Photo Credit: The Materialists' official page
The internet never rests&mdash;and neither do the trends. The latest to take over TikTok and Instagram is the viral &ldquo;Bare Minimum vs. Princess Treatment&rdquo; discourse. It&rsquo;s no longer just about memes and story times; it&rsquo;s about shining a light on the stark contrast between low-effort romantic behavior and genuine, consistent care, especially in how men treat women in relationships.
And now, this trend has made its way to the big screen.
In The Materialists (2025), directed by Celine Song and starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal, the concept is cleverly embodied in the love triangle at the heart of the story. Two very different men fight for Lucy&rsquo;s heart and unknowingly represent the two sides of this viral trend.
Bare Minimum: John (Chris Evans) The term bare minimum refers to a person doing just enough to keep a relationship afloat&mdash;no more, no less. These are the &ldquo;I texted back; what more do you want?&rdquo; types. They show occasional attention and minimal effort and expect praise for simply not disappearing. It's basic decency disguised as love.
John is Lucy&rsquo;s ex-boyfriend, a struggling actor working as a waiter. He does love her&mdash;but his love lacks structure, future planning and emotional clarity. He often reacts only when Lucy pulls away, stepping up at the last moment instead of showing consistent commitment. His version of love depends more on Lucy&rsquo;s loyalty than on his own effort.
He&rsquo;s not a villain&mdash;but he represents the partner who coasts emotionally, offering affection only when it&rsquo;s convenient or when he senses he&rsquo;s losing her.
Princess Treatment: Harry (Pedro Pascal) Princess treatment means being cherished, respected and thoughtfully cared for. It&rsquo;s not about spoiling someone with money (though that may be part of it)&mdash;it&rsquo;s about consistent, meaningful gestures that say, &ldquo;You matter.&rdquo; Think: planning thoughtful dates, actively listening, remembering your preferences, offering comfort when you're down and making you feel like a priority.
Harry is the opposite of John. He&rsquo;s a charming, successful financier with a luxurious lifestyle, yes&mdash;but more importantly, he treats Lucy with intention. He listens, gives her space, respects her independence and never tries to control or belittle her. His attention is steady and his actions are filled with emotional security and warmth.
Harry offers the kind of love that makes a woman feel like she&rsquo;s the star of her own movie.
<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yGEpn26hzwU" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>&nbsp;
The Core Contrast: John: Emotionally sincere but inconsistent. Lacks stability, direction and proactive care. Harry: Emotionally present and materially generous. Offers security, romance and mature affection.
In the end, the film doesn&rsquo;t just ask who Lucy should choose&mdash;it invites us to ask what kind of love we truly want.
Why Did This Trend Blow Up?
Women are raising their standards: many are realizing they&rsquo;ve accepted emotional crumbs for far too long.
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@habibasaleh_/video/7505407536514862343" data-video-id="7505407536514862343">
<section><a title="@habibasaleh_" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@habibasaleh_?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@habibasaleh_</a>
hasa eny mehtaga atkhane2 m3ah bardo
<a title="♬ original sound - Habiba" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7505407568060107536?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound - Habiba</a></section>
</blockquote>
 Social media reveals what others are getting: it&rsquo;s easier than ever to compare relationships and notice the gaps.
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@marieliroy/video/7514873032658193669" data-video-id="7514873032658193669">
<section><a title="@marieliroy" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@marieliroy?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@marieliroy</a>
Conclusion j'ai un 
<a title="♬ original sound - Marie-Li Roy" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7514873059188837125?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound - Marie-Li Roy</a></section>
</blockquote>
 Empowerment is in: the trend fits perfectly within a wider cultural shift towards self-worth, emotional boundaries and not settling for &ldquo;just enough.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@fatiimahassan7/video/7314398714951372034" data-video-id="7314398714951372034">
<section><a title="@fatiimahassan7" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@fatiimahassan7?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@fatiimahassan7</a> <a title="princesstreatment" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/princesstreatment?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#princesstreatment</a> <a title="♬ original sound - Nik Izzuddin Omary - Omary Nik" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-Nik-Izzuddin-Omary-7243467753352022786?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound - Nik Izzuddin Omary - Omary Nik</a></section>
</blockquote>
 If you&rsquo;ve ever found yourself wondering whether you're getting the love you deserve or just the bare minimum, The Materialists might just give you the answer in cinematic form.
&nbsp;

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