Better Than the Movies on Netflix: Cast, Plot and Release Window for 2027’s Big Teen Rom-Com

Fake dating, enemies to lovers, the boy next door: the best teen love stories borrow the same tropes and still feel fresh. Netflix is betting on that magic with Better Than the Movies, a romantic comedy adapted from Lynn Painter’s hugely popular young adult novel. The best news for fans is that filming is now officially complete.

Better Than the Movies

What Is the Story About?

Liz Buxbaum is a hopeless romantic and a dreamer. She has been crushing on Michael for years, but he barely noticed her before he moved away. Now he’s back in town, and Liz is determined to get on his radar, ideally in time for prom.

There’s one catch. Her best route to Michael is through Wes Bennett, her annoyingly attractive next-door neighbour. Wes has driven her up the wall since childhood, with pranks involving frogs and lawn gnomes. But Wes and Michael start getting along, so Liz and Wes team up on a plan to get her noticed.

You can probably see where this is going. As the two spend more time together, Liz discovers she actually enjoys Wes’s company. That forces her to rethink what love, and her own “happily ever after,” really looks like. Netflix describes the film as a tribute to rom-com tropes that also flips them on their heads.

Meet the Cast

A Fan-Favourite Casting

Kitsos had been a popular fan pick for Liz for months. She even posted on Instagram asking Netflix to let her audition. When the casting was announced on July 31, 2026, author Lynn Painter gave it her blessing, praising the chemistry between the two leads.

The People Behind the Camera

• Julia Hart (director and co-writer): She also directed Netflix’s Don’t Say Good Luck, which arrived on August 14, 2026.
• Jordan Horowitz and Heather Flanders (co-writers): Horowitz is known for La La Land, and Flanders for iCarly.
• Producers: Shauna Phelan, Jordan Horowitz and Melanie Krauss, with Original Headquarters as the production studio.

Filming and Release Timeline

The shoot ran for nearly two months in Chicago and ran a few days past its planned end date. In her wrap message, Hart said the Midwest and its people had stolen her heart, and she thanked Painter for trusting her with the story. A rom-com of this size typically needs around eight to ten months of post-production, which points to a mid-to-late 2027 launch. Netflix usually shares its full film slate early in the year, so firmer news may come then.

Why This Film Has Fans Buzzing?

• Loved source material: Painter’s novel has a big readership, so the built-in audience is already excited.
• Familiar faces: Fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty will be happy to see Iacono in a lead role.
• Classic tropes done right: The neighbour-turned-love-interest setup is a comfort watch for rom-com lovers.
• Painter’s double year: Her novel Fake Skating is also heading to cinemas, set for July 16, 2027, so fans may get two adaptations within months of each other.

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