Monica Barbaro Steps Out in Style for ‘One Night Only,’ and Reveals Her Character Did More than Just Fall in Love

Romantic comedies have had a bit of a renaissance lately, with a handful of filmmakers proving that the genre still has plenty of life left when paired with the right high-concept hook. That resurgence has made this week’s New York premiere circuit feel especially electric, drawing out a stacked guest list eager to celebrate the latest entry into that comeback.

The film in question arrives from a director with a proven track record in the space, and it’s already generating buzz for both its offbeat premise and its leading lady’s commitment to the role. Ahead of its release later this week, the cast gathered for a glamorous night on the town that gave fans their first extended look at the film’s stars together.

Monica Barbaro turned heads on the red carpet at the ‘One Night Only’ New York premiere, held Monday night at the SVA Theater. The Oscar-nominated actress wore a flowing white gown accented with a pale yellow and blue floral shoulder detail, joining a starry guest list that included Dua Lipa, Callum Turner, Julia Fox, Molly Ringwald, Este Haim, Ziwe, King Princess, and director Will Gluck.

Barbaro stars in the film as Allie, a hopeful romantic navigating a wildly unconventional dating landscape opposite Turner’s Owen, a recently heartbroken pizza shop owner. According to the film’s premise, the two cross paths in a slightly fictionalized New York City on the one night each year when single people are permitted to have sex, a high-concept twist that has already drawn comparisons to other single-night thrillers, though the film itself leans fully into romance rather than chaos.

Barbaro didn’t hold back when describing the film’s unusual setup during a recent interview. “The premise of it is so crazy, but as soon as you watch it, it’s a beautiful rom-com,” she said in an interview with Where Is The Buzz.

Turner echoed that sentiment, explaining how the dynamic between Allie and Owen only works because the pair aren’t initially looking for romance with each other. “They’re not after each other, so there’s a freedom,” he told Rotten Tomatoes. “They’re not looking at each other thinking, ‘This is the person.’ They’re actually on different quests.”

Barbaro went well beyond the standard demands of a rom-com lead for her role, taking on singing and piano performance for a pivotal scene where her character serenades a crowd. Speaking to Rotten Tomatoes, Barbaro described the sequence as “a very scary thing,” while noting her longstanding tendency to take the harder path in any given situation.

Director Will Gluck, who previously helmed romantic comedy hits including ‘Easy A’ and ‘Anyone But You,’ brought his signature blend of wit and visual world-building to the project, reportedly incorporating small details throughout New York City’s backdrop as part of the film’s texture. The supporting cast rounds out with Maya Hawke, LeVar Burton, Ziwe, King Princess, Ben Marshall, and Nicholas Braun.

With the film opening in theaters on August 7, Barbaro and Turner have kept up a steady promotional push, including scheduled back-to-back appearances on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.’ For a genre that’s spent recent years fighting for relevance, ‘One Night Only’ seems determined to prove that a clever premise and genuine chemistry can still fill seats.

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