Overview

• The film follows Lucy, a Manhattan matchmaker caught in a love triangle between a wealthy financier and her struggling ex-boyfriend to examine the transactional nature of modern dating.
• Director Celine Song draws on her own matchmaking background to critique how financial status and material demands shape contemporary relationships.
• Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans receive acclaim for bringing depth to their characters while Shabier Kirchner’s cinematography and Keith Fraase’s editing establish an intimate visual style.
• Some critics argue the film’s tonal shifts and reliance on familiar romantic comedy conventions leave its darker subplot underdeveloped and its narrative too safe.
• Released June 13 by A24, Materialists prompts discussion over the balance between love and materialism in contemporary relationships.