If you were on the internet in 2012, you probably remember the chokehold The First Time had on a very specific corner of the fandom world. It wasn't just the movie—which was this charming, fast-talking indie rom-com—but the fact that the two leads actually started dating in real life. Dylan O’Brien and Britt Robertson weren't your typical "paparazzi-walk-in-NYC" couple. They were the low-key blueprint.
They stayed together for six years. In Hollywood time, that’s basically a lifetime.
When they finally split in 2018, it wasn’t a massive, explosive tabloid scandal. It was more of a quiet fading out that left fans scouring Instagram for clues. Honestly, looking back at it now from 2026, their relationship feels like a relic of a different era of celebrity—before everything was lived-streamed and TikTok-analyzed to death.
The Alleyway Meeting That Started It All
The origin story is literally scripted. They met on the set of The First Time in 2011. Dylan was playing Dave, a kid practicing a confession speech in an alleyway, and Britt was Aubrey, the girl who interrupts him. The chemistry was so thick you could practically feel it through the screen.
Britt later admitted in interviews that their first on-screen kiss was actually kind of terrible. She told Hollywire she was so nervous she didn't feel good about it, and they had to re-shoot the whole thing the next day. Clearly, they figured it out.
By the time the movie premiered in 2012, they were a full-blown item.
But they didn't do the red carpet PDA thing. They were notoriously private. While other teen stars were selling their "first dates" to magazines, Dylan and Britt were just... living. Dylan was becoming a massive star through Teen Wolf and The Maze Runner, and Britt was leading shows like Life Unexpected and movies like Tomorrowland.
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The Accident That Tested Everything
If you want to know how serious they were, you have to look at 2016. That was the year Dylan had his horrific accident on the set of The Maze Runner: The Death Cure. He was run over by a vehicle during a stunt gone wrong, suffering a "concussion, facial fracture, and lacerations."
It was a dark time. He vanished from the public eye to recover, and there were genuine fears he might never act again.
Britt was the one who pulled him through.
Dylan later told People that she was a "saint." She was in Vancouver filming when she got the call, and she basically dropped everything to get to his hospital bed. He credited his parents and Britt for his recovery, saying she was with him every single step of the way when he was at his most fragile—mentally and physically.
That kind of bond doesn't just happen. It’s why fans were so convinced they were "endgame."
Why Did Dylan O’Brien and Britt Robertson Actually Break Up?
So, what went wrong?
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There wasn't one specific "cheating scandal" or dramatic blowout. In late 2018, Us Weekly confirmed they had split after six years. The rumors had been bubbling for months because they hadn't been seen together, but Dylan had actually shut them down earlier that year by joking about his "girlfriend" not leaving him despite his scraggly American Assassin beard.
The timeline got messy when Dylan was spotted out with Chloë Grace Moretz in August 2018. They were seen leaving The Nice Guy in LA. Since Dylan and Britt were so private, nobody knew if they were already broken up or if this was the cause.
Shortly after, Britt was linked to her For the People co-star Graham Rogers.
The most likely reality? They grew apart. They met when they were basically kids—21 and 22—and spent their entire twenties together. Britt once mentioned in an interview with Brit + Co that the secret to their longevity was "communication" and "talking about everything," but she also noted how hard it was with their careers taking them to different corners of the world constantly.
Long distance is a killer, even for "saints."
Where Are They Now in 2026?
It’s been years since the split, and both have moved on in very different ways.
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- Britt Robertson: She’s continued to be a workhorse in the industry. She’s also found personal stability; she got married to Paul Floyd in 2023. It was a beautiful, low-key ceremony (very on-brand for her) attended by friends like Phoebe Tonkin.
- Dylan O’Brien: Dylan remains the internet’s favorite "unproblematic king." Professionally, he’s evolved from the YA heartthrob into a respected character actor, with 2026 seeing the release of his latest project, The Disappearance at Lakewood Manor. Dating-wise, he’s been linked to a few people, including model Rachael Lange, but he keeps his private life locked down tighter than ever.
What We Can Learn From Their Six-Year Run
Looking back at the Dylan O’Brien and Britt Robertson era, it’s a lesson in how to handle a high-profile breakup with actual class.
There were no "tell-all" songs. No shady Instagram captions. No "sources close to the couple" leaking nasty details to TMZ. They respected what they had enough to let it stay private even after it ended.
If you're still mourning this couple, here is the takeaway:
- Chemistry can be real, but people change. Meeting at 21 is different from being 27. It’s okay for a relationship to be "successful" even if it doesn't last forever. Six years is a huge success.
- Privacy is a choice. You don't owe the internet a play-by-play of your heartbreak.
- Support systems matter. Britt being there for Dylan after his accident is a reminder that the best partners are the ones who show up when the "glamour" of Hollywood disappears and things get ugly and painful.
The "Brylan" era might be over, but for a generation of fans, The First Time will always be a time capsule of two people who really, truly liked each other before the world got in the way.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to revisit their chemistry, skip the tabloid archives and go watch The First Time. It’s still one of the most authentic portrayals of teenage awkwardness ever filmed, largely because the sparks between Dylan and Britt weren't just acting—they were the real deal.