Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell set screens on fire with their chemistry in Anyone But You — a 2023 romantic comedy that takes the genre somewhere it rarely goes. This film carries an R-rating from the Motion Picture Association, meaning it’s earned its stripes with frank language and adult content that sets it apart from the usual rom-com fare. If you’re deciding whether to stream it or let it pass, here’s what parents and viewers need to know.

Release Year: 2023 · Stars: Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell · Genre: Romantic Comedy · Based On: Much Ado About Nothing · Streaming: Hulu (Netflix status varies by region)

Quick snapshot

1Plot Overview
2Cast Highlights
  • Sydney Sweeney as Bea, the determined law student (Screen Rant parental guide)
  • Glen Powell as Ben, the charismatically reckless finance guy (Screen Rant parental guide)
  • Supporting cast includes Alexandra Shipp, Dermot Mulroney, and Rachel Griffiths (Screen Rant parental guide)
3Where to Watch
4Content Rating
  • Rated R by the Motion Picture Association for language, sexual content, and brief graphic nudity (Kids-In-Mind parental guide)
  • Minimum age recommendation: 17 years (Screen Rant parental guide)
  • Contains approximately 36 F-words plus other strong language (Kids-In-Mind parental guide)

Seven key facts about Anyone But You, drawn from parental guidance sources and verified data.

Attribute Details
Director Will Gluck
Runtime 1 hour 43 minutes
Lead Actors Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell
Setting Sydney, Australia
Violence None
MPAA Rating R (suitable for 17+)

Is Anyone But You a good film?

Rotten Tomatoes score

Anyone But You earned a solid 58% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences told a different story — viewer ratings landed closer to 77%, suggesting the film connected with its target demographic even if critics remained divided. According to Screen Rant parental guide, the chemistry between Sweeney and Powell essentially carries the film through its thinner moments. Parents reviewing the film through a different lens — one focused on content rather than craft — noted that the R-rating feels earned and integral to the characters’ voices, rather than gratuitous.

Parent reviews

Parental guidance platforms paint a clearer picture of what families should expect. Bark, which focuses on family-safe content recommendations, reportedly declined to recommend the film for most kids or teens, citing explicit scenes including nudity (Bark family safety review). Kids-In-Mind.com, which tracks content across multiple categories, noted that the film contains approximately 36 F-words, multiple sexual references, and scenes with partial nudity (Kids-In-Mind parental guide). The trade-off is clear: the film’s authenticity in depicting contemporary dating culture — including its frank dialogue — is central to its appeal for adult audiences.

The implication: Anyone But You works as a romantic comedy precisely because it doesn’t soften its characters. Parents who can discuss mature content with their teens may find it a useful conversation starter about relationships, consent, and communication — provided they’re comfortable with the language.

What to watch

If you’re considering this for teens, the deciding factor isn’t the romance — it’s whether they’ve encountered this level of language in daily life. The kissing and relationship drama are fairly standard rom-com territory; the F-word count and nude scenes are not.

Is Anyone But You on Netflix?

Current availability

Netflix availability for Anyone But You reportedly varies significantly by region, and the platform’s licensing agreements mean the film’s presence can change without warning. According to available data, Hulu holds the primary streaming rights in the United States, where viewers can watch without additional rental fees (Bark family safety review). Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video may offer the film for digital rental or purchase.

For viewers specifically asking about Ireland or UK availability, the picture is less certain. Netflix’s regional licensing means content available in one market may not appear in another, and the platform regularly rotates its catalog. Those searching for “anyone but you movie Netflix” in Ireland specifically may find the film unavailable or subject to geographic restrictions.

Release history

The film premiered theatrically in late 2023, with the New Zealand Classification Office formally classifying it on December 14, 2023, ahead of a December 26, 2023 theatrical release (New Zealand Classification Office official rating). The shift to streaming platforms followed the standard theatrical-to-digital window, though exact streaming availability continues to vary by market.

What this means: if Netflix is your primary platform, check directly before assuming availability. The film’s licensing status can change, and what appears today may not be there tomorrow.

How spicy is Anyone But You?

Content for parents

This is where Anyone But You separates itself from the rom-com pack. The Motion Picture Association assigned the film an R-rating for language throughout, sexual content, and brief graphic nudity (Kids-In-Mind parental guide). In practical terms, the rating means the film is not recommended for viewers under 17 without parental guidance — and many parents reviewing the content have advised caution even for older teenagers.

The New Zealand Classification Office classified the film as R13, noting specific concerns around sex scenes, sexual references, and offensive language (New Zealand Classification Office official rating). Screen Rant noted that if the film had cut its graphic nudity and some language, it likely could have received a PG-13 rating — suggesting the adult content was a creative choice rather than an oversight.

Explicit scenes

Detailed content analysis from multiple parental guidance sources reveals the specifics. According to Kids-In-Mind parental guide, the film contains approximately 36 F-words along with other strong language throughout. VidAngel, which conducts scene-by-scene content breakdowns, reportedly counted 97 total profanities and 49 F-bombs, plus 15 scenes featuring some form of nudity — including one scene of full-frontal male nudity (VidAngel content filter blog).

Bark’s review noted scenes where the main characters shower together and cuddle in bed while naked, describing multiple scenes with full or partial nudity including a woman’s bare chest and scenes showing a man’s buttocks (Bark family safety review). The New Zealand Classification Office confirmed that there are scenes showing a female character topless with unsexualized nudity, and a steamy sex scene where nothing is shown in explicit detail (New Zealand Classification Office official rating).

The catch: this is not a light-hearted rom-com that parents can assume is safe for a wide audience. Bark’s assessment was blunt: the platform does not recommend this movie for most kids or teens due to its adult content.

The trade-off

The same frankness that earns the R-rating also makes the film’s relationship dynamics feel more genuine than typical romantic comedies. For adult viewers, this rawness is a feature; for parents of younger teens, it’s a significant red flag.

Is Anyone But You a hit or flop?

Box office

Anyone But You quietly outperformed expectations at the box office. Released in December 2023, the film found its audience through strong word-of-mouth, driven largely by the chemistry between Sweeney and Powell. While exact worldwide grosses aren’t verified in available data, the film’s theatrical run demonstrated solid performance for a romantic comedy in a crowded release window.

Reception

The critical reception was modest but not dismissive. Screen Rant parental guide noted that “Anyone But You would have struggled as a satisfying rom-com without the R-rating” — suggesting that the adult content was integral to the film’s identity rather than a liability. VidAngel content filter blog put it more bluntly: “This isn’t your mom’s 27 Dresses. It’s rated R, and it really earned it.”

The pattern across reviews suggests the film succeeded precisely because it didn’t try to be everything to everyone. Parents reading for content guidance will find a film that’s honest about adult relationships and their messy, complicated nature — not a sanitized fairy tale.

Where can I watch Anyone But You?

Ireland options

For Irish viewers specifically, streaming availability appears less straightforward than in the US market. While Hulu holds primary rights in the United States, Netflix availability in Ireland reportedly remains uncertain and subject to regional licensing agreements. Those in Ireland looking to stream the film should check both Netflix and Disney+ directly, as availability may have changed since the most recent verified data.

According to Bark family safety review, Hulu is the confirmed primary streaming platform, with Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video potentially offering rental or purchase options. For viewers in markets where the film isn’t available on their preferred platform, digital rental typically offers the most flexibility regardless of geographic location.

Alternatives to Netflix

If Netflix doesn’t carry Anyone But You in your region, several alternatives exist. Hulu remains the most reliable US streaming source according to available data. Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV typically offer digital purchase or rental options that work across regions. Disney+ may carry the film depending on current licensing agreements in your market.

The reality of streaming licensing means that availability can shift. Platforms regularly rotate their catalogs, and films sometimes appear briefly before disappearing. For viewers committed to watching, having a backup platform in mind — or checking sooner rather than later — is advisable.

The upshot

Don’t assume Netflix is your only option. Hulu, Amazon, and Disney+ may all carry the film, and digital rental remains available regardless of your subscription services. Check multiple platforms before giving up.

For Irish viewers specifically, Sweeney and Powell’s chemistry has driven strong word-of-mouth appeal that may encourage local platforms to add the film, but licensing negotiations remain unpredictable.

Upsides

  • Genuine chemistry between leads creates compelling romantic tension
  • Adult themes handled authentically rather than sanitized
  • Strong audience ratings suggest broad appeal within target demographic
  • No violence — conflict is emotional and verbal rather than physical
  • Film includes discussions of making life choices and navigating relationships

Downsides

  • Rated R with approximately 36 F-words plus other strong language
  • Multiple scenes with partial and full nudity
  • Not suitable for viewers under 17 without parental guidance
  • Netflix availability reportedly varies by region and changes periodically
  • Bark recommends against for most kids and teens

“The MPAA rating has been assigned for language throughout, sexual content and brief graphic nudity.”

— Kids-In-Mind parental guide

“We do not recommend this movie for most kids or teens due to its adult content.”

— Bark family safety review

“This isn’t your mom’s 27 Dresses. It’s rated R, and it really earned it.”

VidAngel content filter blog

Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell delivered one of 2023’s most-talked-about romantic comedies — but Anyone But You is not for everyone. The film’s willingness to go where most rom-coms don’t, with frank dialogue and adult situations, earned it an audience that appreciated the honesty. For parents, the calculus is straightforward: if your teen has already encountered this level of language in daily life or other media, the film’s relationship content is relatively tame — the same frank conversations about sex and relationships that drive the plot could even prove valuable for family discussions. If not, this is one to watch yourself first or save for a few years.

What is the plot of Anyone But You?

Two strangers, Bea and Ben, have an incredible first date that ends catastrophically. They later reunite at a destination wedding in Sydney, Australia, where they pretend to be a couple to save face. The film is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.

Who directed Anyone But You?

The film was directed by Will Gluck, who previously directed other romantic comedies including Easy A.

What is Anyone But You based on?

The film draws inspiration from Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, adapting the classic story of feuding lovers forced to pretend they don’t have feelings for each other.

When was Anyone But You released?

Anyone But You was released in 2023, with theatrical release in New Zealand beginning December 26, 2023, after receiving its official classification on December 14, 2023.

Is Anyone But You family-friendly?

No. The film received an R-rating from the Motion Picture Association for language throughout, sexual content, and brief graphic nudity. The minimum recommended age is 17 years. Multiple parental guidance platforms recommend against viewing for most children and teens.

What are the main themes in Anyone But You?

The film explores themes of relationships, communication, and navigating adult dating culture. It includes discussions about sex, life choices, and dealing with over-controlling parents. There are also arguments and exchanges of insults between the main characters.

How long is Anyone But You?

The film runs for 1 hour and 43 minutes.


Related reading: The Great Gatsby Movie

Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell spark in Anyone But You, where highlights regional streaming options alongside US Hulu availability.