Mason Gooding: Is Heart Eyes About to Make Him 2025’s Breakout Heartthrob?

From scream king to rom-com royalty—why Mason Gooding might be Hollywood’s next leading man.

STAFF

Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding in Heart Eyes (2025). Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.

Mason Gooding has been that guy for a minute. You’ve seen him—maybe in Booksmart, where he nailed the effortlessly cool, secretly deep jock. Maybe in Love, Victor, where he stole scenes as the supportive best friend. Or maybe in Scream (2022 & 2023), proving he’s got the chops to handle horror and still keep his leading-man charm intact.

But now?

With Heart Eyes hitting screens, Gooding might just be stepping into full-blown heartthrob territory.

Gooding stars alongside Olivia Holt in Heart Eyes, a genre-blending horror rom-com that throws romance into a slasher-esque setting. It’s giving 1990s teen movie nostalgia, but with a modern, self-aware twist—think Scream meets 10 Things I Hate About You. And let’s be real, rom-coms are back. With Glen Powell, Sydney Sweeney and now Gooding leading the charge, we might just be witnessing a full-on leading-man revival.

Yes, Mason is the son of Cuba Gooding Jr., but he’s made it clear that he’s building his own legacy.

Instead of leaning into prestige drama or overly serious roles, Gooding has smartly positioned himself as the funny, charismatic, down-for-anything type of leading man. It’s a lane that, until now, has felt kinda empty. His mix of swagger and sincerity makes him a rare find, someone who can crack a joke but still make you swoon.

Let’s look at the facts: Gooding has range, a growing fanbase and a perfect balance of hot and wholesome that Hollywood hasn’t fully capitalized on yet. With Heart Eyes dropping, he’s at a pivotal moment. Does he go full rom-com icon, or does he take a sharp turn into action or drama?

Either way, 2025 might just be his year.

So, is Mason Gooding the next big heartthrob? Or is Hollywood still sleeping on one of its most promising leading men?