Critics Hate Callum Turner’s New Rom-Com, but Audiences Are Loving It!

Callum Turner has quietly built one of the more interesting resumes in Hollywood, moving from prestige war drama in ‘Masters of the Air’ to romance in ‘Eternity’ and now landing in the middle of a dystopian sex comedy alongside Monica Barbaro. Directed by Will Gluck, the filmmaker behind ‘Easy A’ and ‘Anyone But You,’ ‘One Night Only’ opened in theaters on August 7 with a high-concept twist unlike anything else currently playing.

The film imagines a near-future America where a government mandate legalizes premarital sex for singles over eighteen on just one night a year, tracking dopamine spikes through mandatory wrist tattoos to enforce the rule the rest of the time. Turner and Barbaro play Owen and Allie, two strangers navigating New York City’s chaos that night, each hoping for something more meaningful than a quick fling before circumstances keep pulling them apart.

That premise has proven divisive right out of the gate, with the film currently sitting at a 47 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, based on 123 reviews. Despite that lukewarm critical reception, audiences have responded far more warmly, pushing the film’s audience score up to 72 percent alongside a solid B+ CinemaScore.

That gap between critics and general moviegoers has become one of the more talked-about storylines surrounding the film’s release. Several reviewers have pointed to Turner and Barbaro’s chemistry as the film’s clear saving grace, even as they’ve struggled with a premise many found tonally uneven or undercooked given its dystopian setup.

Reactions among critics have varied widely, with some outlets embracing the film’s unusual blend of satire and romance while others felt it never fully committed to either. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praised the film’s leads, crediting their easygoing chemistry with making audiences root for them despite the story’s contrived hurdles.

Other reviewers were less forgiving of the premise itself. Variety’s Guy Lodge described the film as “too creepy to be cute,” pointing to uncomfortable comparisons to ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ while still acknowledging that Turner brought an off-kilter charm that complemented Barbaro’s presence on screen. Meanwhile, The Wrap’s Matt Goldberg found the film’s lighter touch with its darker political implications refreshing rather than frustrating, calling it a silly, delightful romantic comedy once viewers accept its bizarre setup.

The mixed critical reception mirrors a pattern that’s followed Gluck’s recent work, given that his previous film ‘Anyone But You’ also faced negative reviews before going on to enjoy a surprisingly strong box office run. That history suggests ‘One Night Only’ could follow a similar trajectory, especially given how positively audiences have already responded compared to the more skeptical critical consensus.

The film’s supporting cast adds further star power to the mix, featuring Maya Hawke, Julia Fox, Molly Ringwald, LeVar Burton, King Princess, and Ziwe rounding out the ensemble. With audiences continuing to rate the film significantly higher than critics, ‘One Night Only’ looks poised to become another example of a Will Gluck rom-com that thrives on crowd appeal regardless of what reviewers ultimately decide.