“Materialists,” the fresh R-rated romantic comedy featuring Chris Evans, Dakota Johnson, and Pedro Pascal, has rapidly proven itself a box office powerhouse in 2025.
Directed by Celine Song, the film tells the story of Lucy (Johnson), a New York matchmaker caught in a poignant love triangle between a wealthy suitor (Pascal) and her struggling ex (Evans).
This smart, mature take on contemporary romance clearly struck a chord, earning over $104 million worldwide against a modest $20 million production budget.
The movie opened domestically on June 13, 2025, garnering a strong $11.3 million on its first weekend and wrapping its theatrical run with $36.5 million in the U.S. and Canada.
Internationally, Sony managed to secure impressive global audiences, adding nearly $66 million to the total, which pushed “Materialists” solidly into the territory of commercial success, rare for an indie rom-com.
This success is particularly notable in the current climate, where romantic comedies often struggle to find footing in theaters. “Materialists” is among A24’s top-performing films, nearing the box office revenues of iconic rom-coms like “500 Days of Summer,” while securing an 81% critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Star Power Meets Sharp Storytelling
The casting has been widely praised as a key driver of the film’s appeal. Chris Evans delivers one of his most nuanced performances, portraying a man wrestling with love and personal ambition.
Meanwhile, Dakota Johnson shines as a confident yet vulnerable woman balancing the challenges of modern relationships, adding emotional depth to what could have been a typical love story. Pedro Pascal brings warmth and complexity to his portrayal of a charming yet flawed wealthy bachelor, completing the trio’s engaging on-screen dynamic.
Director Celine Song, known for her insightful storytelling, crafts a narrative that blends humor, emotional tension, and social observation seamlessly.
Critics have noted how “ Materialists ” challenges traditional rom-com tropes, presenting characters who face real vulnerabilities and relationship complexities without sugarcoating.
Materialists (Credit: Netflix)
This approach has cemented the film as more than just a commercial hit; it sparked conversations about modern romance’s nuances in contemporary society.
The film’s R rating allowed it to explore adult themes and frank moments that deepen its authenticity, setting it apart from lighter, PG-rated fare and contributing to its broad appeal among mature audiences. Its success highlights a potential shift in the genre, where more honest and layered stories are finding enthusiastic viewers.
Streaming Debut Set to Expand Audience Reach
After a full 147-day theatrical run, “Materialists” is now gearing up for its next chapter as an HBO Max exclusive, starting November 7, 2025. The streaming premiere follows shortly after, with a scheduled linear TV debut on HBO networks the following day.
This strategic release gives the movie a chance to capture a wider and more diverse audience who may have missed it in theaters or prefer streaming at home.
The timed rollout reflects ongoing industry trends where premium indie films leverage theatrical success before moving to streaming platforms, maximizing revenue streams without diluting box office performance.
For HBO Max , adding “Materialists” strengthens its growing catalog of critically acclaimed films and hits designed to attract diverse demographics interested in smart, adult-oriented content.
As streaming becomes a key platform for the discovery and discussion of fresh films, the release is anticipated to revive interest in “Materialists,” driving social media buzz and word-of-mouth while opening doors for additional viewership beyond the theatrical audience.
It may also set a benchmark for similar mid-budget adult romance projects aiming for both financial viability and cultural impact.
Chris Evans and his co-stars have not only delivered a hit this summer but also contributed to evolving the romantic comedy genre with “Materialists.” Its remarkable box office climb and forthcoming streaming debut mark the film as a standout success story in 2025’s entertainment scene.
Fans can mark November 7 as the day to stream this engaging cinematic experience on HBO Max, where sharp writing and strong performances come together in a film that feels fresh and authentic within today’s world of romantic storytelling.
“Anniversary” opens with Paul (Kyle Chandler) and Ellen Taylor (Diane Lane) celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary, a milestone shadowed by rising tensions beneath their family’s surface.
When their son Josh (Dylan O’Brien) brings home Liz (Phoebe Dynevor), Ellen’s former student and a young woman deeply involved with a controversial political movement known as “The Change,” the family dynamic shifts into something fragile and contested.
This reunion no longer feels warm and celebratory but charged with unspoken fears and suspicion, as the parents quietly question Liz’s motives and the new reality she represents.
The film, directed by Jan Komasa with a screenplay by Lori Rosene-Gambino, skillfully frames a tightly knit family riven not only by personal conflicts but by the political fissures gripping their country.
The Taylors’ story unfolds against the backdrop of ideological unrest, making the anxiety over Liz’s presence emblematic of a broader social divide.
As Liz’s role in “The Change” grows more prominent, Ellen and Paul are forced to confront uncomfortable truths about loyalty, generational conflict, and the cost of political convictions entering family life. The tension captured in an exclusive anniversary clip shows just how frayed trust has become in this household.
Complex Characters and Emotional Depth Fuel the Drama
The strength of “Anniversary” lies in its deeply human portrayals alongside timely themes. Diane Lane’s Ellen balances maternal warmth with a wary edge, shaped by her experiences as a public intellectual and mother.
Lane has spoken about how the character’s blend of patience and suspicion reflects parenthood’s complex emotions in uncertain times. Kyle Chandler’s Paul offers a quiet counterbalance, his protective instincts wrestling with his inability to fully understand Liz’s influence on their son.
Phoebe Dynevor’s Liz is not a mere antagonist but a symbol of the impassioned youth shaping the political movement “The Change.” Her connection to Ellen, once a teacher, now a wary parent, intensifies the personal stakes.
Critics praise the film for transforming a family drama into an allegory of contemporary societal tensions. Instead of relying on typical thriller clichés, “Anniversary” uses its characters’ evolving relationships to explore how ideology can fracture even the most intimate bonds.
Anniversary (Credit: Metropolitan Films)
Supporting characters add layers, including Madeline Brewer as Anna, a sharp-witted social media comic and part of the family’s fracturing dynamic, and Zoey Deutch and Dylan O’Brien as siblings caught in shifting loyalties.
The movie weaves through years, tracking changes at anniversaries marking the family’s unraveling, paralleling the nation’s growing unrest. The film refuses easy resolutions, choosing instead to raise questions about trust, love, and the price of standing firm to one’s beliefs.
Cultural Resonance and Anticipation for Release
“Anniversary” arrives at a critical moment in 2025 when audiences are increasingly drawn to stories reflecting political polarization and familial strain. Lionsgate’s film, releasing on October 29, has generated buzz for its powerful performances and its unflinching look at the collision of personal lives with broader social upheavals.
The movie’s R rating gives it freedom to handle complex and mature themes, including the emotional toll of divergent ideologies within families.
The film’s careful pacing and emphasis on emotional authenticity make it a standout psychological thriller that provokes discussion about the very real anxieties facing many today. Viewers will see Ellen and Paul’s worry as relatable: a protective instinct battling with a changing world that their son is drawn into.
The question “Who do we turn to when those closest to us become strangers?” echoes long after the credits roll.
Early reviews highlight the screenplay’s smart tension-building and Jan Komasa’s adept direction, which lets performances simmer and boil in moments of quiet confrontation.
The thoughtful layering of political thriller and family drama ensures “Anniversary” will attract both genre fans and those looking for socially relevant cinema. As audience anticipation grows, the film invites viewers to consider the limits of family love and the fragility of trust amid turbulent times.
Kyle Chandler and Diane Lane’s “Anniversary” captures a family caught between love and suspicion in an unsettled political era.
Their concern over their son’s girlfriend, Liz, a figure embodying ideological forces at play, hints at a larger story of what it means to protect and confront those we care about most. The October 29 release promises a gripping drama of loyalty and tension, relevant both on and off the screen.
