R-Rated Dystopian Movie With A Genre Twist Stumbles In Rotten Tomatoes Score Debut

Published Aug 5, 2026, 1:59 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. A new R-rated dystopian movie is having a rough morning after. Dystopian movies imagine bleak futures in which society has fallen apart and oppressive systems are in control – exploring themes of resistance, power, and humanity. Critically acclaimed classics like Blade Runner (1982), The Matrix (1999), Children of Men (2006), The Hunger Games (2012), and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) have helped define the genre. Now, a new dystopian movie puts an unexpected twist on the genre, but is off to a rough start with critics. A few days before its release date, One Night Only has stumbled with its Rotten Tomatoes debut. Set in a dystopian future, the new rom-com stars Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner as two love-starved strangers who meet on the one night of the year in which single people are legally allowed to have sex. Now, ahead of its theatrical release on August 7, One Night Only has debuted to a 54% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie has 41 reviews at the time of writing, so its score could fluctuate slightly as more are published. Its audience score should also start to take shape once the movie releases in theaters this Friday. Directed by Will Gluck – known for the rom-coms Easy A (2010), Friends with Benefits (2011), and Anyone But You (2023) – with a script written by Travis Braun, the cast also includes Maya Hawke, Julia Fox, Molly Ringwald, LeVar Burton, Okieriete Onaodowan, Este Haim, Ziwe, King Princess, Ben Marshall, Nicholas Braun, Quintessa Swindell, Michelle Hurd, and Radio Man. In ScreenRant's One Night Only review, Alex Harrison writes, "This high-concept rom-com is everything you'd want it to be... If Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner aren't movie stars after this hilarious and swoon-worthy romantic comedy, then there's no hope for Hollywood." He continues: I won't speculate whether One Night Only could bring rom-coms back. But it's at least concrete evidence that Hollywood hasn't forgotten how to do them right. Overall, One Night Only is splitting critics straight down the middle – with some praising its charm, chemistry, and playful dystopian twist – while others find the premise undercooked and the romance too predictable. Supporters say that Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner bring effortless warmth to the chaos – creating a fun crowd-pleaser that mixes laughs, satire, and heart despite its strange high-concept setup. Detractors argue that the film's provocative setup never fully explores its bigger ideas about society and relationships, instead settling for a safer rom-com formula that wastes its bold concept. Still, even many of the negative reviews admit that the leads have undeniable chemistry and the movie offers moments of genuine fun. In the end, the debate comes down to whether the satire or the sweetness takes over for One Night Only. Release Date August 7, 2026 Runtime 103 Minutes Director Will Gluck Writers Travis Braun Producers Jacqueline Monetta, Will Gluck Cast