Universal Pictures opens its romantic comedy One Night Only in US theatres on 7 August 2026, two days after the current date. The film had its New York premiere at the SVA Theatre on 3 August (Deadline), and Universal's own website already lists it in its "Now Playing In Theaters" section (Universal Pictures).

Will Gluck directs from a screenplay by Travis Braun. Gluck's track record in the genre is well established: Anyone But You, Easy A, and Friends With Benefits (Deadline). Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro lead the cast.

The premise: near-future New York City, where a government mandate limits premarital sex to a single 12-hour window each year, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The film is politically pointed, attributing the mandate to right-wing government figures (Deadline). Turner plays Owen, a pizza shop owner recently dumped by his live-in girlfriend Malika, played by Maya Hawke. Barbaro plays Allie, a singer recording musical commercials in a studio, described as a hopeful romantic. The two cross paths on the one night the mandate permits, and the official synopsis poses the question: "What if one messy night turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to you?" (Universal Pictures).

The supporting cast runs wide. Charlie Gillespie plays rock star Ezra Stone, an unsuccessful hookup for Allie. Andrew Burnap plays a man on parole chased out of the bedroom by police mid-encounter. Molly Ringwald plays Owen's mother; LeVar Burton plays her boyfriend. The cast also includes Julia Fox, King Princess, Ziwe, and Ben Marshall (Universal Pictures; Deadline).

The rollout extends beyond the US. Argentina gets the film on 27 August (Universal Pictures Argentina). Brazil follows on 20 August (Universal Pictures Brazil).

For Gluck, the film marks a return to the genre that built his name. For Universal, it slots a star-driven romantic comedy into the late-summer corridor, where lighter fare typically competes for audiences before the awards-season heavyweights arrive. Whether the premise and cast translate to box-office traction will begin to answer itself this weekend.