A few months after its release, the track was included in the Baz Luhrmann film Romeo + Juliet, helping the song gain international recognition.

In Australasia, the song topped the New Zealand Singles Chart and climbed to number 11 in Australia, earning gold sales certifications in both regions.

Following its appearance in Romeo + Juliet, the song gained international attention,[11] eventually reaching a new peak of number two on the UK Singles Chart following a re-release in April 1997.

'"[8] Kevin Courtney from Irish Times declared the song as "a quirky, bittersweet tune about love, loss and lies.

"[13] Tom Moon from Knight-Ridder Newspapers named it "mercilessly catchy", noting that it "has become a rallying cry for jilted lovers everywhere.

"[14] Sara Scribner from Los Angeles Times opined that Persson "begs for lies" on a "almost criminally catchy" tune.

[16] Thanos Lolis from Miscellany News said it is "three minutes of sparkly, ABBAesque disco, very danceable and very capable of making a global hit."

[17] Pan-European magazine Music & Media stated that it's a "trademark Cardigans track", adding that "this energetic mid-tempo single suggests summertime follies and lazy craziness.

"[18] A reviewer from Music Week gave it four out of five, commenting, "Prepare for world domination by these Swedish popsters, whose first single [...] takes their candy pop style and injects it with a distinct Seventies disco feel.

"[19] Music Week editor Alan Jones added, "It's a quaint and quirky pop nugget with a smooth, caressing vocal and a sublime hook.

[22] Jason Cohen from Rolling Stone noted that Persson's "airy lack of affectation actually deepens her dark, romantic sentiments when she chirps cheerily about her status as a willingly deceived doormat".

[23] Charles Aaron from Spin called it "lounge music so chilly with irony that you better bring a sweater, binky.

"[24] Nick Mirov from The Stanford Daily noted that Persson is "sounding self-assured and confident" when she is "getting her own heart broken".

Every little bit of this three minutes and 14 seconds is absolutely, utterly unimprovable, from the little bllllrrrrring guitar intro, all the way through to that gorgeous ritardando and final chord at the end.

"[31] Sal Cinquemani from Slant declared it as a "tongue-in-cheek smash", and noted that "Lovefool" "criminally crowned the band as one-hit wonders in the U.S."[32] Treblezine wrote that "it's not difficult to understand the effect of this song.