{{Short description|2025 film by Josh Ruben}} {{for|the emoji|List of emojis}} {{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox film | image = Heart Eyes (2025) poster.jpg | alt = A masked killer with glowing red heart shaped eyes on a dark background | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Josh Ruben | writer = {{plainlist| * Phillip Murphy * Christopher Landon * Michael Kennedy }} | producer = {{plainlist| * Christopher Landon * Greg Gilreath * Adam Hendricks }} | starring = {{plainlist| * Olivia Holt * Mason Gooding * Gigi Zumbado * Michaela Watkins * Devon Sawa * Jordana Brewster }} | cinematography = Stephen Murphy | editing = Brett W. Bachman | music = Jay Wadley | production_companies = {{plainlist| * Spyglass Media Group * Divide/Conquer }} | distributor = {{plainlist| * Screen Gems (through Sony Pictures Releasing; North America) * Republic Pictures (through Paramount Pictures; International) }} | released = {{Film date|2025|2|7}} | runtime = 97 minutes<ref name="Runtime">{{Cite web|date=February 3, 2025|title=''Heart Eyes'' (18)|url= https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/heart-eyes-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdi3nju3|access-date=February 12, 2025|publisher=BBFC}}</ref> | country = United States | language = English | budget = $18{{nbsp}}million<ref name=BO-preview/> | gross = $33.1{{nbsp}}million<ref name=NUM>{{Cite web |title= Heart Eyes |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Heart-Eyes-(2025-New-Zealand)#tab=summary|website=The Numbers |access-date=April 28, 2025}}</ref><ref name=BOM>{{Cite web |title= Heart Eyes |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2533982209/?ref_=bo_we_table_4|website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=April 28, 2025}}</ref> }}
'''''Heart Eyes''''' is a 2025 American romantic comedy slasher film directed by Josh Ruben, and written by Phillip Murphy, Christopher Landon and Michael Kennedy. The film stars Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding as coworkers who are mistaken as a couple by a serial killer who hunts couples on Valentine's Day. Gigi Zumbado, Michaela Watkins, Devon Sawa, and Jordana Brewster also star.
''Heart Eyes'' was theatrically released in the United States on February 7, 2025, by Sony Pictures Releasing. It received generally positive reviews from critics and grossed $33 million on a budget of $18 million. A sequel is scheduled for release in February 2028.
==Plot== Each of the past few years on Valentine's Day, a serial killer known as the Heart Eyes Killer, or HEK, has targeted couples in a different American city. On Valentine's Day of the present year, HEK murders two couples in Seattle and a wedding ring engraved with the initials "J.S." is later found at one of the crime scenes.
Ally McCabe, a marketer for a jewelry company who has recently broken up with her boyfriend Collin, is ridiculed for an ad campaign she pitched involving doomed couples, seen as offensive in light of the recent murders. Ally's boss, Crystal, orders her to develop a new campaign with accomplished freelancer Jay Simmonds, whom Ally had encountered at a coffee shop earlier. Jay invites her to dinner that night, suggesting it may give them inspiration for the campaign.
That night at the restaurant, Ally grows hostile after each share their views on love, offending Jay. He leaves and Ally follows, kissing him after she sees Collin approaching with his new girlfriend. HEK observes this from a distance. Ally and Jay reconcile and take a cab to her apartment, where he helps her break in after she realizes she forgot her key. Jay cuts his hand in the process and Ally tends to his wound upstairs, having previously dropped out of medical school. The Heart Eyes Killer attacks them and after a chase, knocks Jay out. Ally is able to flee until the police arrive. Detectives Zeke Hobbs and Jeanine Shaw arrest Jay for the murders, having found him with the killer's mask and weapon.
While questioning Jay at a police station, Hobbs and Shaw point out that his initials match those on the previously found ring and that he was in the same cities during HEK's previous attacks. Ally waits in the lobby with desk officer Fran and IT technician David. The latter asks Ally on a date, but she declines. The power goes out and the Heart Eyes Killer kills Fran and pursues Ally. Shaw confronts the HEK who wounds her and kills Hobbs. Ally rescues Jay and they flee to a drive-in movie theater, where they connect while hiding. The Heart Eyes Killer slaughters several moviegoers, leading the duo to confront him. In the scuffle, Ally and Jay kill him with his own weapon and unmask him but don't recognize him. They are tended to by an ambulance until Shaw arrives. She offers Jay a ride, which he accepts.
At home, Ally realizes she has fallen in love with Jay and goes to find him, but the Heart Eyes Killer reveals that Jay is being held at a chapel and will be killed unless she comes alone. Ally arrives and the Heart Eyes Killer is revealed to be David and Jeanine Shaw, secretly a married couple, while the deceased third killer was their fanboy and lover Eli, all three motivated by their kink for killing. The wedding ring found by police belonged to David as the engraved initials were Shaw's.
They give Ally a gun with a single round and offer her the choice of killing herself or Jay, but she shoots Shaw instead, hitting Jay in the process. The two couples fight and Jay stabs David in the eye with an arrow, which results in him being immolated by melted wax from candles the couple had lit. An enraged Shaw attempts to kill Ally, but Ally stabs her in the neck with a metal straw and pushes her onto the sword of a statue of Saint Valentine, which slowly decapitates her. A badly burned David attacks them, but is killed with his own crossbow by Jay. One year later, Ally has decided to return to medical school and the couple attends a drive-in movie. Jay asks Ally to move in with him, but she declines, instead proposing to him.
In a mid-credits scene, Ally receives a sinister phone call, which is revealed to be a prank by her friend Monica. As she congratulates the couple, the call is cut off.
==Cast== * Olivia Holt as Ally McCabe, a pitch designer * Mason Gooding as Jay Simmonds, a freelance advertiser * Gigi Zumbado as Monica, Ally's friend * Michaela Watkins as Crystal Cane; Ally, Jay and Monica's boss * Devon Sawa as Det. Zeke Hobbs * Jordana Brewster as Det. Jeanine Shaw * Yoson An as David, IT tech * Bronwyn Bradley as Fran, desk officer * James Gaylyn as Chief Richard Hartley * Lauren O'Hara as Adeline Garrett * Ben Black as Collin, Ally's ex * Chris Parker as Tommy, Crystal's assistant
In addition, the film's director, Josh Ruben has a cameo appearance as a drive-in movie patron.
==Production== The film is directed by Josh Ruben and produced by Spyglass Media Group. The script is written by Phillip Murphy, Michael Kennedy, and Christopher Landon.<ref name=HeartEyesProductionStart>{{cite web|url= https://deadline.com/2024/06/olivia-holt-mason-gooding-heart-eyes-1235968985/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=11 June 2024|title= Olivia Holt & Mason Gooding Making 'Heart Eyes' For Spyglass|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=June 10, 2024}}</ref>
Filming took place in New Zealand in June 2024.<ref name=HeartEyesProductionStart/> In October, it was announced that Jay Wadley was composing the film's score.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/10/31/jay-wadley-scoring-josh-rubens-heart-eyes/ | title=Jay Wadley Scoring Josh Ruben's 'Heart Eyes' |website=Film Music Reporter}}</ref>
==Release== ===Theatrical=== In June 2024, Republic Pictures acquired worldwide distribution rights outside the United States and Canada to the film.<ref>{{cite web|title=Republic Pictures Picks Up Saoirse Ronan Comedy 'Bad Apples' & Spyglass' Horror Rom-Com 'Heart Eyes'; Dan Cohen Unpacks The Strategy At The Paramount Label|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Stewart|last=Clarke|date=15 June 2024|access-date=15 June 2024|url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/republic-pictures-saoirse-ronan-bad-apples-spyglass-heart-eyes-dan-cohen-paramount-1235973654/}}</ref> In September 2024, Sony Pictures acquired the North American distribution rights and released it on February 7, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3831822/valentines-day-slasher-movie-heart-eyes-coming-to-theaters-in-february-2025/|title=Valentine's Day Slasher Movie 'Heart Eyes' Coming to Theaters in February 2025|website=Bloody Disgusting|first=John|last=Squires|date=September 18, 2024|access-date=September 18, 2024|archive-date=September 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918194451/https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3831822/valentines-day-slasher-movie-heart-eyes-coming-to-theaters-in-february-2025/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/sony-heart-eyes-1236093373/|title=Sony Has 'Heart Eyes', Sets Winter 2025 Release For Spyglass Horror Rom-Com|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=September 18, 2024|access-date=September 18, 2024|archive-date=September 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918193522/https://deadline.com/2024/09/sony-heart-eyes-1236093373/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Home media=== The film was released on digital on March 4.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richard |first=Nate |date=2025-03-03 |title=All the New Movies Hitting Streaming This Week: Hugh Grant's Unholy Wreckening, the Heart Eyes Killer Strikes, and More |url=https://collider.com/streaming-movies-new-march-3-9-2025/ |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref> The film was released on April 15 on DVD and Blu-ray.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Amazon.com: Heart Eyes - Blu-ray + Digital : Olivia Holt, Mason Gooding, Gigi Zumbado, Michaela Watkins, Devon Sawa, Jordana Brewster, Josh Ruben, Christopher Landon, Greg Gilreath, Adam Hendricks: Movies & TV | url=https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Eyes-Blu-ray-Olivia-Holt/dp/B0DVTLHL2D/ref=tmm_blu_swatch_0 | access-date=2026-02-01 | website=www.amazon.com}}</ref>
== Reception == === Box office === ''Heart Eyes'' grossed $30.4 million in the United States and Canada, and $2.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $32.9 million.<ref name="NUM"/><ref name="BOM" />
In the United States and Canada, ''Heart Eyes'' was released alongside ''Love Hurts'' and was projected to gross $7–8{{nbsp}}million from 3,102 theaters in its opening weekend.<ref name=BO-preview>{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=February 5, 2025 |title='Dog Man' to Lead Box Office Pack Again as Ke Huy Quan's 'Love Hurts' and Slasher 'Heart Eyes' Target Single-Digit Starts|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/box-office-dog-man-no-1-love-hurts-heart-eyes-open-1236296527/ |access-date=February 5, 2025 |website=Variety}}</ref> The film made $3.7{{nbsp}}million on its first day, including an estimated $1.1{{nbsp}}million from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $8.3{{nbsp}}million, finishing second behind holdover ''Dog Man''. The film underperformed with couples, with only 40% of opening weekend attendees going with a spouse or date, on par with the previous weekend's opener ''Companion''.<ref name=opening>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/02/box-office-heart-eyes-love-hurts-dog-man-1236281448/|title=No Box Office Touchdowns This Super Bowl Weekend: ''Dog Man'' Drops -62%; Few Falling In Love With ''Heart Eyes'' & ''Love Hurts'' – Sunday AM Update|date=February 9, 2025|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=February 9, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2025W06/|title=Domestic 2025 Weekend 6|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=February 12, 2025}}</ref> The following weekend, which coincided with Valentine's Day, the film grossed $9.9{{nbsp}}million, an increase of 19% noted as uncommon for horror films, which normally see steep drops in their second weekends.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |last2=Tartaglione |first2=Nancy |date=February 17, 2025 |title=Disney Calls ''Captain America: Brave New World'' 4-Day At $100M Opening – Box Office Update |url=https://deadline.com/2025/02/box-office-captain-america-brave-new-world-1236289044/ |access-date=February 17, 2025 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> It was released on digital on March 4, 2025, and dropped out of the box office top ten the following weekend.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/heart-eyes-vod-blu-ray-release-dates-revealed-after-30m-box-office/ar-AA1Ahb9q |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=www.msn.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2025W10/|title=Domestic 2025 Weekend 10|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref>
=== Critical response === {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|78|6.3|159|A mixture of gory slasher and sweet rom-com that ingeniously nails both formulas, ''Heart Eyes'' serves up a bloody valentine that'll make the heart skip a beat.|ref=yes|access-date=April 15, 2025}} {{Metacritic film prose|61|28|ref=yes|access-date=February 25, 2025}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B–" on an A+ to F scale, while those surveyed by PostTrak gave it a 68% overall positive score.<ref name="opening"/> === Viewership === According to data from Showlabs, ''Heart Eyes'' ranked sixth on Netflix in the United States during the week of May 5–11, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Heart Eyes – Title Insights |url=https://www.showlabs.tv/en/title/213741-heart-eyes |website=Showlabs |access-date=2025-12-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Netflix Top 10 – Week of May 5–11, 2025 |url=https://www.showlabs.tv/en/rankings/netflix/top-10/2025-may-5-11 |website=Showlabs |access-date=2025-12-11}}</ref>
== Sequel == In January 2026, Dread Central reported that Ruben was preparing work for a sequel and that a script had been completed.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Heart Eyes 2' Is Happening and My Heart Is Already Racing! [Exclusive]|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/554691/heart-eyes-2-is-happening-and-my-heart-is-already-racing-exclusive/|website=Dread Central|date=2026-01-29|access-date=2026-01-30|language=en-US|first=Brad|last=Miska}}</ref> In April 2026, the sequel was set for a theatrical release on February 11, 2028, with Paramount Pictures, which had handled most international territories on the first film, replacing Screen Gems as the domestic distributor.<ref>{{cite web|title='Heart Eyes 2': Spyglass Horror Pic Sets Global Release With Paramount For 2028|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=April 22, 2026|access-date=April 22, 2026|url=https://deadline.com/2026/04/heart-eyes-2-spyglass-horror-pic-sets-global-release-with-paramount-for-2028-1236868426/}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title}}
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Category:2025 films Category:2025 American films Category:2025 comedy horror films Category:2025 crime comedy films Category:2025 English-language films Category:2025 romantic comedy films Category:2020s serial killer films Category:2020s slasher films Category:African-American comedy horror films Category:African-American romantic comedy films Category:American black comedy films Category:American comedy thriller films Category:American crime comedy films Category:American crime horror films Category:American crime thriller films Category:American horror thriller films Category:American romantic horror films Category:American romantic thriller films Category:American serial killer films Category:American slasher films Category:English-language comedy horror films Category:English-language romantic comedy films Category:Films about interracial romance Category:Films directed by Josh Ruben Category:Films scored by Jay Wadley Category:Films set in Seattle Category:Films shot in New Zealand Category:Films with screenplays by Christopher Landon (filmmaker) Category:Holiday horror films Category:Romantic crime films Category:Screen Gems films Category:Slasher comedy films Category:Spyglass Entertainment films Category:Valentine's Day in films