Dakota Fanning’s latest film is already drawing attention on Rotten Tomatoes, where viewers have given it a solid audience score early on.
Fanning, who began acting as a child in films such as Man on Fire (2004), War of the Worlds (2005), and Charlotte’s Web (2006), steadily moved into grown-up roles over the years. Her résumé includes indie fare like The Runaways (2010) and Night Moves (2013), mainstream franchises and ensemble pieces including The Twilight Saga (2009–2012) and Ocean’s 8 (2018), plus notable turns in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), The Equalizer 3 (2023), and The Watchers (2024).
The Sun Never Sets currently sits at 72% on Rotten Tomatoes’ audience meter, based on just over fifty ratings at the time of writing, so that figure could shift as more viewers weigh in. Critics have been favorable as well, awarding the film a 79% score from 68 reviews.
The picture debuted at SXSW in March 2026, followed by a limited U.S. theatrical opening on August 28 and a wider rollout beginning September 4. For viewers who missed it in cinemas, it is available to purchase or rent on digital storefronts, including Prime Video, with rentals starting at about $6.99.
Written, directed, produced, and edited by Joe Swanberg — a filmmaker associated with low-budget, mumblecore-style productions — The Sun Never Sets centers on Fanning as a woman who pauses her current relationship with a boyfriend played by Jake Johnson. Her break is complicated when she unexpectedly encounters an ex (Cory Michael Smith) while in the Alaskan wilderness, pulling her into a fraught love triangle that threatens to upend her life. The supporting cast also features Debby Ryan, Anna Konkle, Lamorne Morris, and Karley Sciortino.
Audience reactions have largely praised the film’s frank, sometimes painfully recognizable portrayal of romantic turmoil. Many viewers say the messy three-way dynamic lands as authentic, helped along by natural-sounding dialogue, flashes of humor, and committed performances that convey the emotional complexity on screen. Fanning, in particular, has been singled out for a restrained yet compelling depiction of a character caught between desire and doubt.
Not all responses are glowing. Some viewers criticize the movie for repeating the same conversational beats, moving at a pace they find too slow, and frustratingly centering on characters who can’t seem to make up their minds. A number of comments also point to an ending that feels unresolved, leaving questions about where the characters will go next.
Critical reviews, by contrast, tend to commend Swanberg for taking a familiar romantic setup — the love triangle — and turning it into a thoughtful study of uncertainty in relationships. Reviewers praise the film’s naturalistic approach and Fanning’s magnetic presence, arguing that those elements elevate what might otherwise be a well-worn premise. Whether audiences respond to its talk-driven, character-focused style appears to depend on how much patience they have for ambiguity: for some it’s refreshingly honest, for others it’s maddeningly unresolved.
In either case, The Sun Never Sets demonstrates that stories about the heart rarely offer tidy solutions, and it’s prompted both admiration and impatience as viewers and critics parse its messy, human truths.
Ava Thornton is an entertainment journalist with a keen eye for the latest in Hollywood, indie films, and streaming trends.
Her work blends insider knowledge with a deep appreciation for storytelling.
