Sweethearts (2024) ending explained: Do Ben and Jamie get together in the end? 

Sweethearts, a 2024 American romantic comedy, debuted on November 28 on Max. Directed by Jordan Weiss and co-written by Weiss and Dan Brier, the Max Original film was produced by New Line Cinema and Picturestart.

The movie stars Kiernan Shipka, Christine Taylor, and Miles Gutierrez-Riley. It follows college freshmen Ben and Jamie, who end their relationships with their high school darlings during "Drunksgiving," the chaotic night before Thanksgiving in their hometown. As they face the breakup, their codependent friendship faces unexpected challenges.

The childhood best friends Ben and Jamie struggle with their feelings toward their respective partners, Simon and Claire. After breaking up with them, they begin exploring adulthood together. In the end, the two main characters do not end up as a couple. This affirms their bond as lifelong best friends rather than romantic partners.

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Why Ben and Jamie don’t end up together in Sweethearts

Nico Hiraga as Ben and Kiernan Shipka as Jamie in Sweethearts (Image via Max)

In the ending of Sweethearts, Ben and Jamie remain best friends rather than becoming a couple. The film addresses societal assumptions that close friendships between men and women are unusual unless romantic or s*xual. This notion is highlighted in the movie through jokes and comments suggesting men and women can’t simply be friends without wanting more.

The story begins with Jamie and Ben, childhood best friends and first-year college students, who initially try to maintain relationships with their high school lovers, Simon and Claire. However, after a chaotic party, they realize they are unhappy in their romantic relationships and decide to break up with their partners.

While Ben and Jamie briefly explore the possibility of becoming more than friends by sharing a kiss, they quickly discover it doesn’t feel right. The film concludes with the two reaffirming their friendship instead of pursuing romance. This theme of the movie also challenges the belief that male-female friendships must lead to something more.

Screen Rant notes that the ending emphasizes the value of platonic love and portrays it as equally important to romantic relationships.

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How does this decision shape Ben and Jamie’s future in Sweethearts?

Sweethearts starring Nico Hiraga as Ben and Kiernan Shipka as Jamie challenges conventional love (Image via Max)

Sweethearts highlights that platonic love can be just as meaningful as romantic relationships. By choosing to remain best friends, Ben and Jamie strengthen their bond. They set healthy boundaries and build deeper trust in their friendship moving forward.

Director Weiss told Decider that not all love stories follow conventional paths. She explained that the movie is a love story about two platonic best friends. It shows that friendships can be as valid and impactful as romantic connections.

The film can be considered an anti-romance romantic comedy, according to Decider. The story is also inspired by the platonic friendship between Weiss and her co-writer, Brier. Weiss said that Dan is her real best friend and shared that the film reimagines what their bond might have looked like if they had met during their younger selves instead of in their 20s.

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Does the When Harry Met Sally... reference foreshadow the ending?

The new rom-com is an antithesis to When Harry Met Sally... (Image via Columbia Pictures)

In a sense, yes. In the film, there’s a scene where Ben’s mother watches When Harry Met Sally... The classic rom-com explores the idea that men and women can’t just be friends without romance or sex complicating things.

Based on the director’s interview regarding unconventional love, this reference can be a contrast to Ben and Jamie’s story, which challenges that notion. Their relationship shows that male-female friendships don’t have to follow conventional expectations and can remain purely platonic.

Don’t miss Sweethearts now streaming on Max. This new romantic comedy film explores the ups and downs of love, friendship, and self-discovery and premiered on November 28.