"One Night Only" (2026) - The Romantic Comedy We've Been Missing

The night is finally here.

“One Night Only” is a 2026 film. In a world where premarital romance is banned, for one night, the rules are lifted, and couples are allowed to do what they want. Owen and Allie’s nights intertwine as they figure out their direction.

I wasn’t sure about this movie, but the film was a total surprise. It was brought to life (oh, the irony) in all the best ways. “One Night Only” is filled with unexpected adventures, unexpected moments, and a healthy message about romance that the world needs right now. 

Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro star as the lead characters, Owen and Allie. On this night of chaotic romances, the pair keep meeting up whether they want to or not. Turner and Barbaro have electric chemistry, competing in lightning dialogue exchanges. They are both established characters as we get to know them throughout the night.

The ensemble is the best part of the film. There are several characters, supporting or background, doing their own thing. Everyone goes all out with their dialogue, adding anything to make scenes funnier. 

80s icon Molly Ringwald stars as Owen’s mother, Linda, who catches her in an embarrassing romantic fling with LeVar Burton (Rick). “Stranger Things” star Maya Hawke has a small part. More credits include Julia Fox, Charlie Gillespie, Michelle Hurd, King Princess, Quintessa Swindell, and so many more. 

There are several bit roles; it’s hard to pick my favorite. There is Trey (Mateo Ray), a 12-year-old boy being babysat who makes his own comments on the situation. I also really liked the older cashier woman, who rolls her eyes at the shenanigans. 

The film moves at a clever pace with fast-paced edits. An example is Owen and Ellie doing heads or tails on a quarter - only for the quarter to fall into a vent. The scene that transpires seconds later made me burst out laughing. 

This is the kind of humor we’ve been missing. You never know what to expect. Owen and Ellie are interrupted several times as they attempt to get to know each other more. 

“One Night Only” was written by Travis Braun. Braun’s road to screenwriting was a long one. For “One Night Only,” he was inspired by the good old “what if.” Braun focused on modern dating and explored societal rules in limited time. Although the story touches on similar themes, the idea is still fresh. 

The film is directed by Will Gluck, known for his work on romantic comedies “Easy A,” “Friends with Benefits,” and “Anyone But You.” During casting for the film, Gluck helped conduct rewrites to shape the material around the actors and his own vision of the movie. What transpires is a chaotic film with an honest message. 

During the film’s final edit, Gluck made several decisions for the movie, including trimming sexual content or nudity to make it more worthy for millennial audiences. 

With its raunchy premise, yes, “One Night Only” gets sexual, but not in the way you’d think. The film accommodates a healthy message about romance. Getting to know someone is the most important part of a relationship. 

Whether couples or people independently, we are allowed to guide our relationships or lives in the direction we want. We don’t see enough media with this message.

I’ll warn you: “One Night Only” is a mature movie, but it is so worth seeing in theaters. I shared the theater with a few other people, but we were all laughing. That’s what I love most about going to the movies. We share the experience. It’s a space to listen to all the various types of laughs.