Just picture the dystopian chaos of The Purge , but instead of a 12-hour free pass for murder, a strict government grants everyone one wild night of legalised premarital sex. We usually like our rom-coms to go down easy, but One Night Only takes a massive, delightfully weird detour. Director Will Gluck has spent years proving he knows how to give this genre a fun, modern facelift—whether through the razor-sharp wit of Emma Stone’s Easy A or the sheer, undeniable heat of Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell in Anyone But You . This time around, though, he’s taking that winning formula somewhere much stranger. It’s a completely unhinged setup, but you have to admit: it’s an absolute goldmine for messy romance, biting satire, and some serious laughs.
She is also out there looking for someone and hoping something meaningful happens by the end of the 24-hour window. The film is set in New York City, where sex between unmarried couples has been illegal for the past three years. Owen ( Callum Turner ), a pizzeria owner from Upper Manhattan, plans to spend the night with his girlfriend Malika (Maya Hawke). But things take an unexpected turn when Malika suggests they open up their relationship for the night, leaving Owen unsure of how to navigate the chaos that follows. As New York embraces its one night of freedom, Owen finds himself repeatedly crossing paths with Allie ( Monica Barbaro ), an aspiring singer who pays her bills by recording hilariously cheesy pharmaceutical jingles. What starts as a series of random encounters slowly develops into something more genuine. Amid a city full of people looking for a one-night connection, Owen and Allie begin to wonder if they might have stumbled upon something that could last beyond the night. The undisputed lifesavers of this movie are Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro . Callum gifts Owen with the kind of relaxed, understated charm that instantly gets you on his side. He is entirely out of his depth, wonderfully awkward, and gloriously unprepared for the city-wide madness around him. He leans into the humour of a guy quietly panicking, knowing exactly how to make those moments funny without resorting to cartoonish slapstick. Monica is every bit his match as Allie. She brings a sharp, slightly prickly energy to the screen that feels incredibly real. Her comedic timing is razor-sharp, and if you don’t find yourself laughing at her belting out those deeply unhinged pharmaceutical jingles, you might need to check your pulse. They are easily the movie’s standout running gag. Then there’s New York City, which practically acts as the film’s third lead. The sweltering summer streets and that specific, electric NYC energy give the movie that classic, breezy rom-com vibe you’re paying for. The script is peppered with quick-witted gags, sharp pop-culture jabs, and a few genuinely surprising celebrity cameos that actually add to the fun without pulling focus from the main duo. If you’re paying attention, there are plenty of clever little easter eggs to catch, too.
There is just one exception — an annual 12-hour window called “one night only”, when the law is put on hold.
