The story of Newness: Love in the age of apps
Newness follows two millennials in contemporary Los Angeles who meet through the frictionless world of dating apps and hookup culture. What starts as a casual physical arrangement gradually transforms into something neither of them quite expected—a genuine emotional entanglement. The film's central tension emerges from this contradiction: they're trying to build intimacy in a cultural moment that's engineered to make intimacy disposable. As their relationship deepens, both characters find themselves pushing against the emotional and physical boundaries they'd set for themselves, discovering that maybe love isn't enough when the world around them keeps suggesting there's always someone better just a notification away. The tagline—"Maybe love is not enough"—hangs over every scene, a question mark rather than a statement.
Behind the making of Newness
Newness arrived in 2017 as a co-production between Lost City, Seville International, and Scott Free Productions, bringing together filmmakers with serious pedigree in independent and prestige drama. The 112-minute runtime gives the story room to breathe—not rushed, not bloated, just enough space for the kind of small moments that define modern relationships: awkward conversations over breakfast, the anxiety of checking your phone, the vulnerability of being seen by someone new. While the film didn't become a major box office player, it found its audience on streaming platforms where intimate character studies often thrive. The IMDb rating of 6.053/10 reflects the kind of divisive reception these boundary-pushing relationship films often get—some viewers find it courageous and honest, others find it emotionally exhausting. What matters is that the film arrived without major studio backing, without a built-in fanbase, and without compromise in what it was trying to say about desire and connection in the digital age.
What makes Newness stand out in contemporary romance cinema
What's striking about Newness is how it refuses to judge its characters for their choices, even when those choices seem self-destructive. The performances anchor everything—there's a rawness to how the leads inhabit these roles, a willingness to be unglamorous and uncertain that you don't always see in mainstream romance. The film doesn't pretend dating apps invented casual sex or that millennials invented emotional messiness, but it does capture something specific about how technology mediates desire now. The cinematography captures Los Angeles as a place of endless possibility and crushing isolation simultaneously—beautiful apartments, empty highways, the glow of phone screens in dark bedrooms. What's genuinely interesting is how the film treats both characters' vulnerabilities with equal weight. Neither one is the "bad guy" who ruins things; they're just two people trying to figure out if vulnerability is worth the risk when the cultural default is detachment. I keep coming back to scenes where they're together but distracted—one eye on their phone, wondering who else is out there—because that's the real drama. Not the big fights, but the small surrenders.
Where to stream Newness online
Newness is available across major OTT services, and you can check the Where to Watch widget at the top of this page to see exactly which platforms currently have it in your region. Streaming availability shifts regularly, so Movie OTT tracks current listings across Netflix, Prime Video, and other major services to help you find it without the frustration of searching five apps. Since Newness is a character-driven drama without explosions or franchise appeal, it's the kind of film that benefits from the intimate viewing experience streaming offers—you can pause, rewind, sit with an uncomfortable moment without worrying about the theater around you.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Newness?
Newness was directed by Drake Doremus, a filmmaker known for intimate relationship dramas that explore emotional vulnerability and the impact of technology on human connection.
Q: What's the runtime of Newness?
The film runs 112 minutes, giving the story enough space to develop the characters' emotional arc without feeling rushed or overly indulgent.
Q: Is Newness based on a true story?
No, Newness is an original screenplay, though it draws from the very real experience of dating in the age of apps and social media that many viewers will recognize from their own lives.
Q: What genres does Newness fall under?
Newness is categorized as both romance and drama, though it's more accurately described as a character study that uses romantic entanglement to explore larger questions about intimacy and connection.
Q: Where can I watch Newness right now?
Check the Where to Watch widget at the top of this page for current streaming availability on your preferred platform—it updates regularly so you'll always know which service has it.
Final thoughts on Newness
Newness isn't a film for everyone. It's deliberately uncomfortable at times, skeptical of easy answers, and more interested in questions than resolutions. But if you're drawn to character-driven stories about how we actually date and love in 2024—not how we wish we did—it's worth your time. The film trusts its audience to sit with ambiguity, to find meaning in small gestures, and to understand that sometimes the most important conversations happen in silence. It's the kind of movie that stays with you, making you reconsider your own choices and vulnerabilities. Stream it when you're in the mood for something that won't provide comfort but might provide clarity.
