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Romantic comedy

What's Love Got to Do with It? (2023): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

What's Love Got to Do with It? (2023) movie poster

What's Love Got to Do with It? is a 2023 romantic comedy directed by Shekhar Kapur, starring Emma Thompson as Cath Stevenson, Lily James and Shabana Azmi. It runs 1 hour 48 minutes and earned $11.1 million worldwide. Critics gave it 71% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
71%
worldwide gross
$11.1M
Echo Score
66
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What's Love Got to Do with It? (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 48m (108 min)
Director
Shekhar Kapur
Genres
Comedy , Romance
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is What's Love Got to Do with It? About?

The premise of What's Love Got to Do with It? without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Zoe, a documentary filmmaker, navigates the frustrating world of modern dating apps, experiencing a series of unsuccessful matches. Her mother, meanwhile, worries about her lack of romantic prospects. While filming her friend Kaz's arranged marriage from London to Lahore, Zoe observes a different path to finding love and begins to re-evaluate her own views on relationships and what it really means to find lasting happiness.

What's Love Got to Do with It? Themes & Keywords

· 34 tags
  • british comedy
  • lahore pakistan
  • london england
  • filming a documentary
  • documentary filmmaker
  • wedding reception
  • love story
  • romantic
  • reference to when harry met sally
  • arranged marriage
  • table tennis
  • call to prayer
+22 more
  • mother daughter relationship
  • british pakistani
  • british asian
  • pakistan
  • writer producer
  • f rated
  • family dinner
  • video call
  • dating
  • veterinarian
  • veterinarian visit
  • dog
  • reference to skype
  • facebook
  • wedding
  • question in title
  • seven word title
  • question mark in title
  • apostrophe in title
  • punctuation in title
  • romantic comedy
  • title spoken by character
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Cast & crew

What's Love Got to Do with It? Cast & Characters

Emma Thompson leads the cast as Cath Stevenson, with Lily James as Zoe Stevenson and Shabana Azmi as Aisha Khan. Directed by Shekhar Kapur; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in What's Love Got to Do with It?

· 6 more
From the director

More from Shekhar Kapur

More films directed by Shekhar Kapur, best-rated first: Elizabeth, The Four Feathers, Elizabeth: The Golden Age and New York, I Love You.

Full filmography
Ratings

What's Love Got to Do with It? Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave What's Love Got to Do with It? 71% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 66/100, strongest in art & craft (72) and weakest in story & flow (55).

66 /100

What's Love Got to Do with It? Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, the film delivers a competent but familiar rom‑com experience. Its visual design and cultural setting are handled with care, providing an appealing backdrop that complements solid performances from the leads. The narrative, however, relies heavily on predictable beats and conventional tropes, limiting its originality. While the movie offers moments of charm and occasional insight into arranged‑marriage dynamics, its uneven tone and formulaic storytelling temper lasting impact, resulting in a moderately enjoyable watch that may not compel repeated viewings.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 72

    In terms of art and craft, the film presents a polished visual palette that authentically portrays Muslim environments. Critics note the director's skillful handling of cinematography and production design, and users commend the interesting art direction. Some reviewers describe the overall execution as slightly inelegant, but the consensus highlights a respectable technical competence that elevates the setting without reaching a groundbreaking level.

  • Character & Emotion 68

    When evaluating character and emotion, the leads deliver nuanced performances that generate genuine chemistry and emotional resonance. Critics and audiences alike praise the soulful interaction between the protagonists and commend supporting actors for adding depth. Nevertheless, occasional criticism points to stereotypical portrayals and uneven character development, preventing the ensemble from achieving full narrative credibility. Overall, the acting contributes positively to the film’s appeal.

  • Story & Flow 55

    Regarding story and flow, the screenplay follows a well‑trodden rom‑com structure, resulting in a predictable arc that many reviewers find formulaic. While a few critics acknowledge surprising moments and thoughtful thematic questions about marriage, the dominant sentiment cites half‑formed romance and a lack of innovative pacing. The plot’s conventional nature reduces engagement for viewers seeking originality, placing the narrative in a middling range.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    In the sensory domain, the film’s visual style and cohesive design receive consistent commendation, with reviewers noting vibrant color work and effective cultural representation. Soundtrack and sound design are less frequently addressed but are generally considered adequate. The overall sensory experience supports the narrative without distracting flaws, delivering an enjoyable aesthetic that enhances rather than dominates the viewing.

  • Rewatch Factor 65

    Assessing rewatch factor, the movie offers a feel‑good, light‑hearted atmosphere that many viewers find pleasant for casual repeat viewings. Positive remarks highlight its charm and cultural curiosity, while criticisms focus on its reliance on clichés, which may diminish long‑term appeal. The balance of enjoyable moments and predictable structure yields a moderate replay value, suggesting occasional returns rather than strong lasting demand.

Plot

What's Love Got to Do with It? Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in What's Love Got to Do with It? from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the vibrant heart of London, filmmaker Zoe Stevenson embarks on a deeply emotional journey, documenting the experiences of her childhood best friend, Kazim “Kaz” Khan, as he navigates the complexities of an arranged marriage with Maymouna, a young woman hailing from Pakistan. As Kaz strives to make his parents proud by affirming that such traditions can flourish, Zoe’s lens captures the delicate dynamics of their relationship, unveiling the cultural subtleties that influence their lives.

Full summary

The whole story of What's Love Got to Do with It?, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

What's Love Got to Do with It? Box Office

What's Love Got to Do with It? grossed $11.1 million worldwide.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$11.1M

International
$11.1M
Videos

What's Love Got to Do with It? Trailers & Videos

13 videos: 2 trailers, 3 clips, 7 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 13 videos
Official UK Trailer
  • Trailer Official International Trailer
  • Clip Ping-Pong Clip from WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? Starring Shazad Latif and Lily James
  • Clip Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?
  • Clip WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? - Clip starring Shazad Latif, Lily James
Quiz

How Well Do You Know What's Love Got to Do with It??

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Where does the film primarily take place?

Details

What's Love Got to Do with It? Also Known As

23 alternative titles, including “O Que o Amor Tem a Ver Com Isso?” and “Kāds mīlai ar to sakars?”.

Also known as
  • O Que o Amor Tem a Ver Com Isso?
  • Kāds mīlai ar to sakars?
  • Et l'amour dans tout ça ?
  • 關我Love事?
  • きっと、それは愛じゃない
  • Minha Família Quer que Eu Case
  • ¿Y qué tendrá que ver el amor?
  • 왓츠 러브
  • What's Love?
  • Láska podle plánu
  • מה הקשר לאהבה?
  • При чём тут любовь?
+11 more
  • До чого тут кохання?
  • Što ljubav ima s tim?
  • Plan na miłość
  • Mi köze ennek a szerelemhez?
  • 与爱何关
  • Aşkın Bununla Ne İlgisi Var?
  • 忙愛不如盲婚
  • Kuo čia dėta meilė?
  • Ευτυχισμένοι μαζί, რა შუაშია სიყვარული?
  • Kaj ima ljubezen s tem?
  • ตามติดวิวาห์ไร้รัก

Seen What's Love Got to Do with It??

FAQ

What's Love Got to Do with It? FAQ: Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of What's Love Got to Do with It?, each answered in a sentence.

How long is What's Love Got to Do with It??

What's Love Got to Do with It? runs 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).

When was What's Love Got to Do with It? released?

What's Love Got to Do with It? was released on May 5, 2023.

Who directed What's Love Got to Do with It??

What's Love Got to Do with It? was directed by Shekhar Kapur.

More films by Shekhar Kapur

Who is in the cast of What's Love Got to Do with It??

What's Love Got to Do with It? stars Emma Thompson as Cath Stevenson, Lily James as Zoe Stevenson and Shabana Azmi as Aisha Khan, among 10 credited actors.

How much did What's Love Got to Do with It? make at the box office?

What's Love Got to Do with It? grossed $11.1 million worldwide.

How is What's Love Got to Do with It? rated?

What's Love Got to Do with It? has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, 59 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

Does What's Love Got to Do with It? have a post-credit scene?

No. What's Love Got to Do with It? has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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