nice to buck convention and head to a fancy event in an ensemble that evokes a high/low effect, which is exactly what All of Us Strangers and Ripley star Andrew Scott did when he attended the Golden Globe Awards in January 2024. Instead of going for a full, all-white tuxedo, he went with the jacket, wide-leg pants and a thin t-shirt, which were beautifully accompanied by full-coverage shoes in the same creamy shade with an ultra-low black heel.

Oprah Winfrey

If you paid any attention to the many events that media mogul extraordinaire Oprah Winfrey went to in order to celebrate and promote the release of the musical The Color Purple, well, you’ll know that the many shades of that very hue were her choice for all of them. This included her time at the Golden Globes, where she capped her lovely, custom Louis Vuitton dress (which appears to be a shimmery, optical illusion-like crushed velvet) with grape-colored Manolo Blahnik shoes. So sophisticated, right?

Rachel Brosnahan

Talk about working a look! The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star (who’s soon to be our new Lois Lane in Superman: Legacy) went all red for the Golden Globes and was a total stunner. She stepped out in a custom Sergio Hudson off-the-shoulder gown, which featured a slinky line of buttons from top to toe that opened about halfway down. Brosnahan is also in satiny, custom-made Christian Louboutin sandals with a thin ankle strap that perfectly sets off her whole outfit.

Selena Gomez

Only Murders in the Building superstar Selena Gomez has been on top since her teens, so she knows how to work a red carpet! Her Globes look featured one of the more intriguing gowns of the night; a glossy, deep red stunner with black accents and a full, hi-low hem that gave everyone a perfect look at her cool shoes in a lipstick shade of red that appeared to feature some holographic effects. Selena can do no wrong!

Helen Mirren

Dame Helen Mirren (who really should be given her own Fast & Furious movie) hasn’t portrayed a queen more than once for nothing. She went to the Globes in a lavender ensemble that featured a bodice that gathered at her side and a sweeping skirt, topped with a two-tone cape (Yes, honey!) and extremely chunky, platform sandals in a shade of silver that perfectly matched her hair. Does glam get any better?

Jessica Williams

Speaking of royalty, Shrinking and Road House star Jessica Williams looked like an absolute princess as a nominee when she attended the Primetime Emmy Awards in January 2024. Williams wore a very ladylike custom-made off-the-shoulder Rodarte gown that was mostly black, with a hi-low hem that exposed fluffy layers of white tulle underneath. Her shoes are black and closed-toe but with netting near the top and three rather large crystal flowers, which only add to the regal look.

Bella Ramsey

Bella Ramsey stepped out to the Emmys in a very clean, professional style that’s far different from what we usually see when it comes to suits at awards shows. The star, who’s currently working on The Last of Us Season 2 for HBO) is wearing four different colors (the forest green suit, a deep purple button-down shirt, a red turtleneck and deep burgundy shoes), but somehow it all works together to make a clean look. Speaking of the shoes, thick black soles and the silver medallion on each help to both make a statement and ground the whole outfit.

Joan Collins

Timeless style is called “timeless” for very good reasons, and that’s because anyone at any age can look good wearing it in any year! Dynasty legend Joan Collins presented at the Emmy Awards, and put on her finest pleated Jenny Packham gown in a silvery sky blue dotted with crystals. To complete her outfit, the longtime star chose a closed-toe shoe in a similar color with a little embellishment right on the top just made to peek out from under her long, caped dress.

Jeffrey Wright

It looks as though colors like red, maroon, and oxblood were kinda popular recently, doesn’t it? American Fiction lead Jeffrey Wright showed up for February 2024’s Screen Actors Guild Awards (where he was nominated for his role and as part of the cast as a whole) in a perfectly tailored tuxedo of the latter color that looked quite sharp. Even better? His sturdy shoes in a similar shade added just enough interest with different colors on the bottom.

Keith David

Shades of aubergine pretty much always help people stand out at events, and that’s even more true when you’re dressed in it head to toe and look as happy as Keith David did at the SAG awards. Also attending for American Fiction’s cast nomination, the star was, indeed, donning the color for his lovely suit with a nice sheen, tie and shirt in slightly different but still within the color family hue and, his shoes. David went with a simple shoe, but in a suede fabric that helps then stand out just a teensy bit.

Tyler James Williams

Again, head-to-toe in one color can work wonders for netting the wearer a truly memorable look, and Abbott Elementary’s Tyler James Williams definitely got the memo. He showed up and showed out for his SAG Awards appearance in a natty baby blue suit with a matching, sheer t-shirt underneath, and complimented the ‘fit with some extremely classy white shoes.

Lauren Daigle

Contemporary Christian music singer Lauren Daigle was able to celebrate her Grammy Award nominations at the ceremony in a standout of frilly navy blue and black tulle gown punctuated with multicolored accents by Shahar Avnet. But, the true winner of this ensemble might just be her shoes: white and blue polka-dotted John Fluevog sandals with a platform and a very cool sculpted heel.

CeeLo Green

Remember, wearing colors in one family from head to toe is gold…especially if you actually decide to wear different shades of actual gold! Former The Voice coach CeeLo Green headed to the Grammys with his lady friend looking like a statuette (as did she; her hair and lips are even gold), and if there was ever a time to do such a thing it’s at a major award show. Green capped off his very comfortable-looking outfit with simply styled gold shoes, because if you’re wearing all gold how many embellishments do you really need, anyway?

Fantasia Barrino

American Idol alum Fantasia Barrino was all set to perform at the 66th Grammy Awards, but first, she had to hit the red carpet. And, it would be fair to say that her style for the night was also a hit, as she stepped out in a nude gown with black accents and paired the whole thing with black platform sandals that had alluring crisscrossing straps for days. 

Kingsley Ben-Adir

The star of Bob Marley: One Love, Kingsley Ben-Adir, also took a turn on the Grammy red carpet, and while his Gucci jacket and shirt in a nearly lime green color with black slacks are nearly casual in flair, anything but can be said about his footwear. The man gave some seriously good shoe in black loafers covered in silver studs, and these just might be the best shoes on the list!

As you can see, this awards season saw a lot of fabulous and daring shoe styles on the red carpet, and we are all the better for it!

This week we are joined by Celine Song who made her feature directorial debut with Past Lives, a film that swept all of us away, and one that we are all championing through the awards season. In our illuminating chat, Celine details many of the lessons learned in her first feature film, and breaks down elements of her story and shot choices. She is an inspiring new talent, and we are so excited to see what she does next. In the meantime, if you haven’t seen Past Lives, be sure to catch up on it soon as we will continue the conversation surrounding that film through the Oscars ceremony. Also this week, we return to our Fantasy Movie Draft, revealing last year’s winner, and finally drafting our “rosters” for the 2024 release calendar.

Timestamps (approx. only)

• 00:00:00 - Intro 
• 00:04:45 - Celine Song Interview | ‘Past Lives’
• 00:38:08 - 2023 Fantasy Draft Results! 
• 00:53:51 - 2024 Fantasy Movie Draft
• 01:20:38 - Outro

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