The Idea of You

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2:20

The Idea of You

R

2024

1h 55m

Romance

Drama

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

185 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Based on the acclaimed, contemporary love story of the same name, The Idea of You centers on Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet. When Solène must step in to chaperone her teenage daughter's trip to the Coachella Music Festival after her ex bails at the last minute, she has a chance encounter with Hayes and there is an instant, undeniable spark. As they begin a whirlwind romance, it isn't long before Hayes' superstar status poses unavoidable challenges to their relationship, and Solène soon discovers that life in the glare of his spotlight might be more than she bargained for.

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Critics Consensus

The Idea of You offers a welcome reminder that Anne Hathaway remains a thoroughly delightful rom-com lead -- and reaffirms that few filmmakers understand the genre better than Michael Showalter.

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Audience Says

Though The Idea of You leans heavy into wish-fulfillment fantasy, it’s a cheesy, sexy rom-com that pairs well with wine on the rocks.

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Alejandra Martinez

TheWrap

Galitzine and Hathaway anchor the film and their chemistry is palpable, making every touch feel electric.

Aug 8, 2024

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Dwight Brown

DwightBrownInk.com

Within ten minutes, the story’s charm, beguiling characters and awkward situations are in full bloom.

Rated: 3/4

May 31, 2024

Full Review

Robert Levin

Newsday

This is a substantial movie with the veneer of a frothy romantic comedy.

Rated: 3/4

May 21, 2024

Full Review

Matthew Koss

The Wandering Screen (YouTube)

The idea of you is fantastical, seductive and so easy to watch.

Rated: B

Aug 16, 2025

Full Review

Marissa Hill

Shade Studios

In a genre that often treads familiar ground, The Idea of You is a welcome departure.

Jul 29, 2025

Full Review

Rua Fay

Cinemasters

its saccharine plot resembles something you'd find on 2014 Wattpad.

Jul 21, 2025

Full Review

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VITALII H

I decided to watch this movie only because of Anne. And yeah. She is in this movie, she looks great, she does some things... Thay prety much concludes my review. The movie was lacking substance and excitement. It was predictable and boring. Nothing will make me watch this movie again. Anne did great tho.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/29/25

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Freya L

this deserves a better rating than it has. The chemistry between the two actors was amazing!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/29/25

Full Review

Calvin O

I feel like the whole plot was rushed. I get the idea of falling in love in a heartbeat, I guess... But to me the story fell a little flat. There were so many things happening without any explanations or character developments. To me, the whole relationship between Soléne and Hayes felt unrealistic and just flat. She says -I'm too old- and then just flies off and spends weeks with him? And the daughter says -I'm okay with it as long as you're happy- but five minutes later is crying about it and wants to stay with her loser father? And then, after breaking up it just jumps to five years later and there is no catching the audience up on what happened during those five years. I don't know, the movie and the story had potential and the actors sure played their parts well but a lot of the time I just felt like the whole thing had been thrown together because a lot of things just happened without any explanations or character developments. Maybe it should've been a series instead of a movie, I don't know but because of all these rushed developments without any explanations, I was quite often left confused.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/21/25

Full Review

charlotte b

This movie was so bad it was funny. full of the exaggerated swagger of a black teen.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/13/25

Full Review

M I

Great story, great chemistry between Hathaway and Galitzine, great directing, fun soundtrack. Absolutely loved it! And Galitzine was especially fabulous. I watched three of his other movies after seeing him in this one.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/08/25

Full Review

Daniel M

Hathaway and Galitzine deliver top-level performances in a film with a romantic plot that is predictable yet refreshing. When divorced mother Solene unexpectedly runs into a dreamboat pop-star Hayes at a music festival, a new genuine high-flung love story is the last thing she expects (or perhaps, is even ready for) after her heart was broken before. Based on the top-level novel, this romantic comedy is almost enough to transform a whole film genre with enough laughs and cries to lure in even the most cynical of viewers.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/06/25

Full Review

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Michael Showalter

Director

Anne Hathaway

Solene

Nicholas Galitzine

Hayes

Ella Rubin

Izzy

Annie Mumolo

Tracy

Reid Scott

Daniel

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The Idea of You: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Based on the acclaimed, contemporary love story of the same name, The Idea of You centers on Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet. When Solène must step in to chaperone her teenage daughter's trip to the Coachella Music Festival after her ex bails at the last minute, she has a chance encounter with Hayes and there is an instant, undeniable spark. As they begin a whirlwind romance, it isn't long before Hayes' superstar status poses unavoidable challenges to their relationship, and Solène soon discovers that life in the glare of his spotlight might be more than she bargained for.

Director: Michael Showalter
Producer: Cathy Schulman, Gabrielle Union, Anne Hathaway, Robinne Lee, Eric Hayes, Jordana Mollick, Michael Showalter
Screenwriter: Michael Showalter, Jennifer Westfeldt
Distributor: Amazon Studios
Production Co: Somewhere Pictures, Amazon Studios, I'll Have Another, Welle Entertainment
Rating: R (Some Language|Sexual Content)
Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 2, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 2, 2024
Runtime: 1h 55m

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