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Splitsville (2025) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Splitsville (2025) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2025 · 1 h 40 m · English
Echo score 72
JustWatch #2,326 85
Starring
Adria Arjona, Dakota Johnson, Letitia Brookes, Nicholas Braun, Charlie Gillespie, Kyle Marvin
Budget
$20M

When Ashley (Adria Arjona) asks for a divorce, good‑natured Carey (Kyle Marvin) turns to his friends Julie (Dakota Johnson) and Paul (Michael Angelo Covino) for comfort, only to discover they maintain an open marriage. Carey’s curiosity leads him to overstep boundaries, throwing his own relationships into turmoil. Awkward comedy erupts, upending.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (12)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Splitsville
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Splitsville (2025)

Where can you watch Splitsville? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Hulu, Kanopy and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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12 main characters · contains spoilers

Splitsville Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Splitsville (2025), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Carey (Kyle Marvin)

    Carey is a volatile, insecure husband whose marriage to Ashley is tested by her extramarital openness and his own jealousy. He fluctuates between tenderness and aggression, ultimately admitting he slept with someone (not revealing who) as he clings to the relationship. His impulsive actions trigger chaos within the group, yet he remains determined to salvage the family unit. By the end, he and Ashley face a future that includes parenthood and a redefined partnership.

    • 💔 Jealousy
    • 🧭 Insecurity
    • 🤝 Complex relationships
  • Ashley (Adria Arjona)

    Ashley is a confident, open-minded partner who pushes for an open marriage and explores multiple relationships within the circle. She navigates competing desires and the emotional fallout that comes with non-monogamy. Her actions drive much of the conflict, though she also shows a capacity for care and eventual commitment to a stable family life with Carey.

    • 💖 Open relationships
    • 💔 Infidelity
    • 🧠 Complexity
  • Paul (Michael Angelo Covino)

    Paul is a successful but insecure friend who supports an open relationship, and who resents the shifting dynamics when his wife Julie bonds with Carey. He displays sharp jealousy and engages in deceptive behaviors, including staging interactions to provoke reactions. His legal and financial troubles complicate the group’s already fragile balance, ending with strained but acknowledged connections.

    • 💼 Wealth
    • 💬 Deception
    • 🧭 Ambition
  • Julie (Dakota Johnson)

    Julie is a strong-willed partner who navigates the open relationship with pragmatism and passion. Her loyalties shift between Paul, Carey, and their circle, and she instrumentalizes dynamics to probe boundaries. Although she recognizes the risks of their arrangement, she seeks to preserve meaningful connections and eventually maintains a cautious, ongoing bond with Paul and Carey.

    • 🎭 Power dynamics
    • 💞 Affection
    • 🧭 Complications
  • Russ (Simon Webster)

    Russ is Paul and Julie’s son whose actions at school set off a chain of consequences for the adults. He embodies youth, impulsivity, and a restless energy that catalyzes much of the group’s drama. His misadventures at school and in the community influence how the parents relate to one another and to their own responsibilities.

    • 🎯 Rebellion
    • 🧒 Youth
    • 🧪 Consequences
  • Brent (O-T Fagbenle)

    Brent is a single dad who brings a contrasting, more straightforward dynamic into the mix. His flirtatious interaction with Julie creates tension and prompts Carey to re-evaluate boundaries. He leaves the scene with his son, highlighting the fragile balance between desire and responsibility.

    • 👨‍👦 Fatherhood
    • 🥊 Jealousy
    • 🫶 Boundaries
  • Jackson (Charlie Gillespie)

    Jackson is Ashley’s casual lover who participates in the open arrangement and shares in the domestic chaos. His presence underscores the casual, convenient nature of some of the relationships, while also highlighting the emotional complexities faced by the core pair.

    • 🔥 Seduction
    • 🎭 Romance
    • 🗺️ Affair
  • Matt The Mentalist (Nicholas Braun)

    Matt is a performer who appears at the birthday celebration and becomes part of the social tapestry surrounding the adults’ lives. He represents the playful—yet complicated—layer of adult friendships and romantic entanglements in the story.

    • 🎤 Entertainment
    • 💘 Love triangle
    • 🎭 Party
  • Fede (David Castaeda)

    played by David Castañeda

    Fede is one of Ashley’s lovers who moves through the house with the evolving dynamics of the relationship circle. His presence adds to the sense of instability and the sense that the house becomes a revolving door for guests and lovers alike.

    • 💬 Affair
    • 🏝️ Transience
    • 🧪 Risk
  • Antoneta (Nahéma Ricci)

    Antoneta is another lover staying in the home, contributing to the crowded, entangled atmosphere. Her presence heightens the mixing of personal boundaries and living arrangements, fueling the drama within the domestic space.

    • 👭 Companionship
    • 🧊 Mystery
    • 🧩 Relationship dynamics
  • Keri (Jessika Mathurin)

    Keri is Paul’s cover girlfriend, introduced with a wig and dress to stir jealousy and push the group toward revelations. Her role embodies the performative, deceptive side of the open-relationship world depicted.

    • 🕶️ Deception
    • 🗣️ Hidden relationship
  • Dr. Ott (Tyrone Benskin)

    Dr. Ott is the school director who oversees Russ’s expulsion and the ensuing tension around responsibility and discipline. He represents the regulating force in the community amid the adults’ chaotic personal lives.

    • 🏫 Authority
    • 🧑‍⚖️ School
    • 🧩 Discipline

Last updated: October 07, 2025 at 13:38

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Setting

Where and When Does Splitsville Take Place?

The setting of Splitsville (2025): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Present day

The events take place in contemporary times, reflecting current relationship norms and social dynamics. Open relationships, jealousy, and social status shape the conflicts and decisions of the adults. The story uses modern settings to explore love, forgiveness, and the complexities of non-traditional partnerships.

Location

Paul and Julie's Beach House, Local School, Carnival Grounds

The story largely unfolds around the sunlit beach house owned by Paul and Julie and the surrounding affluent social circle. Key scenes also shift to a local school where Russ causes trouble, and to a lively carnival that mirrors the couples' volatile dynamics. The setting blends coastal luxury with everyday community spaces, underscoring how the characters’ lives continually intersect.

  • 🏖️ Beach house
  • 💼 Affluent lifestyle
  • 🏫 School
  • 🎡 Carnival

Last updated: October 07, 2025 at 13:38

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3 major themes

Splitsville Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Splitsville (2025) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Love and Jealousy

    The narrative centers on how love can be fragile when jealousy and insecurity surface. It follows Carey, Ashley, Paul, and Julie as desire and mistrust collide, testing the boundaries of commitment. The characters seek connection even as their actions threaten to break apart the family unit. The arc culminates in a fragile reconciliation and a redefined sense of family.

  • Open Relationships

    The open relationship arrangement drives much of the plot and its tensions. Multiple lovers come in and out of the house, creating opportunities for intimacy and conflict alike. Boundaries blur as affection and jealousy intermingle, revealing both the appeal and the risks of non-monogamy. The story uses these dynamics to examine honesty, insecurity, and accountability.

  • Conflict and Forgiveness

    A string of heated confrontations escalates into violent misfires, including fights, jealousy-fueled acts, and reckless behavior. The conflicts test the limits of loyalty within the group and within families. Despite the chaos, the characters seek forgiveness and, by the end, attempt to forge a steadier path forward together.

Last updated: October 07, 2025 at 13:38

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Character & theme questions

Splitsville Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Splitsville (2025): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Splitsville set?

The story takes place around a sunlit beach house owned by Paul and Julie, set within an affluent coastal community. Key scenes also unfold at a local school and a lively carnival, blending luxury living with everyday community spaces.

  • beach house
  • setting
  • location
  • affluent community
  • coastal
Q2

What time period is Splitsville set in?

The film is set in present day, reflecting contemporary relationship norms and social dynamics. The modern setting allows the story to explore current attitudes toward open marriages, jealousy, and social status.

  • present day
  • modern
  • time period
  • contemporary
Q3

What are the main themes in Splitsville?

Splitsville explores three core themes: love and jealousy, open relationships, and conflict and forgiveness. The film examines how non-traditional partnerships test commitment, how boundaries blur between multiple lovers, and whether reconciliation is possible after betrayal.

  • themes
  • love
  • jealousy
  • open relationship
  • forgiveness
  • conflict
Q4

How does Splitsville handle open relationships?

The open marriage arrangement is central to the plot, driving both intimacy and conflict. Multiple lovers come and go from the beach house, creating tension between honesty and insecurity. The film examines both the appeal and risks of non-monogamy without idealizing or condemning it.

  • open marriage
  • non-monogamy
  • relationships
  • boundaries
Q5

Who are the main characters in Splitsville?

The story centers on four main characters: Carey (Kyle Marvin), whose divorce request triggers the events; Ashley (Adria Arjona), his confident wife who advocates for an open marriage; Paul (Michael Angelo Covino), their insecure friend; and Julie (Dada Johnson), Paul's wife who navigates the open relationship with pragmatism.

  • carey
  • ashley
  • paul
  • julie
  • main characters
  • cast
Q6

Who is Carey in Splitsville?

Carey is a volatile, insecure husband whose marriage to Ashley is tested by her push for an open marriage. He fluctuates between tenderness and aggression, and his impulsive actions trigger chaos within the friend group. Despite his mistakes, he remains determined to salvage his family unit.

  • carey
  • kyle marvin
  • husband
  • insecure
  • volatile
Q7

Who is Ashley in Splitsville?

Ashley is a confident, open-minded partner who advocates for an open marriage and explores multiple relationships within their social circle. She drives much of the conflict through her actions but also shows capacity for commitment to building a stable family life with Carey.

  • ashley
  • adria arjona
  • wife
  • confident
  • open-minded
Q8

What is Paul and Julie's relationship like in Splitsville?

Paul and Julie maintain an open marriage that becomes strained when Julie bonds with Carey. Paul is successful but insecure and resentful of shifting dynamics, while Julie navigates the arrangement with pragmatism, seeking to preserve meaningful connections despite the risks.

  • paul
  • julie
  • open marriage
  • relationship
  • jealousy
Q9

What is the tone of Splitsville?

Despite being a comedy, Splitsville has a tense tone driven by constant interpersonal friction and emotional confrontations. The film balances serious themes of betrayal with comedic awkwardness, resulting in a bittersweet emotional landscape that is neither purely tragic nor entirely lighthearted.

  • tone
  • genre
  • comedy
  • tense
  • bittersweet
  • emotional
Q10

Why is the beach house important in Splitsville?

The beach house owned by Paul and Julie serves as the central setting where the open relationship dynamics play out. It represents both luxury and the crowded, entangled atmosphere of shared lives, becoming a revolving door for lovers and a stage for the group's drama.

  • beach house
  • setting
  • home
  • location
Q11

What does Splitsville say about forgiveness?

The film concludes with fragile reconciliation where characters attempt to forge a steadier path forward together. Rather than returning to traditional structures, the characters achieve a redefined sense of family through forgiveness despite ongoing conflict.

  • forgiveness
  • reconciliation
  • ending
  • family
  • resolution

Movie threads

More Movies Like Splitsville, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Splitsville tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Awkward comedies like Splitsville

Comedies where social boundaries are crossed, leading to chaotic and tense situations. If you liked the cringe-worthy humor and relationship turmoil of Splitsville, this list features movies with a similar feel. Find more comedies that explore the chaotic and tense side of friendships and social dynamics through awkward, boundary-pushing scenarios.

  • awkward
  • uncomfortable
  • cringe comedy
  • tense
  • chaotic
  • raw
  • Tone: tense, awkward, uncomfortable
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a group of friends or partners as a single act of social transgression or curiosity sets off a chain reaction of misunderstandings and confrontations. The narrative arc is one of escalating social tension, where characters are forced to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and their relationships.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a unique blend of comedy and genuine interpersonal tension. They focus on the humor found in social anxiety, awkward silences, and the painful process of renegotiating relationships after a foundational trust is broken.

Modern relationship dramedies similar to Splitsville

Blends comedy and drama to explore the complexities of contemporary relationships. For viewers who enjoyed the mix of comedy and serious relationship drama in Splitsville. This collection highlights films that explore complex dynamics like open marriages, divorce, and friendship with a similar bittersweet and realistic approach.

  • bittersweet
  • raw
  • candid
  • complex relationships
  • modern love
  • friendship
  • Tone: bittersweet, raw, candid
  • Pacing: steady, dialogue-focused
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves characters questioning the traditional rules of their relationships, leading to a period of experimentation and turmoil. The journey is one of self-discovery amid emotional chaos, often concluding not with a perfect resolution, but with a hard-won, resilient new normal for the characters.

Why they belong together: These movies are linked by their authentic portrayal of relationship dynamics, using a mix of comedy and drama to examine themes like infidelity, jealousy, and personal growth. They feel modern, conversation-starting, and resonate with viewers seeking stories that reflect the complexities of real-life connections.

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Movies Like Splitsville

Similar movies to Splitsville: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Splitsville (2025) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Splitsville in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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