Dakota Johnson's Best Performance of All Time Is a Late-Night Sleeper Hit

1 week ago 7

Published Apr 5, 2026, 5:30 PM EDT

Lade Omotade is a News and Feature Author at Collider with a passion for exploring the ever-evolving world of the Film & TV industry. Her work centers on covering the latest news, from casting announcements and franchise scoops to streaming updates and behind-the-scenes shifts that shape the way stories are told.

Omotade approaches storytelling with both professional insight and unapologetic fandom; digging into what makes a franchise successful, spotlighting rising voices in Hollywood, and asking the questions fans are already buzzing about. Her writing reflects that mix: part industry analysis, part fan excitement, and always grounded in a love for the craft of storytelling.

Widely recognized for her lead role in the billion-dollar Fifty Shades film series, Dakota Johnson's career has come a long way since then. The Texas-born actress was most recently seen in the 2025 romantic dramedy Materialists alongside Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal. Directed by Celine Song, the film was both a critical and commercial success, marking one of Johnson's most notable projects to date.

While audiences may easily recognize her from these high-profile titles, she delivered one of her strongest performances in a lesser-known gem that hit theaters just two years ago. Daddio sees Johnson take on a far more intimate and restrained role, carrying much of the film's emotional weight through a quiet, dialogue-driven story. The drama film is a perfect alternative for fans of Before Sunrise, the first installment in the Before trilogy, and the 1995 romantic drama starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.

Released in theaters on June 28, 2024, Daddio has found a new streaming home not long after Netflix restricted access for some users. Starting April 26, 2026, the compelling drama will be available to watch on Hulu, offering an unfiltered look at the slow unraveling of two strangers' lives over the course of a single night. Also starring Sean Penn, the Oscar-winning actor was initially suggested by Johnson, who personally sent him the script before filming began, and as expected, he delivered a standout performance. Daddio boasts a Certified Fresh 75% critics' rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an impressive 89% audience score.

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What's Next for Dakota Johnson?

Following the success of Materialists, Johnson will next be seen in Verity, a Colleen Hoover adaptation directed by Michael Showalter and written by Nick Antosca. The psychological thriller is set for release by Amazon MGM on October 2, 2026, over a year after production wrapped in April 2025. Johnson stars as Lowen Ashleigh, a writer contacted by Jeremy Crawford to complete his wife's (bestselling author Verity Crawford) book series, as she is unable to finish it following a mysterious accident. Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett also star.

Daddio streams on Hulu this month. Stay tuned to Collider for more news.