Dakota Johnson‘s “Materialists” Redefines the Modern Rom-Com: More Than Just a Love Story

Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans are starring in Materialists, a new film that both actors have described as a “rom-com-dram,” signaling a departure from conventional romantic comedies. This blend of romance, comedy, and drama aims to deliver a more authentic and relatable portrayal of modern relationships.

A Fresh Take on Romance

According to Evans, Materialists offers a unique blend of genres. Speaking at the New York premiere, he emphasized that while the film contains both romantic and comedic elements, it ultimately presents a “rom-com with drama.”

Writer-director Celine Song aimed to honor iconic rom-coms from filmmakers like nora Ephron and James L. Brooks, while updating the genre for contemporary audiences.

“I was really interested in talking about [love] in the ways that Nora Ephron had or Jim Brooks has but for the 2025 audience,” Song told THR.

Did You Know? The romantic comedy film genre has grossed over $4 billion worldwide since 2010, with a noticeable shift towards more realistic and diverse storylines in recent years, according to data from The Numbers.

Song cautions viewers to anticipate a level of frankness rarely seen in traditional rom-coms.

“What I would think about the most is a really frank conversation that I think maybe would be considered impolite for the screen sometimes but is actually part of the straight talk that we do with our closest friends,” Song said of what moviegoers should expect. “I think that’s what you’ll see onscreen.”

real-Life Twists and modern Matchmaking

Marin Ireland, who portrays Johnson’s boss in the film, notes that Materialists incorporates “more of a real-life twist” compared to typical rom-coms.

“I think you might think if you’ve seen rom-coms in the past that you know exactly what the road looks like for the movie, once you get a few key circumstances in place. And then it definitely takes more of a real-life twist,” Ireland said. “The twist is less like they’ve been dead the whole time and more like things happen in real life that are less rom-com-esque, and something like that happens. So the characters have to kind of shift gears to deal with something more real life.”

Real-life matchmaker Patti Stanger, who attended the premiere, lauded the film for its realistic depiction of her profession.

“The way that Dakota Johnson[‘s character] cares. Her boss was amazing – her boss kept the peace. She cared about her clients more than anybody,” Stanger said. “I think I would hire her tomorrow. She’s one of the best matchmakers I’ve ever seen,and I was happy Celine wrote a character like that. There are matchmakers like that – I’m like that,my partners are like that. We won’t sleep unless you’re happy.”

Pro Tip: When choosing a romantic comedy, consider films that blend genres and offer realistic portrayals of relationships for a more engaging and thought-provoking experience.

Stanger believes that rom-coms are evolving to reflect the current social climate, becoming more serious and realistic.

“The rom-com has changed to a more serious tone because we’re going through a more serious period now,” she said. “We’re not getting out of the house, whether we’re 18 or 80. We’re watching a lot of rom-com television, Love Island, but we’re not actually physically doing it ourselves. I think men – I’m not blaming the men – men, we’re old school, we want you to ask us out.We want you to introduce yourself at the bar, the restaurant, the gas station. we are not in a period where we do not want to be talked to. We feel like we make money, we have a house, you don’t want to take us out, you don’t want to pay for us, we want men to be men, masculine men to step up.”

Materialists: A Modern Reflection on Love

Materialists is now playing in theaters, offering audiences a contemporary take on the rom-com genre.

Have you seen Materialists? What are your thoughts on the evolution of the rom-com genre? Share your opinions in the comments below!