'The Idea of You' Ending Explained: Solène and Hayes make their love work eventually

The ending of film 'The Idea of You' is different from the novel it is based on
UPDATED MAY 2, 2024
'The Idea of You' is a story about a single mother Solène who falls in love with her daughter's favorite pop star (@primevideo)
'The Idea of You' is a story about a single mother Solène who falls in love with her daughter's favorite pop star (@primevideo)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'The Idea of You' is streaming on Prime Video from Thursday, May 2. The romantic drama stars Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine in lead roles. The movie is based on a novel of the same name by Robinne Lee. The film is directed by Michael Showalter and is produced by Amazon MGM Studios. 

'The Idea of You' tells the story of Solène Marchand (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mother to Izzy (Ella Rubin), who falls in love with Izzy's favorite pop star and a famous boy band's lead singer 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine).

The couple meet at the Coachella music festival and fall in love but for their love to manifest, they must overcome many complicated issues. Solène and Hayes come from different worlds and for Solène to continue her relationship with Hayes, would mean exposing Izzy to media attention at an early age. 

So what happens at the end of the film, do Solène and Hayes get together or do they break up? Here we explain the end of 'The Idea of You'

Solène and Hayes break up initially 

Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine in a still from 'The Idea of You' (@primevideo)
Anne Hathaway as Solène and Nicholas Galitzine as Hayes Campbell in a still from 'The Idea of You' (@primevideo)

Hayes and Solène have found their soulmate in each other. They can be vulnerable in front of each other and find happiness and contentment in each other's company despite their age gap. 

Solène however is fighting an internal battle as she feels responsible for exposing her daughter Izzy to the attention that comes with dating the most sought-after pop star in the world. 

When Hayes flies down to meet Solène, she tells him that she can't be in the relationship anymore and she has to do this for Izzy. Both of them are visibly deep in love and meet again that night. 

Hayes tells her to wait for five years and be together when Izzy is grown up and away. Solène agrees but tells Hayes to move on if he finds happiness elsewhere. 

Hayes returns after 5 years to give their love story a happy ending

Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine in a still from 'The Idea of You' (@primevideo)
'The Idea of You' is based on a book of same name (@primevideo)

5 years later, Solène runs her art gallery and Izzy has gone off to Chicago. One night while changing channels, Solène comes across Hayes on television singing a song. He comes across as a more mature musician now. In his interview, Hayes says that he is in the last leg of his tour and will go and meet someone once he finishes. 

Solène is in her art gallery when she finds Hayes at the door waiting for her. They finally get together and Hayes keeps his promise of being together with Solène. 

The ending of the film is different from that of the book where the couple don't get to be together. The movie ends the film on a hopeful and happy note giving this improbable love story a fulfilling conclusion. 

'The Idea of You' trailer



 

'The Idea of You' is streaming on Prime Video from May 2, 2024. 

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