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Manhattan Romance

Manhattan Romance

201494 minTV-14Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
Director
Tom O'Brien
Starring
Tom O'Brien, Katherine Waterston, Caitlin FitzGerald, Gaby Hoffmann

Danny, a commercial editor and documentary filmmaker attempts to finish his film, a study on relationship while navigating the relationships in his own life. Will he continue to chase the unattainable Theresa a hippy new age dancer(Caitlin Fitzgerald) or will he finally admit he's in love with his best friend Carla (Katherine Waterston) who is in an unfulfilling relationship with a political strategist(Gaby Hoffman). Manhattan Romance is a funny insightful look at contemporary life in Manhattan. It explores new age ideas and open relationship as well as true friendship and connection.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Manhattan Romance?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Manhattan Romance streaming on Fandor via Prime Video, Prime Video, The Roku Channel (free) and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Manhattan Romance?

Manhattan Romance earns 3 badges, led by Award Winner and Hopeful.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Manhattan Romance worth watching?

Manhattan Romance's Midcredits score is the 31st percentile of all films, from 2.3K ratings across 4 sources. 38% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

31st percentile

Better received than 31% of films

34th percentile among Comedy32nd percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)29th
Approval (how many liked it)35th

55 /100

29th percentile of all films

31st percentile among Comedy31st percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 5.8 — solid but not unanimous.

38% liked it

35th percentile of all films

38th percentile among Comedy34th percentile among 2010s
38% rated it 7–1062% rated it 1–6

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 1 wins / 0 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

54th percentile

2.3K ratings across platforms

48th percentile among Comedy58th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 8% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Fans praised

  • authentic, realistic portrayal of messy relationships
  • strong lead performances, especially Katherine Waterston
  • witty, natural dialogue and meta-documentary structure

Detractors panned

  • tedious, slow pacing with dull conversations
  • underdeveloped characters and lack of emotional depth
  • unfocused story with no clear goal or payoff

What stands out

Acting80

Waterston and O'Brien praised as natural and compelling

Dialogue70

witty, talky, Woody Allen-esque conversations

Originality70

fresh meta-documentary take on romance genre

CharactersDivisive60

divisive: fans find them realistic and intriguing, detractors see shallow stereotypes

EndingDivisive55

ambiguous, unsatisfying for detractors; fans call it fitting

Emotional impactDivisive50

some fans felt moved by realism; detractors felt no connection

Plot and storyDivisive45

meandering documentary-style narrative with minimal stakes

Pacing30

too slow even for some fans; detractors found it boring

Preferred by

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 12 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 9 points apart

Watch experience

What is Manhattan Romance like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something that leaves you smiling.

It is gentle, takes its time and leaves you hopeful. Skip it when you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Patience.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
ContemplativeRomanticMelancholic
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
WarmPlayful
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its characters and their romantic dilemmas with sincerity, blending humor and emotion.
The rideThe film maintains a low-key, thoughtful register with occasional romantic pangs, and the emotional weight gathers toward the confession and departure.
StructureThe story is told linearly, following Danny's interactions and his documentary project.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Hopeful.

The answer rests on this: HopefulBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you with a gentle hope for Danny and Carla, tempered by the realistic messiness of relationships.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 22% of films: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeThe film is a character-driven relationship study with no strong plot archetype; it follows Danny's interactions rather than a clear narrative arc.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFriendship
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% (this title) · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% (this title) · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Friendship · 9% of filmsIdentity · 14% of filmsRomantic love · 15% of films
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores how platonic friendship can be the foundation for deeper connection, and how Danny must sort through conflicting ideas about love and intimacy to find what he truly wants.
StanceThe film presents Danny's confusion about friendship vs. love without strong judgment, leaving the audience to draw their own conclusions.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanDomesticRealistic
AmbientSupportive music · original score · Bob Parins
SettingManhattan's indie/artsy social scene: apartments, cafés, a wedding, an election party
MusicLikely a gentle, acoustic-based score that matches the film's wry, tender mood.

Content guide

Is Manhattan Romance okay for kids?

TV-14

Manhattan Romance is rated TV-14. As of August 31, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its sexual content at mild (33/100). It has too few votes to rank yet.

Overall
needs 3 or more scored categories
not ranked
Sex & Nudity
Mild
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Overall standing needs at least three scored categories; this title has 1.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Manhattan Romance have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Manhattan Romance?

Cast

2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Tom O'Brien
as Danny
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Katherine Waterston
as Carla
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Caitlin FitzGerald
as Theresa
Gaby Hoffmann
as Emmy
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Louis Cancelmi
as Jarrod
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Paul O'Brien
as Uncle Bob
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Zach Grenier
as Trevor
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jessie Barr
as Gayle
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Margaret Daly
as Mom
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Ellen McLaughlin
as Aunt Jules
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

Directed by

Tom O'Brien

Written by

Tom O'Brien

Cinematography

Scott Miller

Edited by

Nick Houy

Music by

Bob Parins

Produced by

Tom O'Brien, Nina Braddock, Dennis O'Neill, Mike Harrop

More like this

What are movies like Manhattan Romance?

Movies like Manhattan Romance include Living Out Loud (1998), Sleeping with Other People (2015) and That Awkward Moment (2014). Of the 12 closest matches, most are friends-to-lovers stories, and several are films set in Manhattan.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

8 of these 12 share its subject: friendship. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Manhattan Romance?

1.8K other films share the rarest tag below, relationship: friends to lovers. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.