Long after the credits rolled, long after theaters emptied, and long after the franchise officially wrapped, After We Collided still sits at the center of one of internet culture’s most passionate love–hate debates. Is Hardin Scott toxic? Is Tessa too forgiving? Is their chemistry irresistible? Are their problems relatable? The answer to all four questions is yes — and that’s exactly why the film continues to dominate romantic drama conversations in 2025.
When After We Collided premiered, critics were divided. Some dismissed it as melodramatic. Others said it was too emotional, too messy, too intense. What they failed to understand was this: emotional chaos is exactly what the viewers came for. The film isn’t meant to be perfect — it’s meant to be human.
Hardin and Tessa’s relationship mirrors the reality that love is sometimes not soft or gentle. Sometimes it’s overwhelming, confusing, and incredibly difficult. And for millions of viewers around the world, seeing those imperfections on screen felt refreshing.
Hero Fiennes Tiffin brings a kind of vulnerability that few young actors can deliver. Hardin is broken, angry, and self-destructive — but his desire to become better is what carries the emotional weight of the film. Meanwhile, Josephine Langford shines as a woman rediscovering her own strength. Tessa’s journey in this film is not about saving Hardin; it’s about saving herself.
This balance — darkness and light, destruction and healing — is what made After We Collided the standout chapter of the franchise. And perhaps most importantly, the fandom has never stopped fueling its momentum. Every day, thousands of new edits, fanfics, quotes, and aesthetic boards appear online, keeping the story alive. In many ways, the fans have extended the life of the film far beyond its runtime.
As Thanksgiving and the holiday season arrive, the film becomes a comfort ritual for many:
A rewatch with friends, a late-night emotional escape, a reminder of a time when love felt all-consuming. No matter how many years pass, one thing seems certain — After We Collided is not fading. It has cemented itself as a modern romance cult classic.
