The new A24 romantic film Materialists is set to release in North American theaters this week. It is already receiving positive reviews from critics.
The film focuses on a young, ambitious New York City matchmaker who finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex. It is directed by Celine Song and stars Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal.
Here is our recommendation of five romantic movies you can watch first before seeing Materialists.
Past Lives
Past Lives might be the number one choice for many, considering that it was Celine Song's directorial debut, and rewatching this might give you an idea of her creative progress going into her sophomore effort.
The film, which received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, is a poignant portrait of love and destiny between two childhood friends. This showed why Song is one of the forces to reckon with in the art of cinema today.
How to Be Single
Dakota Johnson is no stranger to the romantic-comedy genre, as proven by some of her past works, including the 2016 film How to Be Single.
It marked her first leading role in a movie outside the Fifty Shades trilogy. While the film may not be well-received or considered to be a rewatchable classic, it showed that Johnson can shine as a romantic-comedy lead and has the range outside of playing Anastasia Steele.
Cha Cha Real Smooth
Cha Cha Real Smooth is another romantic film that Johnson starred in. It received acclaim from critics when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2022.
The film is a touching story of romance and friendship. While it solidified director and star Cooper Raiff as a talent to watch, Johnson also proved that she is truly one of the most charismatic actresses on screen today.
Before We Go
Chris Evans is not just an experienced actor in the romantic genre, but he has also directed a romantic film himself with Before We Go, which was released in 2015.
Starring Evans and Alice Eve, the film focuses on two strangers stuck in Manhattan for the night who grow into each other's most trusted confidants when an evening of unexpected adventure forces them to confront their fears and take control of their lives.
We Live in Time
A24 is not new in the romance space, as they have also released films in the genre, whether it's a straightforward love story or a genre-bending take that challenges the notion of relationships.
One great example from their slate is We Live in Time starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh. The story focuses on a talented chef and a recently divorcée as they fall in love and build the home and family they've always dreamed of, until a painful truth puts their love story to the test.
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