Two strangers crash into each other in an ever-so-slightly fictionalized New York on the one night when single people are allowed to have sex. Recently dumped Owen and hopeful romantic Allie may be the only two singles in the city looking for more than a quick encounter. They both feel a spark when they meet, but a series of missteps and side quests will complicate their night. From Will Gluck, the writer-director of Anyone But You and Friends with Benefits, comes a fresh, funny, swoony original romantic comedy about searching for love on the least romantic night of the year.
Directed by Will Gluck, One Night Only attempts to reinvigorate the romantic comedy formula through a high-concept, quasi-dystopian premise: an alternate reality where premarital sex is legally banned except for a single night each year. As highlighted in The AU Review's One Night Only Interview, director Will Gluck uses this unconventional setup to explore contemporary dating anxieties, artificial urgency, and the search for authentic emotional intimacy.
The narrative follows Owen (Callum Turner), a pizza shop owner recovering from sudden heartbreak, and Allie (Monica Barbaro), a commercial singer, whose paths repeatedly intersect during a chaotic Manhattan evening. The sharp comedic timing and palpable chemistry between Turner and Barbaro serve as the film's strongest assets, supported by entertaining appearances from Maya Hawke and Molly Ringwald.
