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About Fate

About Fate is a 2022 American romantic comedy film directed by Marius Vaysberg and written by Tiffany Paulsen. The story centers on Margot Hayes (Emma Roberts), a real estate agent, and Griffin Reed (Thomas Mann), a public defender, two hopeless romantics who are dumped by their fiancés on New Year's Eve and end up sharing an apartment due to a mix-up, sparking an unexpected connection. It serves as a loose remake of the 1976 Soviet film The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!, directed by Eldar Ryazanov, updating the classic tale of mistaken identity and serendipitous romance for a modern American audience. Released on digital platforms and in select theaters on September 9, 2022, the film features supporting performances from , , and , and was produced by Aldamisa Entertainment, Vincent Newman Entertainment, and Contentious Media. With a of 100 minutes, it explores themes of fate, , and second chances amid comedic mishaps during holiday festivities. Critics gave it mixed reviews, praising the chemistry between the leads but noting the plot's reliance on contrived coincidences, resulting in a 63% approval rating on based on 8 reviews.

Background and Development

Development

The development of About Fate began as an American adaptation of the 1976 Soviet television film The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!, a cultural staple directed by Eldar Ryazanov that follows two strangers drawn together by a New Year's Eve mix-up. In April 2021, Russian production company Central Partnership, which holds the remake rights to the original, announced the project, revealing it would be scripted by Tiffany Paulsen—known for her work on the Netflix rom-com Holidate—and directed by Russian-born filmmaker Marius Vaysberg. Paulsen was approached by the producers after her success with Holidate, and she accepted the opportunity to craft a contemporary English-language version, describing the original as a "very, very loosely" inspirational source that she condensed and modernized from its nearly three-hour runtime into a feature-length script. Paulsen's screenplay reimagined the core premise—a chance encounter leading to unexpected romance—for an audience, updating cultural references, settings, and character dynamics while preserving the themes of fate and serendipitous love. Key creative decisions focused on blending lighthearted elements, such as a fake-dating ruse at a wedding, with more grounded explorations of commitment and relational uncertainties. Vaysberg, whose prior credits include the Netflix ensemble rom-com Love, Wedding, Repeat (2020), emphasized a whimsical yet relatable tone in discussions, aiming to capture the original's ironic humor while making it accessible to global viewers. The film was financed independently with an estimated budget of $15 million, backed by production companies including Aldamisa Entertainment and . Principal casting announcements followed the April reveal, with and set as leads Margot and Griffin, respectively, signaling the transition to . Filming was scheduled to commence in June 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts, to evoke the story's wintery, urban atmosphere.

Casting

Emma Roberts was cast in the lead role of Margot in April 2021, selected for her established background in romantic comedies, including roles in Valentine's Day (2010) and Holidate (2020). Thomas Mann joined the cast as Griffin the following month in May 2021, reuniting with Roberts from their earlier collaboration in It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010) and drawing on his critically acclaimed performance in the indie drama Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015). The supporting cast featured Lewis Tan as Kip Prescott, Margot's fiancé, announced in May 2021 shortly after his breakout role in Mortal Kombat (2021); Madelaine Petsch as Clementine Pratt, Griffin's girlfriend, who was added in June 2021 following her work on Riverdale; Britt Robertson as Carrie; Wendie Malick as Nancy Hayes; Cheryl Hines as Judy Reed; and Skyler Samuels as Daphne Hayes, Margot's sister. Casting director Angela Peri, known for her work on films like (2010), oversaw the selection process to assemble a ensemble suited for the film's lighthearted tone. The production encountered challenges from the , with early development and audition efforts in 2020 delayed by health restrictions and industry shutdowns, pushing principal casting announcements into 2021.

Production

Filming

Principal photography for About Fate commenced on June 7, 2021, in , with principal filming wrapping on July 15, 2021, spanning approximately 39 days. The production utilized a variety of locations across the state to capture the film's urban and suburban settings, including the Norwood Town Common in Norwood for exterior scenes, the Financial District in , and additional sites in Chelsea, Medford, Braintree, Brockton, and . Some interior shots were filmed on soundstages. Filming occurred during the ongoing , requiring adherence to industry-wide safety protocols established by organizations like , which included mandatory testing, mask requirements where feasible, and reduced crew sizes to minimize health risks on set. The cinematography was handled by David Hennings, whose work helped establish the film's lighthearted and contemporary visual tone through natural lighting in outdoor locales and controlled setups for intimate dialogue scenes.

Post-production

Following the wrap of principal photography, post-production for About Fate commenced in mid-2021. Editing was led by David Dodson. The original score was composed by Benjamin Zecker.

Release and Distribution

Marketing and Promotion

The marketing campaign for About Fate included the release of its first trailer on August 17, 2022, which showcased classic tropes intertwined with the unexpected twist central to the plot. This teaser effectively built anticipation by emphasizing the film's blend of humor, fate, and modern relationship dynamics, distributed primarily through platforms like and by distributor . Official posters and key visual art were released in 2022, prominently featuring leads and dressed in wedding attire to evoke the story's themes of serendipitous romance and matrimonial mishaps; these materials were widely shared across , , and to engage fans of the . Press efforts included interviews with the cast, where discussions centered on the exploration of contemporary relationships, fate, and personal growth, helping to humanize the stars and deepen audience connection ahead of the debut. The strategy prioritized cost-effective digital platforms over traditional advertising, leveraging algorithms and targeted online ads to maximize visibility among rom-com enthusiasts.

Theatrical Release

About Fate received a in the United States on September 9, 2022, distributed by . The distribution strategy emphasized select theaters alongside a simultaneous rollout, allowing for broader accessibility while prioritizing cinematic screenings in key markets. Internationally, the film began its rollout with wide releases in and on September 8, 2022, followed by limited theatrical availability in markets such as on September 9, 2022, and later that month. This phased approach facilitated targeted distribution in regions with strong demand for comedies, though many markets opted for digital premieres shortly thereafter.

Home Media and Streaming

About Fate became available for digital download and (VOD) on September 9, 2022, through platforms including and . As of November 2025, the film is streaming on .

Reception and Legacy

Critical Response

About Fate received mixed reviews from critics, who appreciated its emotional sincerity and lead performances but found the overall execution formulaic and uneven. The film explores themes of and unexpected connections in a framework, drawing both praise for its relatable character dynamics and criticism for adhering too closely to conventions. On , About Fate holds a 63% approval rating from 8 critic reviews as of November 2025; the audience score is 67% from over 100 ratings. does not assign a Metascore due to insufficient critic reviews (fewer than 4), but the user score is 5.7 out of 10 based on 9 ratings. Critics frequently highlighted the strong chemistry between and as a standout , noting how their elevated the central romance. Additionally, director Marius Vaysberg's work earned praise for its competent handling of intimate, character-driven moments despite budget constraints. Conversely, reviewers criticized the predictable plot, which relies on familiar rom-com tropes like chance encounters and contrived misunderstandings without sufficient innovation. The uneven tone—shifting awkwardly between comedic beats and dramatic sincerity—was another common point of contention, often leaving the film feeling disjointed. Many noted a broader lack of originality in the , with the story failing to subvert expectations or offer fresh perspectives on love and fate.

Box Office Performance

About Fate opened in on September 9, 2022, earning $6,098 over its opening weekend from 13 theaters . This modest debut reflected the film's day-and-date strategy, which paired its theatrical rollout with simultaneous availability on streaming and video-on-demand platforms, a common approach during the post-COVID recovery that often diluted potential by diverting audiences to home viewing. The film's domestic run concluded with a total gross of $8,688, representing just 1.7% of its estimated $15 million and failing to achieve theatrical profitability. Internationally, it performed slightly better, accumulating $496,155 across various markets, leading to a worldwide total of $504,843. With a legs ratio of 1.42—indicating the total domestic gross was only 1.42 times the opening weekend—the film's theatrical performance tapered quickly, as subsequent weeks saw sharp declines amid competition from higher-profile releases like and , which dominated the September 9-11 weekend chart. Market factors further constrained earnings, including the ongoing 2022 box office rebound from disruptions, where limited marketing budgets for comedies struggled against advertising. The film's reliance on ancillary revenue streams, such as streaming deals and home media sales, became essential for overall financial viability, though specific figures for these remain undisclosed.

Accolades

About Fate received no major awards or nominations from industry bodies such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences or the . The film's direct-to-digital release strategy contributed to its limited presence in traditional award seasons. Despite this, garnered attention for its lighthearted take on tropes, appearing in discussions about contemporary indie films featuring female leads like . By 2025, it continued to be referenced in analyses of post-pandemic streaming rom-coms, though without formal honors.

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