Before Jacob Elordi became the global star of Saltburn, Priscilla and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, he starred in 2 Hearts — a quiet, intimate romantic drama that has quietly grown into a sleeper hit on Netflix. Today, the movie is finding new life, not just because of Elordi’s rising profile — but for a sweeping story that spans generations and continents. Well, two stories actually — one set in the vibrant world of college life, the other shaped by tradition, business, and family duty. What connects them is not just fate, but the profound weight of choices that ripple across lives.
At the center are Chris, played by Jacob Elordi, and Jorge, portrayed by Adan Canto, whose journeys reveal unexpected intersections that challenge ideas of destiny and sacrifice. 2 Hearts doesn’t just tell a love story — it poses timeless questions about how deeply our decisions can alter the course of others’ lives. Here’s everything you need to know about 2 Hearts — from the plot and cast to reviews and streaming availability.
While the film received a modest reception back in 2020, it’s now enjoying a resurgence thanks to its success on streaming and the undeniable appeal of Jacob Elordi, who became an international star after Euphoria and Saltburn. [Watch the trailer below]
See also ► Secrets, power, and family ties: why Netflix’s House of Guinness is sparking conversations
2 Hearts – All You Need to Know
- Original title: 2 Hearts
- Genre: Romantic drama
- Country of production: United States
- Original language: English
- Year of production: 2020
- Duration: Approximately 100 minutes
- Director: Lance Hool
- Main cast: Jacob Elordi, Adan Canto, Radha Mitchell, Tiera Skovbye
- Production: Silver Lions Films, WAM Films
- Netflix release date: 2024 (US catalog)
What happens in 2 Hearts?
Two stories. Two eras. Two romances. Chris (Jacob Elordi) is an idealistic college student who falls for Sam (Tiera Skovbye), an independent and vibrant young woman he meets on campus. Their connection is filled with youthful hope, excitement, and dreams of a future together.
Meanwhile, Jorge (Adan Canto), a driven entrepreneur coping with serious health challenges, meets Leslie (Radha Mitchell), a strong-willed and compassionate woman. Their relationship is more mature, built on the awareness that time is precious. These two stories unfold on parallel paths until fate reveals the hidden connection between them.
See also ► Netflix Secret Codes: Discover the hidden menu to unlock hundreds of hidden titles
Jacob Elordi at the center of the cast
Watching 2 Hearts today means watching Jacob Elordi before he became one of the most unmistakable faces of his generation. His rise has been extraordinary: Saltburn turned him into an international sex symbol, Priscilla proved he could deliver a layered, unsettling performance even in a film that didn’t dominate the box office, and Frankenstein has now cemented him as a global star — topping Netflix’s charts for over a week and remaining in the Top 10 for 17 days (you can read more in our review of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein on Netflix).
In 2 Hearts, Elordi is still at the beginning of that trajectory, but the emotional intelligence of his performance as Chris already hints at the actor he would become. He brings sincerity, warmth, and vulnerability to a role that gains even more weight when viewed through the lens of his later success.
He is joined by a strong supporting cast that anchors the film’s two intertwined love stories:
Adan Canto (Jorge) — known for Designated Survivor, Narcos and X-Men: Days of Future Past — delivers one of his most heartfelt performances, giving Jorge both drive and fragility. Radha Mitchell (Leslie), the Australian actress seen in Man on Fire, Silent Hill, High Art and Olympus Has Fallen, brings emotional depth and strength to the more mature relationship at the heart of the story. Tiera Skovbye (Sam), familiar to younger audiences for Riverdale, Nurses and Once Upon a Time, adds brightness and warmth, embodying the spontaneity and hope of first love.
Together, they form the emotional core of a romance that spans generations — but it’s Elordi’s early star power that makes the film resonate so strongly with today’s audience.
What critics say about the 2 Hearts
2 Hearts is one of those films where critics and audiences seemed to have very different reactions. While many reviews dismissed it as overly sentimental, viewers discovered something far more affecting: a sincere, emotionally charged story that stays with them.
For a large part of the audience, the film’s power lies in its humanity. People describe it as emotional, heartbreaking and beautifully told — a true “sleeper hit” that they ended up watching more than once. Many say they went in expecting a light romantic drama and were completely blindsided by the twist, moved to tears by the way the two stories eventually collide.
The fact that it’s inspired by a true story only amplifies that impact. Viewers talk about how the film made them think about family, gratitude and the fragility of life, calling it painful and beautiful at the same time. In short, where some critics saw melodrama, audiences saw meaning — and their enthusiasm is what continues to push 2 Hearts back into the spotlight.
See also ► The steamy side of Netflix: unlock the hidden codes for the sexiest movies
Is 2 Hearts based on a true story?
Yes, the movie is inspired by a true story chronicled in the book All My Tomorrows by Eric Gregory, which explores how organ donation changed his life forever.
