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One Night Only One night only is an original film where three years ago the government outlawed sex unless you are a married couple. Essentially, pre-marital intercourse is illegal except the one night and protection is required. This is enforced by a digital teaker with a sensor that tracks your hormones ect and reports it to law enforcement. If you violate the mandate you are arrested and continued to be monitored.
Callum Turner plays Owen, a pizza shop owner whose girlfriend, Malika (Maya Hawke) wants to experience a different partner on the mandate exemption night. Malika suggests to Owen that he should also experience someone else as they have been together for 3 years and you can only have relations once a year, so you can do the math there.
Monica Barbaro plays Allie, a commercial ad singer who is single and looking for a real connection, not just a one night stand. Owen and Allie have a meet cute at the start of the time but end up as frenemies of sorts. They meet several times throughout New York, all the while denying their connection with each other.
The movie was pretty funny, I found myself laughing out loud several times as well as people around me. I really enjoy movies that are an original concept, the only thing I think I can compare it to is the opposite of the purge. I like and appreciate studios taking chances on original ideas, I always like to be surprised and open minded when going into any film. It’s rare nowadays to see a comedy in the theater and not on streaming. Monica Barbaro is a great actress and that made me want to watch this movie, I think she is hilarious and really quirky in a charming way.
There is an interesting political element, as “traditional family values” are one of the reasons for the mandate. It does imply same-sex individuals are exempt which I thought could have been said, not just left to interpretation. Also, this states 3 year later and the film covers four years. I would have liked to see some kind of resolution or update on what the current political climate was at the end of the movie. I was curious what people thought after the mandate has been in place especially since there was a lot of anti-mandate graffiti/general disagreement with the policies of the administration.
Overall I enjoyed this movie, if you just want to laugh and have a a good time I think you’ll enjoy this one.
ONE NIGHT ONLY is in Theaters August 7th, 2026.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Ashley Nowlin (Contributing Editor) is a frequent traveler currently living in Phoenix. She's a super nerd who enjoys all kinds of movies and doesn't always think the book was better. Click Here to check out Ashley's Articles.