--- title: "Reminders of Him" year: 2026 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/reminders-of-him" fi1m_id: "reminders-of-him" imdb_id: "tt33714084" tmdb_id: 1367642 wikidata_id: "Q133886934" fi1m_score: 49 critics_score: 43 critics_reviews: 17 published: "2026-10-14T04:29:42.138550+00:00" updated: "2026-10-14T04:29:42.722085+00:00" region: "AU" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Reminders of Him (2026) Directed by Vanessa Caswill · 1h 54m · ACB M · Romance, Drama ## Identity Reminders of Him - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/reminders-of-him - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** reminders-of-him - **IMDb ID:** tt33714084 - **TMDB ID:** 1367642 - **Wikidata ID:** Q133886934 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33714084/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1367642, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133886934 **Fi1m score: 49** · Critics 43 from 17 reviews *In a sentence:* Two people fall in love in a town so small it is a wonder they ever needed introducing > Maika Monroe gives this Colleen Hoover adaptation more than it gives back. The scenes between a mother and the daughter she is not allowed to see are honest and quietly painful; the romance wrapped around them runs on coincidence and never quite convinces. ## Synopsis Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe) comes out of prison and goes straight back to the small town where it all happened. She has a daughter, Diem (Zoe Kosovic), who lives with Patrick and Grace Landry (Bradley Whitford and Lauren Graham), the parents of Scotty Landry (Rudy Pankow). The Landrys want nothing to do with her and will not let her near the girl. Kenna takes a cheap room and a job and keeps trying anyway. In a bar one night she meets Ledger Ward (Tyriq Withers), and neither of them has any idea who the other is. ## Review Colleen Hoover adapts her own novel, with Lauren Levine, and Vanessa Caswill directs a 114-minute weeper about a woman who has served her sentence and finds that the town has not finished serving hers. Kenna Rowan wants one thing, which is to be allowed to know her daughter. The film has two stories to tell about that: one about a mother kept from her child, and one about the man she falls for while she waits. The first is good. The second is where the trouble is. Maika Monroe is the reason the first story works. She plays Kenna without pleading, a woman who has decided that if she asks for nothing she cannot be refused, and she keeps her face so still that the smallest flicker reads on screen. We were moved, more than we expected to be, the first time Kenna sees Diem at a distance and does nothing at all; Monroe does not reach, does not cry, simply watches, and the restraint is what did it. Zoe Kosovic plays the girl as a child rather than a prop, which is rarer than it should be. Those scenes are the film’s spine and they are played straight. Bradley Whitford and Lauren Graham are the wall Kenna runs into. Whitford gives Patrick the harder edge, a man who has turned grief into a rule and will not look at the person who broke it. Graham has less to do for a long stretch and then, late on, is handed the best scene in the picture and plays it with no fuss at all. We will not say what it is. Lainey Wilson, as Kenna’s neighbour Amy, supplies the only easy warmth on screen, and the film could have used more of her. The romance is another matter. Tyriq Withers is likeable and unhurried as Ledger, and he and Monroe are pleasant together, but the script asks us to accept that two people this bound up in the same dead boy can meet, talk and fall for each other without either working out who the other is. In a town this size it is a stretch, and the film keeps stretching it. Hoover and Levine write the pair a run of long conversations in cars, and the conversations say the same two or three things in slightly different orders. We found ourselves waiting for the next scene with the girl in it. The craft is handsome and mostly in the way. Tim Ives shoots the town in warm late light, every porch and bar window gone amber, and it is lovely to look at and tells us nothing about where these people are or what it costs to live there. Francesca Massariol’s bar is the one set with any grain to it, worn wood and bad lamps, and Jayna Mansbridge dresses Kenna in the same two or three cheap layers, which is right. Michelle Harrison, editing, lets shots run on faces long past the point where the face has finished speaking, and by the third such hold we had stopped trusting them. The old weepers made you earn your tears; they put the obstacle in the open and let you watch two people fail to climb it. This one hides the obstacle inside a coincidence and then spends an hour pretending nobody can see it. Against the Hoover films that came before it, including *Regretting You*, it is plainly the better made and the better acted, and most critics have said as much while declining to recommend it. We land in roughly the same place. If you have read the book, you will get the film you wanted and Monroe is better than the material. If you have not, the mother-and-daughter half is worth a quiet Sunday, and the romance can be tolerated as the price of admission. The 12A is accurate: nothing here will shock anyone, which is both its comfort and its limit. *Fi1m score 49, published 14 October 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics are unconvinced, and the negative reviews outnumber the positive three to one. Where there is praise, it gathers around Maika Monroe, whose turn as a mother rebuilding her life after prison is what most reviewers find worth watching, and around the mother-daughter scenes, which several critics say carry more feeling than the romance does. The warmer reviews, from Variety, IndieWire and The AV Club, describe a restrained, old-fashioned weeper, and IndieWire calls it the best Colleen Hoover adaptation to date. The reservations are about the plot. Critic after critic objects to the coincidences, the forced conflict and the predictable shape of the story, and the harsher reviews find the dialogue strained and the pacing slack. The spread is wide, running from mild approval to outright dismissal at The Observer, Vulture and Deadline. Monroe is not universally admired either: Little White Lies and Time Out single out her performance as the problem rather than the saving grace. ## Straight answers **Is Reminders of Him worth watching?** *Reminders of Him* is a mixed bag worth a quiet Sunday only for readers of the book or anyone drawn to Maika Monroe, and we scored it 49. The scenes between a mother and the daughter she is not allowed to see are honest and quietly painful; the romance around them runs on coincidence and says the same few things over and over. **How long is Reminders of Him, and what is it rated?** *Reminders of Him* runs 1h 54m and is rated M by the ACB in Australia. It is a romance and drama film. **Where can I watch Reminders of Him in Australia?** *Reminders of Him* is streaming on Netflix in Australia, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from A$4.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How does Reminders of Him compare to Rabbit Hole?** *Reminders of Him* and [*Rabbit Hole*](https://film.one/film/rabbit-hole) both deal with a family after the death of a child, and *Rabbit Hole* is the better film. Kidman and Eckhart play grief without music underneath, while the Hoover adaptation wraps its grief inside a romance built on coincidence. Choose *Rabbit Hole* if you want the harder, more honest evening; choose *Reminders of Him* if you want comfort and a strong Maika Monroe performance. **Is Reminders of Him based on a true story or a book?** *Reminders of Him* is based on Colleen Hoover's novel of the same name, not a true story, and Hoover adapted it herself with Lauren Levine. Readers of the book will get the film they wanted, and knowing the source is not required; the plot is simple enough to follow cold, and Monroe is better than the material either way. **What should I watch after Reminders of Him?** After *Reminders of Him*, try [*Rabbit Hole*](https://film.one/film/rabbit-hole) (2010, Fi1m 76): A couple after the death of a child; Kidman and Eckhart play grief without music underneath. Then [*Terms of Endearment*](https://film.one/film/terms-of-endearment) (1983, Fi1m 81): The mother-and-daughter weeper done properly, with jokes and a long time before the tears; and [*Shoplifters*](https://film.one/film/shoplifters) (2018, Fi1m 89): Kore-eda on a family that is not one by blood, and what the law does about it. ### Reviews we read (17) - **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (72/100, inferred): Gleiberman finds the film a pleasingly restrained weeper, though it can feel languid. He praises Maika Monroe’s sympathetic performance and the unforced tenderness of the mother-daughter scenes. [Read](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/reminders-of-him-review-latest-colleen-1236682685/) - **IndieWire**, Kate Erbland (B-): Erbland calls it the best Colleen Hoover film adaptation so far, though not a complete success. She praises its quieter, genuine emotional center and the strong performances. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/reminders-of-him-review-colleen-hoover-film-1235180541/) - **The AV Club**, Caroline Siede (B-): Siede finds the film a heartfelt, engaging throwback melodrama whose motherhood themes outshine its romance. She especially praises Maika Monroe’s portrayal and the film’s attention to the lasting effects of separating incarcerated mothers from their children. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/reminders-of-him-review) - **The Guardian**, Adrian Horton (65/100, inferred): Horton finds the romance contrived but still charming and easily consumed. He praises the leads’ tender chemistry and the film’s lush visuals, while faulting its implausible plot and stylized editing. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/mar/11/reminders-of-him-review-colleen-hoover-movie) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Frank Scheck (50/100, inferred): Scheck finds the film emotionally manipulative and overstuffed with contrivances, though its melodrama eventually proves affecting. He praises Maika Monroe’s performance and notes Lauren Graham’s particularly moving work in the final act. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/reminders-of-him-review-maika-monroe-colleen-hoover-1236526572/) - **Radio Times**, Chezelle Bingham (45/100, inferred): The review describes the film as a largely ordinary romantic drama, though not without charm. It singles out the performances as a strength. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/reminders-of-him-review/) - **Little White Lies**, Emma Kiely (2/5): The critic strongly dislikes the film, calling it a grim, conservative romance with a lifeless lead performance. Tyriq Withers is singled out as a bright spot, while Maika Monroe’s performance and the film’s staging draw criticism. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/reminders-of-him) - **Los Angeles Times**, Amy Nicholson (40/100, inferred): Nicholson finds the film simplistic and overlong, though its early stretches and scattered scenes offer genuine appeal. She praises the sincere connection between Kenna and Amy, while faulting the drawn-out driving conversations and rushed resolution. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2026-03-12/reminders-of-him-review-colleen-hoover-maika-monroe-tyriq-withers) - **Slant Magazine**, Derek Smith (1.5/4): The critic finds the adaptation earnestly overdetermined and ultimately unilluminating. They fault its absurd coincidences and flat characterizations, especially the implausible way Kenna and Ledger meet without recognizing each other. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/reminders-of-him-review-colleen-hoover/) - **Screen Daily**, Tim Grierson (30/100, inferred): The review is negative, calling the adaptation predictable and shallow. The accessible text criticizes its predictability and shallow treatment, but offers no further detail. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/reminders-of-him-review-maika-monroe-and-tyriq-withers-star-in-predictable-shallow-adaptation-of-colleen-hoover-novel/5214718.article) - **Time Out**, Hanna Flint (30/100, inferred): Flint finds the romantic drama forgettable and unconvincing. She singles out Maika Monroe’s performance as an ex-con rebuilding her life for criticism. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/reminders-of-him-review-2026) - **Empire**, Helen O’Hara (20/100, inferred): The review finds the romance flat and the conflict forced, despite the leads’ efforts. It faults the film for shallow character writing and lingering shots that substitute for depth. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/reminders-of-him/) - **The Observer**, Wendy Ide (10/100, inferred): Ide finds the film dismal and predictable, though somewhat less brain-numbing than Regretting You. She criticizes its formulaic plot and lip-biting, heavy-breathing performances. [Read](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/wendy-ides-pick-of-other-films-the-love-that-remains-everybody-to-kenmure-street-reminders-of-him-and-more) - **Vulture**, Roxana Hadadi (10/100, inferred): Hadadi finds the film generic, bloodless, and immediately forgettable. She particularly criticizes the leads’ lack of chemistry and the film’s failure to build meaningful conversations or dramatic tension. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-reminders-of-him-wont-be-hard-to-forget.html) - **The Wrap**, William Bibbiani (68/100, inferred): The critic finds the film effective and engaging, though predictable and less than excellent. Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers’ chemistry and performances help make its melodramatic story work. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/reminders-of-him-review-colleen-hoover-maika-monroe-tyriq-withers/) - **Collider**, Isabella Soares (6/10): Soares finds the film a sincere, touching romance despite weaknesses in its supporting characters and rushed conclusion. She praises Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers for making the romance feel grounded and earned. [Read](https://collider.com/reminders-of-him-movie-review-colleen-hoover-maika-monroe/) - **Deadline**, Damon Wise (10/100, inferred): Wise dismisses the film as gloomy, ludicrous romantic hokum. He especially criticizes its implausible plot points and strained dialogue, while noting the cast largely maintains its dignity. [Read](https://deadline.com/2026/03/reminders-of-him-review-colleen-hoover-adaptation-maika-monroe-1236750826/) ## Details - **Director:** Vanessa Caswill - **Director:** Vanessa Caswill - **Screenplay:** Lauren Levine, Colleen Hoover - **Novel:** Colleen Hoover - **Cinematography:** Tim Ives - **Editor:** Michelle Harrison - **Music:** Tom Howe - **Production design:** Francesca Massariol - **Costume design:** Jayna Mansbridge - **Producer:** Lauren Levine, Colleen Hoover, Gina Matthews - **Cast:** Maika Monroe as Kenna Rowan; Tyriq Withers as Ledger Ward; Rudy Pankow as Scotty Landry; Bradley Whitford as Patrick Landry; Lauren Graham as Grace Landry; Zoe Kosovic as Diem Landry; Nicholas Duvernay as Roman; Jennifer Robertson as Ruth - **Runtime:** 1h 54m - **Certificate (ACB):** M - **Release (Australia):** 12 March 2026 - **Genres:** Romance, Drama - **Budget:** $30 million - **Box office:** $89 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i36Zw32GfRQ ## Where to watch in Australia - Netflix: streaming - Amazon Prime Video: rent A$4.99, uhd - Amazon Prime Video: buy A$4.99, uhd *Checked 2026-10-14.* Also available in: AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IN, IT, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Ladybird Ladybird* (1994): Ken Loach on a mother fighting to keep her children; furious, unsentimental, and far harder than this. - *Rabbit Hole* (2010), Fi1m 76: A couple after the death of a child; Kidman and Eckhart play grief without music underneath. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/rabbit-hole.md) - *Terms of Endearment* (1983), Fi1m 81: The mother-and-daughter weeper done properly, with jokes and a long time before the tears. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/terms-of-endearment.md) - *Shoplifters* (2018), Fi1m 89: Kore-eda on a family that is not one by blood, and what the law does about it. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/shoplifters.md) - *The Broken Circle Breakdown* (2012): Belgian bluegrass romance that goes somewhere terrible; the music earns every tear it takes. --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/reminders-of-him