Materialists Trailer

I’m sharing my thoughts and expectations after watching the trailer for A24’s upcoming summer film, Materialists. Directed by Celine Song, who captivated audiences worldwide with Past Lives, and starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal, this film has already become one of the most anticipated releases of 2025.

Introduction to the Film

Materialists is set in New York and follows Lucy (Dakota Johnson), a successful matchmaker who finds herself torn between two men (Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal) as she confronts her true desires, ideas of love, and the direction of her life. While the premise borrows from the classic romantic comedy formula, the trailer makes it clear that the film digs much deeper into the complexities of modern relationships, material values, and the true nature of human connection.

The trailer opens with the narration, “Lucy M, the eternal bachelorette,” introducing Lucy as a professional matchmaker who seems to have everything together on the surface but struggles with her own romantic life. The glamorous world of matchmaking hides her inner doubts, and her interactions with the two male leads reveal her vulnerability and search for authenticity.

Characters

Lucy (Dakota Johnson):

A sophisticated matchmaker for New York’s elite, Lucy is confident in her career but privately wrestles with questions about love, success, and stability. The trailer shows her trying to be honest with her feelings, torn between what she wants and what she thinks she should want.

Harry (Pedro Pascal)

Wealthy and caring, Harry offers Lucy comfort and security. His grand gestures—like showering her with flowers in a fancy restaurant—highlight his affection, but sometimes his attentiveness feels overwhelming.

John (Chris Evans)

An aspiring actor with financial struggles, John shares a long history with Lucy. He’s genuine and down-to-earth, representing a different kind of love and forcing Lucy to confront the gap between her ideals and reality.

Supporting characters, including Lucy’s colleagues and matchmaking clients, add further layers to the depiction of modern romance and social expectations.

Impressions from the Trailer

The trailer cleverly uses the familiar setup of a romantic comedy, but infuses it with sharp realism and deeper questions. It raises issues like, “Is love just another transaction?” and “What are we willing to sacrifice or choose for a happy life?” These dilemmas are woven into Lucy’s journey and her relationships with both men.

The tone is especially striking. The trailer’s opening—with its playful narration, montage editing, and Madonna’s “Material Girl” playing in the background—evokes the charm of early 2000s rom-coms. Yet, as the trailer progresses, the mood shifts: realistic dialogue, moments of awkwardness, and Lucy’s inner turmoil make it clear this film won’t shy away from the messiness of real life.

• Lucy’s matchmaking sessions, where clients list superficial criteria (“No women over 40 or overweight”), expose the transactional nature of modern dating.
• Lucy’s indecision between Harry and John mirrors the struggle many face between security and passion, freedom and responsibility.
• The repeated message, “Love is ultimately a matter of choice,” lingers, making viewers wonder where Lucy’s choices will lead her.

Direction and Cast

Celine Song’s signature subtle direction and realistic dialogue shine throughout the trailer. The understated emotional beats and focus on character interactions, which were so effective in Past Lives, seem to carry over here as well. Dakota Johnson brings both elegance and vulnerability to Lucy, while Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans offer contrasting but equally compelling presences.

Points of Anticipation

• Modern Love Unfiltered:
  The film promises a nuanced exploration of love, materialism, and the psychological struggles of contemporary relationships.
• Genre Subversion and Humor:
  Expect witty dialogue and self-aware humor that play with, and sometimes upend, the conventions of romantic comedies.
• Cast Chemistry:
  The dynamic between the three leads looks set to create both tension and charm, drawing viewers into Lucy’s world.

Final Thoughts

Materialists looks to be more than a simple love story. It promises to explore the anxieties, desires, and choices that define modern life. The trailer blends the comfort of a classic rom-com with the sharpness of social commentary, leaving a strong impression. This summer, I’m eager to see how Celine Song’s direction and the cast’s performances bring these themes to life.

For anyone who’s ever wrestled with the balance between love, ambition, and material desires, Materialists seems poised to ask all the right questions—and maybe even offer a few answers.