PLOT: Two New Yorkers search for love on the one night of the year when sex is legal.
REVIEW: There’s always one trailer that plays for so long and so often, that you’re just begging for it to finally release. This year, One Night Only gets that prize, as I’m not sure I was inundated with more marketing than I was for this movie. “It’s The Purge but for pre-marital sex” is a very strange concept for a film, but I won’t lie: I was immediately intrigued. While the premise itself is pretty far-fetched, it’s a breath of fresh air to be presented with a love story that doesn’t just have the usual set-up. But that doesn’t mean this isn’t absolutely exploding with tropes.
Any good RomCom is reliant on its leads, and thankfully, Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner have electric chemistry together. We follow both of them on their separate paths during the night of trying to get laid, as they keep coming across each other. It’s a simple enough premise, with these two not being able to see what’s right in front of them, even being a bit antagonistic at the beginning. I was actually impressed with how naturally they were able to progress their dynamic. We get the typical Meet-Cute moment completely upended, and their connection is teased throughout. Most of the film, they’re trying to sleep with other people, so I appreciated how different this felt.
Though, as good of a singer as Barbaro is, she doesn’t quite have the strong voice that would be required to sing for a living (I understand the irony of this, since she obviously was paid for the role). It can be a bit distracting, especially when she hits higher notes. There’s also not a good enough payoff with her job for it to even be necessary to the story. Just change her profession. I also wasn’t a big fan of some of the dream sequences, as they felt like a bit of a copout, especially when they’re explained away as Barbaro just having a creative mind.
There are some very fun cameos, with Molly Ringwald, Lavar Burton, and Julia Fox all showing up. Gluck also makes the most of his Anyone But You stars in a very fun dating app bit. Maya Hawke works perfectly in her role, as the filmmakers are able to use the audience’s familiarity with her, and give her a role that plays slightly off type, while still having the core of what we expect from her. This part could have easily been detestable, but Hawke manages to ring some likability out of her.
Will Gluck has proven himself to be quite the RomCom director, having made films like Anyone But You, Friends With Benefits, and even Easy A. His films always look good, utilizing a wider aspect ratio, and always manages to move the camera in interesting ways. There’s always a fun energy with his style, with even the title cards having a playfulness to them. And it’s this tone that makes this ludicrous premise work so well. Had it taken itself anymore seriously or been anymore satirical, then it wouldn’t have worked. It feels very well balanced overall.
One Night Only is sappy and corny at times, but never goes too overboard. If you’re going into a Romantic Comedy, then chances are you know what to expect. Being sappy is practically a core tenet of these kinds of films. Despite being a cynical bastard myself, I was rooting for Turner and Barbaro, and felt everything about their interactions played perfectly into that. This was fun, quickly paced, entertaining, and a genuinely unique love story, which is pretty impressive for 2026.
One Night Only is playing in theaters on August 7th, 2026.