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Tom’s Guide
Technology
Brittany Vincent

I'm still shook by this unpredictable romance movie — stream it now on Paramount Plus

Emmy Rossum and Justin Long in Comet.

If you're a romance buff, sometimes you want to see a movie that isn't content to neatly wrap things up. If you’re bored with predictable romances and want something that cuts deep, it's time to queue up the criminally overlooked "Comet" on Paramount Plus.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

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This 2014 indie from "Mr. Robot" creator Sam Esmail looks like a standard love story for about 10 seconds, and then it switches gears to evolve into an alternate reality tale of a six-year relationship told out of order, giving you a look at an ultimately doomed couple's timeline in every universe.

It jumps between timelines, realities and emotional peaks, and it never stops shifting. There's a lot of it to appreciate for normal romance fans, but it also crosses the line into surrealism in a satisfying way. It's also a movie that you won't hear much about in popular circles, so you'll be watching something that still feels quite unknown. Here's everything you should know about "Comet," streaming now on Paramount Plus.

What is ‘Comet’ about?

Dell (Justin Long) is a cynical but quick-witted guy whose entire life changes the moment he meets Kimberly (Emmy Rossum) during a meteor shower. They may connect instantly, but their relationship is anything but linear. As "Comet" proceeds afterward, their story jumps between possible versions of their lives together.

In some moments, they’re inseparable. In others, it's pretty clear that they aren't especially a good match for each other. But they go through many emotional highs and lows, making this movie often a challenging watch. One version of Dell and Kimberly might be arguing in a Paris hotel room, while another version meets for the first time all over again. It's pretty beautiful, actually.

As the film showcases these different universes for the pair, you slowly see the full picture of who they are together and why they can’t seem to let each other go. And if you've ever been in a relationship that's rocky but feels like destiny, you'll understand why it is they keep trying.

Why you should stream ‘Comet' on Paramount Plus

There’s no shortage of predictable romances on streaming services. In fact, most of the movies you can find on Paramount Plus, Netflix, etc., are like that. But "Comet" isn’t one of those. It's not interested in giving you anything clean that wraps up in an hour and a half, and that's part of what makes it exciting.

(Image credit: IFC Films)

That might make it a difficult watch for many as it jumps through alternate realities, timelines, and emotional states without warning, and it expects you to keep up. That could frustrate some viewers. But for people who want something different, that kind of storytelling is exactly the appeal.

"Comet" is doing something smarter than it first appears. It explores how memory works, how love changes, and how two people can keep colliding in ways that feel cosmic even when they’re completely wrong for each other.

If you’re tired of romances that feel tailor-made for Hallmark moments, "Comet" is a genuine shake-up. It’s strange, intimate, and poignant. And it's a hidden gem you might never find without being told it exists.

Stream "Comet" on Paramount Plus

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