Regretting You Movie Review: A Hollow Adaptation That Misses Colleen Hoover’s Magic

Regretting You movie review: The latest film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel fails to rise above its predictable melodrama. Directed by Josh Boone and starring Allison Williams, Mckenna Grace, and Scott Eastwood, this emotional family drama was released on October 24, 2025, and sadly proves to be more forgettable than heartfelt.

Despite the strong source material and a talented ensemble cast, Regretting You never manages to capture the emotional intensity of Hoover’s prose. Instead, it feels like a glossy TV drama that goes through the motions without ever finding its core. For fans expecting another It Ends With Us moment, this one may come as a disappointment.

A Familiar Premise That Lacks Emotional Depth

The story follows Morgan (Allison Williams), her husband Chris (Scott Eastwood), and her teenage daughter Clara (Mckenna Grace). When a tragic accident leads to two shocking deaths, long-buried secrets begin to unravel, forcing the family to confront betrayal, grief, and forgiveness. Alongside them are Jonah (Dave Franco) and Jenny (Willa Fitzgerald), whose intertwined relationships only deepen the heartbreak.

While the setup has potential, Boone’s direction struggles to balance the multiple emotional arcs. The film skips between past and present, trying to build a multigenerational story about love and regret but ends up diluting both. Even though the chemistry among the cast feels natural in moments, much of the dialogue sounds forced, and key revelations lack the punch they deserve.

Compared to Hoover’s bestseller It Ends With Us, which earned praise for tackling domestic abuse with empathy and grit, Regretting You feels shallow. It wants to be moving but remains trapped in surface-level sentimentality. The result is a film that looks polished but feels emotionally distant.

Performances and Direction: Wasted Potential

Allison Williams delivers a poised performance, but her character is underwritten. Mckenna Grace, as always, brings spark to her scenes, yet she is burdened by clichéd teenage angst. Scott Eastwood and Dave Franco have limited screen time, while Willa Fitzgerald provides brief moments of warmth before the film’s central twist.

Josh Boone’s direction is competent but uninspired. Known for his work on The Fault in Our Stars and The New Mutants, Boone knows how to craft emotional beats, but here, he seems lost in tonal confusion. The film’s pacing falters midway, and despite its polished visuals, the narrative never finds a consistent emotional rhythm.

Final Verdict: A Regretful Watch

Ultimately, Regretting You is a glossy but hollow adaptation that lacks the nuance and depth that made Colleen Hoover’s novel resonate with millions. It’s a film you can stream on a lazy weekend, but one you’ll likely forget soon after. With its TV-drama tone and predictable emotional beats, this adaptation earns a modest rating of 2 out of 5 stars.

Regretting You movie cast: Allison Williams, Mckenna Grace, Scott Eastwood, Dave Franco, Willa Fitzgerald
Director: Josh Boone
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What is Regretting You about?

It’s a drama about family, grief, and betrayal following a tragic accident that exposes painful secrets between a mother, daughter, and their close friends.

Q2: Who stars in Regretting You?

The cast includes Allison Williams, Mckenna Grace, Scott Eastwood, Dave Franco, and Willa Fitzgerald.

Q3: Is Regretting You based on a Colleen Hoover novel?

Yes. The film is adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel of the same name.

Q4: How does Regretting You compare to It Ends With Us?

Unlike It Ends With Us, which tackled tough themes with emotional sincerity, Regretting You struggles to evoke the same depth and feels more like a TV drama.

Q5: What rating does Regretting You deserve?

Critics have given it an average rating of 2 out of 5, citing weak emotional execution despite a promising story.