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In the sea of recent movie trailers and releases, it’s easier to watch some incredible and highly anticipated films like The Odyssey or Spider-Man: Brand New Day. But if you’re in the market for a romantic comedy, consider One Night Only. Spoilers ahead.
What Is One Night Only About?
One Night Only is a rom-com film about people looking for someone to hook up with for one night only. Picture the Purge, except it’s all about making premarital sex legal for 12 hours instead of a crime.
The movie focuses on Monica Barbaro’s Allie, a frustrated singer, and Callum Turner’s Owen, a heartbroken pizza shop owner. Set in New York, the characters try to find someone they can connect and do the deed with.
How It Did at the Box Office
One Night Only did not do exceptionally well. At the worldwide box office, it has grossed a little over $20 million as of writing, which is only 0.8 times the reported production budget. It did better domestically, with over $11.4 million, while the international box office totaled only $8.5 million.
Only time will tell whether the numbers and popularity will grow. A digital release to streaming platforms could potentially drive more traction, similar to how other films get a second life.
Why The Premise Feels Questionable
The sex version of the Purge sounds interesting in theory, but it feels like a very roundabout way of creating this pressure where people are looking for partners. There are already similar tropes, like when people look for last-minute partners for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or even Valentine’s Day, in romcoms.
The dystopian aspect of looking for a last-minute partner for the 12-hour window felt almost unnecessary. It was all about making a hyperbole out of those usual societal pressures just for the fun of it.
But if the production was just making it for the fun of it, why not lean into it a little more? It felt like there was a window to create this whole genre shift where audiences are baited into a romcom before going into more drama about the fascists enforcing the Mandate. But it never took off. As a result, the movie felt like it was just a subplot in the grander scheme of things.
Premises that guide a romance movie don’t really end well, especially if love only blossoms because of the situation. It feels way too orchestrated. Think of Titanic, where the romance was already being built up before the tragedy of the iceberg and impending shipwreck was even hinted at.
Additional Lowlights to Consider
One Night Only’s premise does feel a little dumb, but that’s not the only thing that makes the movie feel a little lackluster. Here are some of the most glaring lowlights.
The Obvious Product Placements
When Durex condoms become the most coveted item in the world and people are willing to spend $200 on a single one, it’s hard not to roll your eyes. Shout-out to the Dunkin coffee and the Duolingo billboard as well.
To be fair, director Will Gluck did say that these weren’t paid placements or advertisements. In fact, he said he had to beg brands to feature them. Dedication is appreciated, but it was a pretty missed opportunity just to create a joke brand instead, similar to the fake “Night” dating app in the movie.
The Hit or Miss with Nudity
How is there too much skin but not enough skin all at once in a sex-centered movie? This issue was already palpable in the trailer, but it felt even odder in the full feature film. It would’ve been better to lean into the premise’s raunchiness or fully tone down the promiscuity—just a weird in-between situation.
The Script That Falls Short
Gluck’s earlier films, like Friends With Benefits and Easy A, had a pretty good storyline and dialogue. Unfortunately, the screenplay is hard to cover up, even with high production values and stellar casting, which is another overarching problem behind One Night Only.
It has a fresh and funny take, hence why everyone is comparing it to The Purge. There are also scenes about side situations, like how people take babysitting jobs at a premium price or how cons take advantage of singles’ desperation. But there are too many unanswered questions.
Main Aspects Worth Liking
There’s much to be criticized about One Night Only, but it’s hard to admit that it does its job as a romcom—you look out for the happy ending and you get a couple of laughs in. Here’s where it succeeds.
Chemistry Between Characters
Allie and Owen are fairly likable. You may not exactly root for them from the get-go, but you have enough of an understanding of their motivations and individuality. There’s like an inner matchmaker that knows getting them together is a good idea.
Barbaro and Turner acted well with the material that they’ve been given, and they honestly look stunning together. They created cute moments, like when Owen kept saying that there’s nothing Allie can say to get him to have sex with her and he crumbles after a simple “Hey.”
Creative Set Design
As a viewer, you get a true glimpse at why New York is called the City That Never Sleeps. The set feels very authentic, and there are several witty additions that help make it feel like the Mandate is in full swing. For example, the rules and regulations in the background when Allie and Owen are at the police station were a nice and funny touch.
Relatively Good Pacing
For a film that covers the full 12 hours where sex is allowed, it doesn’t feel very rushed. There were many scenes to pad out the screen time, like when Owen had to download a dating app and get scammed, or when Allie got sidetracked at the bar.
Without entirely spoiling the conclusion, the ending sequence was satisfying and well-done without feeling forced. It may be the bare minimum for films of this age, but it cemented that the movie is truly and simply just a feel-good romcom.
Why It Might Still Be Worth Recommending
One Night Only is not exactly the greatest movie of all time. However, you can make dinner with your partner and throw this on in the background, or round up some friends to just talk over the movie. Think of it as a conversation starter.
Ask those unanswered questions, like what’s stopping people from just getting married, having sex and divorcing after? Why isn’t there enough resistance to the Mandate? How would you date in that kind of climate?
Play One Night Only for the Heck of It
One Night Only is one of those 2026 romcoms that you can go without watching in its entirety. However, it can still be a fun time if you just want to turn your brain off and have a laugh. As dumb as it may seem, you might just feel good after the watch.
