From Past Lives to Materialists: Celine Song Takes On Love in the Age of Inequality

Remember when romcoms were all about meet-cutes in bookshops and running through airports? Well, Celine Song’s latest film ‘Materialists’ is about to give the genre a properly needed reality check. Fresh off her Oscar-nominated debut ‘Past Lives’, Song’s serving up a romance that’s less about grand gestures and more about checking your bank balance before suggesting dinner plans.

When Money Matters in Modern Love

Sitting in a Manhattan caf, sporting a wonderfully ironic ‘HOWDY’ t-shirt, Song’s got some thoughts about how we talk about wealth in films. “Everyone’s throwing around the word ‘billionaire’ like they’re discussing pocket change,” she tells me, clearly miffed about the mischaracterisation of her film’s private equity manager character.

The maths lesson she gives next is proper eye-opening – and honestly, after hearing it, I’ve had to reassess every “rich person” character I’ve ever seen on screen. When she breaks down that most Americans earn less than 35,000, suddenly that 12 million apartment doesn’t seem so billionaire-esque after all.

Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal: Chemistry Across Class Lines

Casting Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal as lovers from different economic backgrounds wasn’t just about their obvious star power (though let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to watch these two fall in love?). Song’s crafted characters that feel properly real – none of that “poor but somehow lives in a massive flat in central London” nonsense we usually get.

From Past Lives to Present Reality

While Song’s debut ‘Past Lives’ explored love lost and found across continents and decades, ‘Materialists’ brings things closer to home. It’s about the awkward moment when you realise your date’s idea of “casual drinks” means a 200 bottle of wine, or when splitting the bill becomes an exercise in advanced mathematics and pride-swallowing.

FAQ: Your Burning Questions About Materialists

Is Materialists connected to Past Lives?

No, this is a completely separate story, though both films showcase Song’s keen eye for modern relationships and their complications.

When is Materialists releasing in the UK?

The film opens in UK cinemas on August 15th, 2025, following its successful New York premiere.

What inspired Celine Song to make this film?

Song drew from observations about modern dating and the increasing wealth gap in major cities, creating a story that reflects real-world relationship challenges.

The Bottom Line

In a world where dating apps let you filter by income and profession, Song’s ‘Materialists’ feels less like social commentary and more like a documentary with better lighting. It’s the kind of film that’ll have you texting your mates about that time you dated someone who thought Waitrose was “where poor people shop”.

Whether you’re more champagne tastes on a prosecco budget, or actually loading up your Monzo with champers money, this film’s got something to say about how we love – and who we allow ourselves to love – in 2025.