

Movies Like The Idea of You
40-year-old single mom Solène begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell, the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet. As they begin a whirlwind romance, it isn't long before Hayes' superstar status poses unavoidable challenges to their relationship, and Solène soon discovers that life in the glare of his spotlight might be more than she bargained for.
Ranked by shared directors, cast, themes, genre, and era — not just generic recommendations.

Hello, My Name Is Doris
Showalter-directed romance built around the same older-woman/younger-man dynamic that defines Solène and Hayes.

The High Note
Behind-the-scenes pop-star romance with an age-gap subplot — the closest tonal sibling on the list.

Flora and Son
Single mother in her forties finds romance and connection through music — same emotional register.

Spoiler Alert
Showalter's other modern romantic drama — same director, same heartfelt-but-glossy tone.

The Big Sick
Showalter rom-com with a culture-clash relationship; warm chemistry-driven comedy fans of Idea of You will recognize.

Danny Collins
Aging rock-star meets ordinary life — flips the perspective of the Hayes/Solène dynamic but hits the same fame-vs-real-love beats.

Wild Rose
Single-mother singer chasing dreams; emotional music-drama with romance threading through.

Venus
Tender, sharply observed age-gap romance — same older/younger central tension.

About a Boy
Single-parent romantic comedy with a music-adjacent slacker lead; warm, witty, novel-adapted relationship film.

Song for Marion
Music as a vehicle for emotional connection across an age gap — gentler but kindred spirit.

Pure Country
Touring superstar steps off-stage and falls for an outsider — same fame-disrupted-romance arc.

Rock of Ages
Glossy boy-band/rock-star romance ecosystem; concert and groupie energy parallels August Moon's world.

Dinner in America
Punk-rock front-man and a fan fall in love — pop-star/civilian romance shot in indie register.

Waiting to Exhale
Adult women navigating love, divorce, and self-reinvention — same midlife-romance audience.

Tumbledown
Romance entangled with a musician's legacy and the people he leaves behind.

Grace of My Heart
Inside-the-music-industry romantic drama with a charismatic singer at the center.

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Music biopic mood-piece for viewers drawn to the rock-star psyche behind the spotlight.

Oh. What. Fun.
Same director (Showalter) — included for fans tracking his filmography, though tonally a holiday comedy.

Verity
Showalter + Anne Hathaway reunion — direct talent overlap for completist viewers.

As Good as It Gets
Single-mother-meets-unlikely-man romantic dramedy; classic comfort-watch in the same emotional family.
How Good Is The Idea of You?
Ratings across IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, and TMDB, plus our verdict.
Where to Watch The Idea of You
Streaming, rental, and purchase options across 40+ countries.
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Frequently asked about The Idea of You
Common questions people search for, with answers written by us at MoviesPack.
Why does Solène end the relationship with Hayes even though they love each other?
Solène breaks up with Hayes because the intense public scrutiny and media frenzy surrounding their relationship becomes too damaging — not just to herself, but to her teenage daughter Izzy, who is a fan of Hayes's band August Moon. Solène realizes that as long as she is with Hayes, Izzy will be subjected to online harassment and mockery, and she refuses to let her daughter's wellbeing be collateral damage for her own happiness. The sacrifice is an act of maternal love, not a lack of feeling for Hayes.
What is the significance of the Solène's art gallery and her relationship with her creative identity?
Solène runs a contemporary art gallery in Los Angeles, a career she built largely on her own terms after her marriage ended. The gallery represents her independent identity outside of being a wife and mother, and it serves as the space where she and Hayes first meet — grounding the romance in her world rather than his. Her creative profession also parallels Hayes's own artistry, underlining that their connection is one between equals despite the age gap and fame disparity.
How does Izzy's reaction to the relationship evolve throughout the film?
Izzy initially reacts with shock and embarrassment when she discovers her mother is dating Hayes Campbell, a pop star she idolizes, viewing it as a boundary-crossing intrusion into her fan world. Over time she cautiously warms to the idea, but the relentless online hate directed at Solène — including fans blaming Izzy's own mother — erodes whatever acceptance she had built up. Her distress is ultimately the decisive factor that convinces Solène the relationship cannot continue.
What does the ending suggest about whether Solène and Hayes have a future?
The film ends on a bittersweet but somewhat open note: years pass, Izzy heads off to college, and Hayes reappears in Solène's gallery. The reunion implies that with Izzy grown and the most intense public interest in Hayes having faded, the barrier that forced them apart no longer exists in the same way. Rather than spelling out a reunion, the scene suggests the possibility is now real — the timing, which was always the true antagonist, may finally be right.
Why is Hayes drawn to Solène specifically — what does she represent to him beyond a typical romance?
Hayes is surrounded by fans, industry figures, and peers who relate to him through his celebrity persona rather than his actual self. Solène is indifferent to his fame when they meet and engages with him as a person — curious, direct, and unbothered by who he is professionally. For Hayes, who has spent years being 'the idea of' a pop star rather than a real man, Solène offers a rare experience of being seen and wanted for himself, which is why he pursues the relationship so persistently despite the complications.
Recent Updates
New Trailer: The Idea of You
New Teaser: The Idea of You
The Idea of You now streaming on Pathé Home (FR)
The Idea of You now streaming on YouTube (FR)
The Idea of You now streaming on Google Play Movies (FR)