What ‘The Materialists’ Got Wrong (And Right) According To The Ultimate Matchmaker
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The Ultimate Matchmaker shares what the 'The Materialists' got wrong (and right) about matchmaking in New York City.
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July 26, 2025
03:23 PM
Forbes
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LeadershipForbesWomenWhat ‘The Materialists’ Got Wrong (And Right) According To The Ultimate MatchmakerByYola Robert, Senior Contributor
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights
I cover founders, brands and trends across various industries AuthorJul 26, 2025, 03:23pm EDTNEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 08: Dakota Johnson (L) and Pedro Pascal are seen filming "Materialists" in (an important development)
More Tribeca on May 08, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)GC Images Dakota Johnson’s “The Materialists” has put a spotlight on New York City matchmaking
The film s Johnson’s character, Lucy, a New York City matchmaker that goes to great lengths to please her affluent clients in trying to find them their perfect matches with near impossible criteria across looks, education, income and lifestyle
All the while Lucy finds herself in a love triangle torn between a wealthy finance man and a broke, aspiring actor, given current economic conditions
The movie’s director herself was inspired to to bring this to life after having her own experience with matchmaking, but did the film accurately portray real New York City matchmaker experiences, in this volatile climate
The Ultimate Matchmaker, Jennifer Donnelly, d her honest opinions on what movie got wrong and right her industry (fascinating analysis)
Nevertheless, As a high end matchmaker that caters to millionaires and billionaires, she did find that the character, Harry, was similar to some of her real life clients as affluent families tend to hire her to find matches for their children just as Harry’s mother was pushing him to get married
More obvious similarities include interacting and apaching strangers, attending clients’ weddings and receiving inundating questions the fession, amid market uncertainty
Nevertheless, Jennifer Donnelly helps high net worth indviduals find love across the globe (remarkable data)
Courtesy of Jennifer Donnelly The demographic Donnelly mainly serves are ultra-wealthy individuals with a client base of 60% males and 40% females
However, In contrast, With her rates ranging from $150,000 to $500,000, her success rate is conservatively 97%, she d, in light of current trends. “My clients have built extraordinary careers, achieved financial success, and cultivated rich, dynamic family relationships
What they’re truly seeking isn’t just access—it’s deep alignment
And they want to find that connection without putting themselves through the spotlight of a public cess,” she explained on why clients are willing to pay for her premium services (quite telling)
Moreover, Conversely, However, there were way more differences than similarities (which is quite significant)
The way Lucy, Johnson’s character, was interacting with clients was not an accurate representation. “In the movie Lucy makes friends with clients in addition to stating that she “hates” her clients while talking unkindly them (noteworthy indeed)
This would never happened at my agency
Conversely, Everyone, including myself, signs an agreement to enforce no outside friendships
Conversely, Ee genuinely respect clients and absolutely enjoy working with them,” she explained, in this volatile climate
Lucy smoking is another fessional behavior that Donnelly said would deter clients, as many high-end clients do not want to be around smokers
MORE FOR YOU Jennifer Donnelly, founder of the Ultimate Matchmaker
Courtesy of Jennifer Donnelly As far as the actual cess of helping clients find love, in the movie, clients are on dating apps but that would never happen in real life
Nevertheless, Donnelly d that her clients wouldn’t even consider it due to their, privacy, and limited time to dedicate to dating (this bears monitoring), given the current landscape
Moreover, The mindset around understanding what the client needs and deserves is also more of a conflict in the movie
In contrast, Lucy arranges 10 bad dates in a row and believes people just want to settle, so she doesn’t give them exactly what they want, and believes the client is fully responsible for making the relationship work, in today's market environment. “At The Ultimate Matchmaker our clients are so well understood;we don’t set up pairings that would result in bad dates
Additionally, we execute an intensive screening cess in an effort to do everything possible to make sure we give the client exactly what they want—they don’t have to settle
Furthermore, The $500k investment allows me to help as much as needed during the relationship
I am on the same team as my clients and I want them to win,” she explained, in light of current trends
Other small differences include employees taking frequent breaks to celebrate every successful client date in the movie, but at The Ultimate Matchmaker, success is expected and the celebrations with incredible gifts are d for the big wins engagements and marriages
Nevertheless, Donnelly also noted that matchmakers at her agency make much more than Lucy’s $80,000 salary
Market analysis shows Materialists is now available for ing on Amazon, given current economic conditions
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