Celine Song Redefines Romance in Materialists: 'Love Is a Miracle, Even in 2025'

Normal, everyday love. In her new film, Materialists, about living and loving in 2025 New York, writer-director Celine Song set out to investigate that.

Celine Song, creator of Materialists, shares her definition of "love"

Dakota Johnson plays Lucy, a successful matchmaker in New York City, in Materialists. She meets wealthy and successful Harry (Pedro Pascal) while searching for prospective clients at a wedding she planned. Her less-than-ideal ex-boyfriend John (Chris Evans), a struggling actor who earns a living by taking on odd catering jobs, is also present.Celine stated in an interview with PTI that it's "so cool to be in a movie about everyday love, kind of ordinary love with these three great actors."The film's reviews have been largely positive since its theatrical release, with many praising Celine for refusing the romantic-comedy standard in favor of examining contemporary dating and relationships from a practical standpoint.When it comes to love, Celine is a genuine romantic.”It’ really hard to believe in love, especially in 2025, right? It’s very hard to believe in love over money. And it’s amazing, the idea that you can get rid of all your financial troubles by just marrying right. The fantasy is so amazing,” she remarked.The filmmaker stated that, “But I think the greater fantasy is falling in love in a way that none of that matters. I think that’s a bigger happy ending because when that happens, when love happens, it’s a miracle.”

She claimed that this is the reason the word "deal" has such a romantic meaning in the context of the film.Celine said, "I feel in another romantic film, ‘deal’ is not a romantic word, but in this movie called Materialists, it is a very romantic word. And the other romantic line is ‘How would you like to make a very bad financial decision?’ I’m like, That’s not a very romantic line in other movies, but in this one, it’s a very romantic line.”Materialists comes from the director's personal space, just like Past Lives, her 2023 film about a married writer creating contact with her childhood South Korean sweetheart.