One Night Only Rom-Com Earns 49% Rotten Tomatoes Score

The romantic comedy One Night Only, directed by Will Gluck and starring Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner, opened in theaters nationwide on Friday. The film, rated R, presents a dystopian scenario where the government mandates one night of premarital sex for singles over 18, with tattoos on wrists to monitor dopamine spikes. Set in New York City, the story follows Allie (Barbaro), a jingle singer, and Owen (Turner), a pizza shop owner, whose paths cross repeatedly during the mandated night. The cast also includes Maya Hawke, Michelle Hurd, Charlie Gillespie, Molly Ringwald, and LeVar Burton. As of the review date, the film holds a 49% 'rotten' critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 78 reviews, with the Critics Consensus and audience scores pending. Critics are divided: David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praises the leads' chemistry, while Katie Walsh of Tribune News Service and Alison Wilmore of New York Magazine/Vulture criticize structural flaws. The film's mixed reviews echo the reception of Gluck's previous hit, Anyone but You (2023), which earned a 53% critics' score but an 87% audience score and grossed $219.8 million worldwide on a $25 million budget. Despite the negative critical consensus, the film offers a refreshing take on the rom-com genre, emphasizing charm and chemistry over plot logic.