Office Romance (2026 film)

Office Romance (2026 film)

Office Romance is a 2026 American romantic comedy film directed by Ol Parker, written by Brett Goldstein and Joe Kelly and starring Jennifer Lopez and Goldstein.

Iron-fisted President and CEO of Air Cruz Jackie Cruz runs the company with rigid control, including a no-fraternization policy for all, which is put to the test when she and a new lawyer who begins working for her are mutually irresistibly attracted. The film received mixed reviews from critics.

Plot

Office Romance (2026 film)

Jackie Cruz is the iron-willed CEO and President of Air Cruz, a major airline founded by her demanding father. Constantly under intense scrutiny from the company board and desperate to earn her father's respect, Jackie runs a remarkably tight ship. This includes enforcing a rigid, non-negotiable anti-fraternization policy across all tiers of the company. Jackie's hyper-focus on her career has left her with a meticulously built but completely isolated personal life.

The status quo is disrupted by the arrival of Daniel Blanchflower, a reserved British attorney hired as the company's new legal counsel. Daniel, who recently relocated to the United States due to complicated family obligations, is assigned a high-stakes litigation case that forces him to work closely with Jackie. Despite their differences in hierarchical status within the company and Jackie's imposing demeanor, the two share an immediate, underlying professional chemistry. Daniel initially manages to impress Jackie during a corporate deposition, though their proximity severely tests the very corporate boundaries Jackie instituted.

Another case requires Jackie to fly to a deposition trip to the Dominican Republic, and she suggests at the company meeting that Daniel is the appointed attorney to accompany her. She then personally pilots the company private plane there, leaving her completely alone with Daniel. In the tropical setting, away from the rigid confines of the corporate office, they drop their buttoned-up professional guards. Giving in to their mutual attraction, they begin a passionate romantic affair.

Upon returning to New Jersey, Jackie and Daniel try to conceal their relationship from the rest of the company. However, their efforts are constantly threatened by their boldness, driven by their uncontrollable attraction, and a highly observant office colleague. The stakes escalate dramatically when the opposing legal counsel attempts to weaponize Jackie's affair with Daniel, threatening the future of Air Cruz and her standing with her father and the board.

The corporate tension reaches a boiling point ahead of a crucial press conference, where Jackie finally plans to announce her resignation as CEO of the company. While attempting to reach the corporate headquarters to defend both the company and their relationship, Daniel is delayed by traffic and trapped in the Holland Tunnel. He manages to arrive at the exact critical moment before she breaks the news, and is forced to publicly express his feelings for her and defends her competence as CEO in order to stop her from resigning. Supported by her father, who also publicly acknowledges her competence as a CEO, they successfully navigate any potential objections from the board, rewrite the company's archaic HR rulebook, and openly embrace their relationship.

Production

Office Romance (2026 film)

The film stars Brett Goldstein and Jennifer Lopez and was co-written by Goldstein with Joe Kelly for Netflix. Betty Gilpin joined the cast in February 2025. The following month, Edward James Olmos joined the cast, reuniting with Lopez after starring in Selena (1997) together, where they also played father and daughter. In April 2025, a number of cast members were announced including Bradley Whitford, Amy Sedaris, and Tony Hale.

It is produced by Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett for Ryder Picture Company, along with Goldstein, Joe Kelly, Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, and Benny Medina for Nuyorican Productions via the company's first-look deal with Netflix.

Ol Parker joined the project as director in November 2024. Principal photography began in New Jersey in March 2025, with filming locations including Kenilworth. Peter Lambert serves as the editor.

Release

Office Romance (2026 film)

Office Romance was released on Netflix on June 5, 2026.

Reception

Office Romance (2026 film)

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 47% of 76 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.4/10. The website's consensus reads: "Polished as a business presentation and just as impersonal, Office Romance is headed by a likable pairing but proves too content to follow the rules of standard rom-coms to nab a promotion into the C-suite." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 52 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.

Lisa Kennedy of The New York Times wrote, "The writers Goldstein and Joe Kelly attempt to cram a streaming season’s worth of character zigs into a two-hour film. Alas, the landing isn’t smooth." Monica Castillo of The AV Club wrote, "While the romance here feels tenuous at best, the comedy is in even worse shape, often mistaking uncomfortable oversharing for punchlines. If this was meant to be a return to form for Lopez, it’s not a satisfying comeback."

In a positive review, Guy Lodge of Variety wrote, "Soft and cottony and just peculiar enough to be memorable, Office Romance gives the people what they want." Brian Truitt of USA Today wrote, "The film can’t escape all of the usual genre tropes or overt sentimentality, yet that's tempered by a bawdy sense of humor and fits of wild broad comedy."