REVIEW — “One Night Only”

The ultimate late-summer date night movie has arrived with One Night Only, a sexy, electric and hilarious new R-rated romantic comedy from Universal Pictures.

In the spirit of films like Martin Scorsese’s After Hours, Keanu Reeves’ The Night Before and Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Trojan War, One Night Only is a mischievously sexy all-nighter of chance encounters, sexy side-quests and hilarious misadventures. However, at the center of the madness is a wildly entertaining, Purge-like premise: Set in a near-future America, a strict chastity mandate has completely outlawed premarital sex — except for signal a single 12-hour annual exemption window where anything goes.

Based on a script from Travis Braun and co-written by director Will Gluck, the film’s absurd, pressure-cooker setup drives the film’s plot, turning New York City into a chaotic scramble of desperate singles, price-gouged condoms, and high-stakes romantic shenanigans as time ticks away. Gluck once again demonstrates the impeccable comedic timing he honed in rom-com staples like Easy A and Anyone But You. Striking a balance between witty dialogue and delightfully shameless gags, Gluck keeps the pace moving, ensuring every escalating disaster is both absurdly funny and grounded in relatable human awkwardness.

What truly elevates the film, however, is the undeniable charisma of its leads. Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown, Top Gun: Maverick) shines as Allie, an aspiring singer with a dry wit, sharp tongue and hilarious job covering pop songs as jingles for prescription drug commercials. Meanwhile Callum Turner (Masters of the Air, Eternity) is endlessly charming as Owen, a sweet-natured pizza shop owner whose meticulously planned evening goes off the rails after his girlfriend (Maya Hawke) dumps him for a night of passion with another guy.

Barbaro and Turner’s crackling onscreen chemistry carries the heart of the movie, transforming their initial disastrous meet cute into a genuine, spark-filled connection that you can’t help but root for. The supporting cast is equally top-tier, featuring hilarious from an array of surprise cameos that steal the show. Molly Ringwald and LeVar Burton are a riot as Owen’s mother and her partner, whose uninhibited plans for the night deliver some of the film’s wildest laughs.

Crucial to the film’s relentless energy is its pulsing original score composed by Christopher Stracey and Este Haim of the band HAIM (who also cameos) and its sensational soundtrack of pop hits (Robyn’s “Dopamine” and Yaz’s “Only You”). The songs are the film’s heartbeats, infusing every scene with driving basslines, rhythmic synths, and upbeat grooves that keep the characters moving through their overnight hunt for love.

With a world this rich and outrageously chaotic, One Night Only practically begs for an expanded cinematic universe. A direct sequel—perhaps titled Nine Months Later that tracks the inevitable, city-wide baby boom following the aftermath of this film’s nationwide night of passion. Packed with infectious charm and laughs, One Night Only is a total bang-fest of R-rated hilarity that is easily the most fun romantic comedy in years. 4/5

Rated R with a running time of 1 hours and 49 minutes, One Night Only opens only in theaters on August 7, 2026.