Dakota Fanning's New R-Rated Movie Earns Fresh Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Aurore Marechal/Abaca Press/INSTARimages Published Oct 15, 2026, 6:29 PM EDT Adam Bentz is a senior news writer at ScreenRant, where he has authored nearly 5,000 articles, including features and lists. He studied creative writing and English with a concentration in screenwriting at Southern New Hampshire University and interned as a writer/journalist for The Borgen Project, an influential organization that fights global poverty. However, one of his proudest achievements is editing a Leonardo DiCaprio freakout compilation that has over 150K views on YouTube. Adam also fancies himself an amateur film critic on his personal website. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Dakota Fanning's new movie is shining bright with a fresh audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Beginning her career as a child actress in Man on Fire (2004), War of the Worlds (2005), and Charlotte's Web (2006), Dakota Fanning has since transitioned to more mature roles in the indie dramas The Runaways (2010) and Night Moves (2013) alongside The Twilight Saga (2009–2012), Ocean's 8 (2018), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), The Equalizer 3 (2023), and The Watchers (2024). Now, The Sun Never Sets has debuted with a 72% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie has 50+ ratings at the time of writing, so its score is subject to change as more are added. It also has a 79% score from critics with 68 reviews. The movie premiered at SXSW 2026 this past March and was released in limited theaters in the United States on August 28 before expanding to a wider release on September 4. The movie is currently available to rent or buy on digital platforms, such as Prime Video, from $6.99. Written, directed, produced, and edited by Joe Swanberg, known for his micro-budget mumblecore movies, The Sun Never Sets stars Dakota Fanning as a woman who takes a break from her relationship with her current boyfriend (Jake Johnson) just as she unexpectedly runs into her ex-boyfriend (Cory Michael Smith) in the Alaskan wilderness, plunging her into a volatile love triangle that threatens to undo her life. The cast also includes Debby Ryan, Anna Konkle, Lamorne Morris, and Karley Sciortino. Overall, audiences are praising The Sun Never Sets for its honest and sometimes painfully familiar take on romance and relationship drama. The messy love triangle feels refreshingly real – with believable dialogue, witty moments, and strong performances bringing its complicated emotions to life. Dakota Fanning earns particular praise for her subtle yet compelling portrayal of uncertainty. Not everyone is won over, though. Some viewers found the conversations repetitive, the pacing sluggish, and the characters' constant indecision frustrating. Others feel the story lacks a satisfying conclusion and leaves too many questions unanswered. Ultimately, it seems that the talky and character-driven drama will resonate with some viewers and leave others impatient. On the other hand, The Sun Never Sets reviews from critics praise the film for transforming the well-worn love triangle into a nuanced exploration of romantic uncertainty, elevated by Joe Swanberg's naturalistic directing style and Dakota Fanning's captivating performance. Whether you love or loathe its messy romance, The Sun Never Sets proves that matters of the heart rarely come with easy answers. Release Date August 28, 2026 Runtime 102 minutes Director Joe Swanberg Writers Joe Swanberg Producers Ashleigh Snead, Cory Michael Smith, Dakota Fanning, Jake Johnson, Joe Swanberg Cast