Netflix greenlights crypto-themed romantic comedy
Netflix has announced production on a new comedy film that tackles a very real problem in the cryptocurrency world. The streaming service revealed that Jennifer Garner will star in “One Attempt Remaining,” a film about an ex-couple who must recover the password to their crypto wallet before their account expires.
The premise feels almost too familiar for anyone who’s dabbled in digital assets. You know that sinking feeling when you can’t remember where you wrote down your seed phrase? This film takes that anxiety and wraps it in a romantic comedy package.
The plot hits close to home
According to Netflix’s description, the story follows a divorced couple who discover that cryptocurrency they won together on a cruise years ago is now worth millions. The catch? They’ve forgotten the password needed to access the funds. With only three days left before the account expires, they must retrace their steps from that night to figure out the password.
But it’s not just about the money. The platform says the journey also forces them to rediscover why they fell in love in the first place. It’s that classic rom-com setup, but with a very modern, very stressful twist.
Kay Cannon, who directed “Blockers,” will helm the project. Garner will also produce alongside Shawn Levy and Dan Levine for 21 Laps, and Nicole King for Linden Productions. No release date has been announced yet.
Real-world parallels
What makes this film interesting, I think, is how it mirrors actual crypto horror stories. There are documented cases of people losing access to fortunes because of forgotten passwords or misplaced hardware wallets.
Stefan Thomas, the former CTO of Ripple, famously lost the password to an IronKey device containing the private key for a wallet with 7,002 Bitcoin. That’s worth hundreds of millions today. James Howells accidentally threw away a hard drive with the private key for 8,000 Bitcoin. His story is apparently getting its own screen adaptation too.
These aren’t hypothetical situations. They’re real losses that have happened to real people. The film’s premise taps into that universal fear of digital loss, which feels particularly acute with cryptocurrency where there’s no customer service hotline to call.
Netflix’s mixed crypto week
Interestingly, the announcement came on the same day Netflix was involved in a much less amusing crypto story. Director Carl Rinsch was found guilty of defrauding Netflix and using $11 million in misappropriated funds to buy cryptocurrency and luxury goods.
Rinsch, who directed “47 Ronin,” was commissioned by Netflix in 2018 to produce the sci-fi series “Conquest” with $44 million in funding. Prosecutors alleged he siphoned an additional $11 million through bank accounts and invested it in securities and crypto.
He was found guilty on multiple counts including wire fraud and money laundering, facing up to 90 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2026.
It’s a strange contrast. On one hand, Netflix is making light of crypto password problems in a comedy. On the other, they’re dealing with the serious consequences of crypto-related fraud.
Why this might work
Garner’s involvement makes sense. She’s built a solid career in both action and romantic comedy roles, and she’s become a familiar face in Netflix originals with films like “Yes Day,” “The Adam Project,” and “Family Switch.”
The concept itself feels timely. As more people have experimented with cryptocurrency over the years, more have experienced that panic of potentially losing access. It’s a shared anxiety that crosses generational lines.
Perhaps what’s most appealing about the premise is how it combines high-stakes financial drama with personal relationship dynamics. The race against time to recover a password becomes a metaphor for trying to recover what was lost in a relationship.
I’m curious to see how they handle the technical aspects. Will they get the crypto details right? Will it feel authentic to people who actually use digital wallets? Or will it be Hollywood’s version of tech, where everything is simplified for dramatic effect?
Either way, it’s another sign of cryptocurrency entering mainstream entertainment. First came the documentaries and dramas about crypto founders and scandals. Now we’re getting the romantic comedies about everyday crypto problems. That feels like progress, in a way.
