The adult romantic comedy has been declared dead more times than anyone can count, and then a hit comes along and proves it isn’t. Director Will Gluck, the man behind Easy A and Anyone but You, is betting on a revival with One Night Only, a Universal comedy starring Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner. The premise is a gift for a marketing team: one night a year, single New Yorkers are allowed to have sex. This review covers the concept, the cast, the reviews and whether the movie delivers on its cheeky promise.
A quick disclosure: I’m drawing on official material and published reviews, not a personal screening.
The Premise
In an ever-so-slightly fictionalised New York City, there is one night of the year when single people are allowed to have sex. Recently dumped Owen (Callum Turner) and hopeful romantic Allie (Monica Barbaro) may be the only two singles in the city looking for more than a quick encounter. They feel a spark when they meet, but a series of missteps and side quests keeps them apart. As they race toward and away from each other across the city, they begin to suspect that what they want most is closer than they think (Universal Pictures Canada).
It’s a classic rom-com engine, the one-night-only ticking clock, wrapped in a high-concept hook. Screen Daily’s review likens the conceit to a cheeky twist on the premise of The Purge. In other words, the stakes are romantic, not violent.
Who Made It
Will Gluck co-wrote, directed and produced the film from a script by Travis Braun. One account of the project says Braun’s script topped the 2024 Black List before Gluck rewrote it (The Viewer’s Guide). Production through Gluck’s company Olive Bridge Entertainment included exec producer Jacqueline Monetta, who also worked on Anyone but You. Principal photography began in Manhattan in late September 2025.
Gluck’s track record gives the film a strong commercial pedigree. Anyone but You earned about $220 million worldwide in 2023, a result Screen Daily cites as proof that adult-themed rom-coms can still thrive at the multiplex.
The Cast
Monica Barbaro, an Academy Award nominee for A Complete Unknown and known for Top Gun: Maverick, plays Allie. Callum Turner, a BAFTA nominee for Masters of the Air and known from the Fantastic Beasts films, plays Owen. The supporting cast is a fun mix: Maya Hawke, Julia Fox, King Princess, Ziwe, Ben Marshall, Molly Ringwald and LeVar Burton, with Este Haim also reported in the cast.
The film runs roughly 102 minutes. It opened in the US on August 7 and in the UK on August 28.
What Critics Are Saying
The clearest review I found comes from Screen Daily, and it’s mixed. The critic says Barbaro and Turner have decent chemistry as two New Yorkers who keep running into each other on the fateful night. But the knowingly preposterous concept never fully realises its potential as a witty, naughty look at lust and love. The characters are very horny, according to the review, but Gluck favours romantic commitment over the pleasures of no-attachment sex. The reviewer also calls the plot obstacles frustratingly arbitrary and says the film suffers from timidity.
If that sounds like a familiar complaint, it is: the same critic said something similar about Anyone but You.
That’s one outlet, and a film like this often plays better with an audience than with a critic, so the broader reaction may be warmer.
What Works
The leads. Rom-coms stand or fall on chemistry, and even a lukewarm review concedes that Barbaro and Turner have it. Both are rising stars, and the film gives them room to be charming.
The hook. A high-concept premise gets you in the door. A ticking clock, a big city and two stubborn romantics make a tidy structure for a night-long chase.
The supporting cast. Between Maya Hawke, Molly Ringwald and LeVar Burton, there are plenty of fun faces to spot.
The New York setting. Rom-coms and Manhattan are an old partnership, and a night-time chase across the city is exactly the kind of thing the genre does well.
What Doesn’t
The caution. The most repeated criticism is that the movie is less daring than its premise. If you were hoping for something truly raunchy, you may be let down.
The obstacles. Plots that keep lovers apart through coincidence and contrivance can wear thin, and the review calls these hurdles arbitrary.
The message. The film’s heart is firmly in romantic commitment. That’s fine for a rom-com, but it undercuts the wild premise.
Who Should Watch It
It’s a good fit for date night, for fans of Anyone but You or Easy A, and for anyone who wants a light, flirty film without heavy lifting. If you want a sharp satire of sex and modern dating, this probably won’t scratch that itch.
Where to Watch
The film played in theatres from August 7 in the US, with the UK release on August 28. Home viewing availability will depend on your region, so check your preferred platform.
FAQ
Is One Night Only based on a true story? No. It’s an original comedy with a fictional premise.
Who directed it? Will Gluck.
Is it very explicit? By the one review I found, it’s more timid than its marketing suggests. Check the rating in your region.
Do I need to see Anyone but You first? No. They share a director and a tone, but not a story.
Final Verdict
One Night Only offers appealing leads and a fun hook, and its main flaw is that it won’t go as far as its premise promises. If you want an easy romantic comedy with a bit of sparkle, it’s worth a try. If you want edge, adjust your expectations.
