You know that feeling when you're staring at a box of old movie tickets and a dried rose from three years ago wondering if you’re a hoarder or just sentimental? That’s basically the soul of this movie. If you want to watch The Broken Hearts Gallery, you're probably looking for that specific brand of comfort that only a New York City-set romantic comedy can provide. It’s got that snappy, fast-talking energy we haven't seen much of since the early 2000s.
Honestly, it’s refreshing.
Lucy Gulliver, played by the incredibly charismatic Geraldine Viswanathan, is a professional "gallarist" (or at least she wants to be) who gets dumped and loses her job in the same night. We've all been in that spiral. Instead of just crying into a pint of ice cream, she starts an art gallery in a hotel lobby dedicated to the items people keep from failed relationships. Think of it like a museum for your emotional baggage.
How to Find a Stream for The Broken Hearts Gallery Right Now
Finding where to watch the film depends entirely on which subscriptions you're currently paying for. As of early 2026, licensing deals for Sony Pictures titles—which produced this gem through Stage 6 Films—tend to bounce around a bit.
For a long time, Starz was the primary home for this movie because of their long-standing deal with Sony. However, that landscape has shifted. Currently, you can most reliably find it on Hulu if you have the right add-ons, or occasionally on Netflix depending on your specific region’s library updates.
If you don't want to play the "is it on my service this month" game, digital retailers are the way to go. You can grab it on:
- Apple TV (iTunes)
- Amazon Prime Video
- Google Play Movies
- Vudu (Fandango at Home)
Most of these platforms offer a rental for around $3.99, which is cheaper than a latte and honestly more emotionally satisfying. If you’re a physical media nerd, the Blu-ray is still floating around, though it’s becoming one of those "hidden" titles that people trade in more often than they buy new.
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Why This Movie Hit Differently During the Pandemic
Released in September 2020, this was one of the first movies to try and bring people back to theaters when the world felt like it was ending. Executive produced by Selena Gomez, it had a lot of weight on its shoulders. It didn’t break box office records—mostly because half the theaters in the country were closed—but it found a massive second life on streaming.
It’s a "vibe" movie.
Director Natalie Krinsky spent years trying to get this made. It was her directorial debut, and you can tell she poured a decade of NYC dating frustrations into the script. The dialogue doesn't feel like it was written by a committee of 50-year-old men trying to sound like Gen Z. It feels real. It’s messy.
The chemistry between Viswanathan and Dacre Montgomery (who you definitely recognize as the mulleted Billy from Stranger Things) is the anchor. Montgomery plays Nick, a guy trying to build a boutique hotel who is as cynical as Lucy is optimistic. It’s a classic trope, sure, but they make it feel lived-in. When you watch The Broken Hearts Gallery, pay attention to their banter in the car; it’s mostly improvised or tweaked on the fly, and it shows.
The Real-Life Inspiration Behind the Gallery Concept
Believe it or not, the "Broken Relationship Museum" isn't just a screenwriting invention. There is a real Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb, Croatia. It started as a traveling exhibition and eventually found a permanent home. People donate everything from wedding dresses to axes (yes, an axe used to smash furniture after a breakup).
Krinsky’s film takes that high-concept idea and makes it accessible. In the movie, the gallery becomes a community hub. It’s located in Nick’s under-construction hotel, "The Chloe."
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The set design is actually one of the best parts of the film. Production designer Shane Vieau—who won an Oscar for The Shape of Water—had to make sure the art looked like actual heartbreak and not just a pile of trash. Each item in the gallery has a little tag explaining its history. It makes you realize that everyone is carrying around a weird little piece of someone else.
Beyond the Romance: A Love Letter to New York
Most rom-coms treat NYC like a postcard. Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building. Boring.
This movie treats it like a neighborhood. It focuses on the Brooklyn-Queens vibe. The bars feel sticky. The apartments look like three people actually live there and share one bathroom. It’s the version of the city that people who actually live there recognize.
The supporting cast also deserves a shout-out. Molly Gordon and Phillipa Soo (from the original Hamilton cast!) play Lucy’s roommates. Their dynamic is the highlight for many viewers. They provide the "Greek chorus" of dating advice that is actually funny rather than cringey.
Why the Critics Were Split
The movie holds a respectable 79% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics generally loved the lead performance but some felt the "quirkiness" was a bit high-volume.
- The Pro-Lucy Side: People loved the representation of a lead actress of South Asian descent in a role that wasn't about her ethnicity. It was just a girl in love.
- The Skeptics: Some felt it followed the When Harry Met Sally blueprint a little too closely.
Honestly? Who cares if it follows a blueprint if the house is built well? Sometimes you just want a movie that promises a happy ending and delivers it with a good soundtrack.
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How to Host a Broken Hearts Viewing Night
If you’re planning to watch The Broken Hearts Gallery with friends, don’t just hit play. Make it an event.
First, the snacks. In the movie, Lucy is big on comfort food. Get some good pizza. Second, have everyone bring one "relic" from a past relationship. A concert ticket, a hoodie you "forgot" to return, a weird souvenir. Put them on a shelf. Talk about why you’re keeping them. It sounds cheesy, but after watching the movie, it actually feels pretty cathartic.
The film is rated PG-13, mostly for some language and suggestive references, so it’s pretty safe for a wide range of audiences. It’s not a "chick flick"—it’s a movie about the physical weight of memory.
The Actionable Takeaway: Managing Your Own Gallery
Watching Lucy curate her gallery might make you look at your own closet differently. We all have that "ex box."
According to various psychologists, including those who have studied the real Museum of Broken Relationships, the act of "externalizing" a memory—placing a physical object somewhere else—can actually help the brain process grief. You aren't throwing the memory away; you're just not carrying it in your pocket anymore.
Here is what you should do after the credits roll:
- Audit your "relics": Look at that one item you’ve been keeping. Does it bring you joy, or is it just a tether to a version of yourself that doesn't exist anymore?
- The "Donate" Rule: If an object is causing more "ow" than "aw," it’s time to let it go. If it’s high-quality (like that expensive watch or the leather jacket), sell it and use the money for a "New Me" fund.
- Check out the soundtrack: The music in this film is top-tier. Artists like Selena Gomez, Tegan and Sara, and even some deeper indie cuts make it a great playlist for a rainy Sunday.
- Support the leads: If you liked Geraldine Viswanathan here, go watch Hala or Blockers. She’s one of the most underrated talents in Hollywood right now.
The Broken Hearts Gallery isn't just a movie you watch once and forget. It’s a reminder that being "sentimental" isn't a weakness. It just means you were brave enough to care about something in the first place. Whether you stream it on a platform or buy it for your permanent digital collection, it’s a solid 100 minutes of escapism that actually has something to say about how we move on.
Go find your "Chloe," even if it’s currently under construction.