The Last Sunrise is a glossy Mallorca-set romantic drama led by Maia Reficco and Fernando Lindez. While the film benefits from its gorgeous locations, gentle chemistry and emotional premise, its predictable storytelling prevents the romance from making a lasting impact.
The Last Sunrise Movie Review
There is something immediately appealing about The Last Sunrise. Set against the sun-drenched landscapes of Mallorca, the film has all the ingredients of a classic summer romance: a young woman looking for freedom, a charming local boy, family secrets, complicated relationships and a beautiful destination where everything seems possible.
Directed by Carlson Young and adapted from Anna Todd’s novel of the same name, the romantic drama stars Maia Reficco as Oriah “Ry” Pera, Fernando Lindez as Julián and Eva Longoria as Ry’s protective mother, Isolde. The film premiered on Prime Video on August 26, 2026.
What makes The Last Sunrise interesting is that the romance isn’t the only thing driving the story. Ry is living with a serious chronic illness that has shaped the way she experiences life. Her trip to Mallorca gives her an opportunity to step outside the restrictions that have defined her everyday existence.
Unfortunately, while the film has a promising premise, it doesn’t always know how to turn those ingredients into a truly memorable romantic drama.
A Summer In Mallorca Changes Everything
Ry has spent much of her life dealing with epilepsy and the limitations created by her condition. Her mother, Isolde, is deeply protective of her and wants to make sure that her daughter remains safe.
That protective relationship becomes increasingly complicated when the two travel to Mallorca.
For Ry, the trip represents something more than a holiday. It becomes an opportunity to experience independence and make choices for herself.
Away from home, she meets Julián, a local young man whose family is connected to the land involved in a development project linked to Ry’s mother. Their meeting gradually develops into a romance, but the relationship becomes complicated once the two discover that their families are on opposite sides of a larger conflict.
The setup gives the film several potentially powerful themes: love, independence, illness, family, responsibility and the fear of losing control over your own future.
Yet the screenplay often chooses the easier romantic route instead of fully exploring those ideas.
Maia Reficco Gives The Film Its Emotional Core
Maia Reficco is one of the strongest reasons to stay invested in The Last Sunrise.
Her performance as Ry is restrained rather than overly dramatic. She successfully portrays a young woman who is tired of having other people decide what is best for her, while also understanding why her mother behaves the way she does.
That balance is important because Ry could easily have become a character defined entirely by her medical condition. Instead, Reficco gives her personality, curiosity and a desire to experience life beyond the boundaries placed around her.
The film works particularly well when it allows Ry to simply be a young woman discovering new experiences rather than turning every moment into a dramatic statement about her illness.
Her performance also gives some emotional weight to the mother-daughter conflict.
Fernando Lindez Brings Charm As Julián
Fernando Lindez plays Julián, the local boy who becomes Ry’s romantic interest.
Julián is designed to be the kind of character audiences expect to find in a summer romance: charming, attractive, relaxed and closely connected to the world around him.
Lindez brings an easygoing quality to the role, and his scenes with Reficco are among the film’s most enjoyable moments.
The relationship between Ry and Julián works best when the film keeps things simple. Their conversations, teasing and exploration of Mallorca create a pleasant sense of youthful discovery.
However, the screenplay doesn’t always give Julián enough depth outside his relationship with Ry. His family circumstances and the conflict surrounding the land are important to the plot, but these elements are not explored with the same care as the romance.
As a result, the chemistry between the two leads often does more work than the writing.
Eva Longoria Adds Depth To The Mother-Daughter Conflict
Eva Longoria plays Isolde, Ry’s mother, and the character provides one of the film’s more interesting emotional conflicts.
Isolde is not simply an overbearing parent. Her protectiveness comes from genuine fear for her daughter’s health. At the same time, Ry’s frustration is understandable because she wants the freedom to make decisions about her own life.
That makes their conflict more complicated than a simple rebellious-daughter-versus-strict-mother storyline.
Longoria gives Isolde a grounded quality, particularly in scenes where her character’s fears become clearer. The mother-daughter relationship arguably has enough material to support an entire emotional drama of its own.
The problem is that the film sometimes moves too quickly through these moments instead of allowing them to develop naturally.
Mallorca Is The Film’s Biggest Visual Attraction
If there is one element of The Last Sunrise that consistently works, it is Mallorca.
The film makes full use of its Mediterranean setting, with beaches, bright sunlight, narrow streets and scenic coastal locations creating the perfect backdrop for a summer romance.
The production was filmed in Mallorca, including locations such as Sa Fortaleza de Pollença, while a beach sequence was shot at Cala Macarella on Menorca.
These locations give the film an inviting holiday atmosphere.
There is a genuine feeling of freedom when Ry begins exploring the island and spending time away from the restrictions of her usual life.
But the beautiful setting also exposes one of the film’s weaknesses. Mallorca looks spectacular, yet the location sometimes feels more like a postcard than a fully developed part of the story.
The Romance Is Sweet But Familiar
At the centre of the movie is the relationship between Ry and Julián.
Their attraction develops fairly quickly, which is typical of the genre, and the film relies on familiar romantic beats to move their relationship forward.
There is enough charm between Reficco and Lindez to make their scenes watchable, but the screenplay doesn’t always provide enough emotional development to make their romance deeply affecting.
Several critics have similarly noted the film’s predictable structure and underdeveloped conflicts, although some reviews have praised the leads’ sincerity and the film’s straightforward approach.
That difference in critical reaction is telling. The Last Sunrise seems likely to work better for viewers who want a gentle, uncomplicated romantic story than for those expecting a deeply layered drama.
The Film’s Health Storyline Has Potential
Ry’s illness gives The Last Sunrise a more serious foundation than a standard holiday romance.
Her health affects almost every part of her life, including her relationship with her mother and her ability to make decisions about her future.
The film also deals with a difficult medical choice involving treatment and the possibility of surgery, giving Ry a meaningful internal conflict: whether to prioritize safety or take greater control over her life.
This is potentially the most emotionally powerful aspect of the story.
However, the movie does not always spend enough time with these questions. Some critics felt that the health storyline and its emotional consequences were not explored deeply enough, while others appreciated the film’s quieter approach to Ry’s condition.
The result is a storyline that feels important but occasionally underwritten.
Family Conflict Adds Another Layer
The romance becomes more complicated because of the connection between Ry’s mother and Julián’s family.
Isolde’s business interests involve land connected to Julián’s family, creating a conflict that threatens to come between the young couple.
This could have given the film a stronger dramatic engine, particularly because the conflict involves questions of family, business and the future of Mallorca.
Instead, the subplot largely functions as a familiar obstacle for the romance.
The film introduces potentially interesting ideas about development and the impact of business interests on local communities, but it doesn’t explore them in enough depth to make them truly resonate.
A Visually Attractive But Predictable Story
The biggest problem with The Last Sunrise is not that it is badly made.
It is that the film rarely surprises.
The basic trajectory of the romance is easy to anticipate, and several emotional conflicts unfold in ways audiences familiar with young-adult romance will recognize.
That predictability does not necessarily make the movie unpleasant. In fact, it may be part of its appeal.
The film knows exactly what kind of experience it wants to provide: a scenic, emotional and accessible summer romance.
For viewers looking for something light, that can be enough.
But audiences expecting the illness storyline, family conflict and romance to come together into something more substantial may find the film frustratingly safe.
Performances Keep The Film Watchable
Despite the screenplay’s limitations, the performances prevent The Last Sunrise from becoming completely forgettable.
Reficco gives Ry enough vulnerability and personality to make the character easy to root for.
Lindez brings charm to Julián and gives the romance a relaxed energy.
Longoria provides a stronger dramatic presence as Isolde, particularly in the film’s mother-daughter scenes.
The supporting cast, including Andrés Velencoso and Chloé Sweetlove, also helps flesh out the Mallorca setting.
The film’s strongest scenes are therefore not necessarily the big dramatic moments. They are the quieter sequences where the characters interact naturally and the story allows the performances to breathe.
Does The Last Sunrise Deliver?
That depends largely on what you expect from it.
As a summer romance, The Last Sunrise has plenty going for it. The locations are beautiful, the leads are appealing and the story has an emotional foundation that gives it more substance than a purely escapist love story.
But as a drama about illness, independence and difficult family choices, it doesn’t always go far enough.
The movie repeatedly approaches more complicated ideas before returning to familiar romantic territory.
That makes it pleasant but somewhat limited.
The Last Sunrise Movie Review: Final Verdict
The Last Sunrise is a charming but uneven summer romance.
Maia Reficco and Fernando Lindez bring enough warmth and chemistry to keep the central relationship engaging, while Eva Longoria adds emotional weight to the mother-daughter conflict. Mallorca provides the kind of gorgeous backdrop that makes the film feel like a cinematic holiday.
But beneath the beautiful scenery and romantic atmosphere, the story remains fairly familiar.
The film’s biggest missed opportunity is its inability to fully explore its strongest ideas. Ry’s health, her desire for independence, her relationship with her mother and the conflict between their families could have created a much more affecting story.
Instead, The Last Sunrise settles for being a pleasant and easy watch.
Verdict: A glossy, heartfelt and scenic romance that is enjoyable in the moment, even if it doesn’t quite stay with you after the credits.
The Last Sunrise FAQ
What is The Last Sunrise about?
The Last Sunrise follows Ry, a young woman living with a serious chronic health condition, who travels to Mallorca with her protective mother. During the trip, she meets Julián, a local young man, and the two fall in love while family and personal conflicts threaten their relationship.
Who stars in The Last Sunrise?
The film stars Maia Reficco as Ry, Fernando Lindez as Julián and Eva Longoria as Ry’s mother, Isolde. Andrés Velencoso and Chloé Sweetlove also appear in supporting roles.
Who directed The Last Sunrise?
The Last Sunrise was directed by Carlson Young and adapted from Anna Todd’s novel of the same name.
Where can I watch The Last Sunrise?
The Last Sunrise is available to stream on Prime Video from August 26, 2026.
Is The Last Sunrise based on a book?
Yes. The movie is based on Anna Todd’s novel The Last Sunrise. Todd, who is also known for the After franchise, is among the producers of the film.
Is The Last Sunrise worth watching?
If you enjoy young-adult romances, beautiful holiday locations and emotional relationship dramas, The Last Sunrise is an easy one-time watch. Its strongest elements are the Mallorca setting and performances from Maia Reficco, Fernando Lindez and Eva Longoria. However, viewers looking for a more unpredictable or deeply developed romantic drama may find it too familiar.
