Plot & Main Characters: When Dating Becomes a Business Decision

Lucy runs an exclusive matchmaking agency in New York. Clients bring influence, capital, and perfect manners. When she meets the charming and wealthy Harry (Pedro Pascal), it seems like the ideal match. But her ex, John (Chris Evans) – a less polished but sincere artist – disrupts her concept.

My verdict as a matchmaker: Many dream of the perfect connection – but true happiness is often found not in a polished profile, but in real conversations. That’s why I focus on personal dialogue instead of algorithms.

Theme & Critique: Love Between Strategy and Capital

Materialists is more than a romance – it’s a sharp social commentary. Status, income, appearance – everything becomes negotiable. Lucy acts as a broker of these transactions, caught in the very world she helped create. The question remains: Is there still room for real emotion?

My verdict as a matchmaker: Many online platforms reinforce this economic view of relationships. I, on the other hand, believe love should be a space not for negotiations, but for trust.

Acting & Aesthetic: A Cold Façade, a Flicker Within

Dakota Johnson shines as Lucy – flawless on the outside, torn within. Chris Evans brings unexpected warmth, while Pedro Pascal dazzles as a charismatic pretender. Visually, the film is luxurious and nostalgic: New York captured on 35mm film, the soundtrack emotional yet never cheesy.

My verdict as a matchmaker: In real-life dates, I often see the same dilemma: the outward impression fits, but there’s no emotional resonance. This is where I come in – offering true emotional depth instead of superficial perfection.

Production & Release: Style Meets Zeitgeist

Filmed in spring 2024, theatrical release in June 2025, streaming from July – Materialists is Celine Song’s second feature after Past Lives. The soundtrack by Daniel Pemberton (featuring, among others, Japanese Breakfast) supports the film’s melancholy undertone – a story like a peek behind the curtain of a perfect date.

My verdict as a matchmaker: The longing for genuine connections is palpable in this film – and it’s also the central theme of my daily work.

Reception: Between Praise and Emotional Coolness

Critics are divided: 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, 70/100 on Metacritic. Many praise its sharp analysis of modern love; others miss emotional depth. The audience feels both provoked and adrift – a film that intentionally polarizes.

My verdict as a matchmaker: This ambivalence reveals something important: we yearn for love but have forgotten how to allow it. My job is to reopen that door – for real encounters.

Conclusion: A Mirror of Our Times – But Without Heart, It Turns Cold

Materialists is a stylish and smart film that shows how modern matchmaking is caught between strategy and longing. It asks: What matters more – perfect compatibility or real emotional closeness?

My personal conclusion as matchmaker Christine Stegmann: Love needs space, humanity, and honest conversations – and sometimes the courage to embrace imperfection. That’s my mission: to bring people together in real life, so that maybe a date can become something more.