Netflix has confirmed that Better Than the Movies, its adaptation of Lynn Painter's hit young adult novel, has officially wrapped filming. Director Julia Hart, who also helmed Don't Say Good Luck for the platform, announced the news via Instagram after nearly two months of shooting in Chicago, Illinois.
The project brings together a cast of ten actors led by Beatrice Kitsos and David Iacono, and includes names familiar to Netflix audiences such as Judy Greer and Luke Kirby. With filming now complete and the movie entering post-production, here is everything known so far about Better Than the Movies.
The film is a romantic comedy directed and co-written by Hart, based on Painter's novel of the same name, which was a number one New York Times young adult bestseller. Joining Hart on the screenplay are Jordan Horowitz, known for La La Land, and Heather Flanders, of iCarly.
What is Better Than the Movies about?
Netflix describes the film as a romantic comedy that pays homage to the genre's greatest tropes—the fake relationship, enemies-to-lovers, the boy next door—only to give them an unexpected twist.
According to the synopsis released by Production Weekly, the story follows Liz Buxbaum, a dreamy teenager who has been secretly in love with Michael, her unattainable neighbor, for years. When Michael returns to town after moving away, Liz will do anything to get his attention, even teaming up with Wes Bennett, the annoying boy next door with whom she has had a history of pranks since childhood.
The plot explains that as Liz and Wes conspire to help her get her dream prom moment, the young girl discovers that she enjoys Wes's company more than she expected, forcing her to rethink her ideas about love and happy endings.
Confirmed cast of Better Than the Movies
Netflix has revealed the ten names that make up the film's cast. Beatrice Kitsos, known for Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Child's Play, plays Liz Buxbaum, while David Iacono, from The Summer I Turned Pretty, brings Wes Bennett to life.
Rounding out the cast are Deacon Phillippe (Brother Save Us) as Michael Young, Nicole Bruner (On Call) as Jocelyn, Luke Kirby (Étoile) as Brian Buxbaum, Judy Greer (Archer) as Helena, Claire Coffee (Grimm) as Martha Buxbaum, Ora Duplass (Their Town) as Laney Morgan, Veronica Garrubbo (Saturn Return) as Alex, and Kynlee Heiman (All Saints Day) as young Liz.
Kitsos and Iacono were the first names confirmed, announced on July 31, 2026, following what Netflix described as a highly anticipated talent search. Kitsos had been a fan favorite for months and even publicly asked on Instagram to be allowed to audition.
Lynn Painter herself celebrated the casting on the day of the announcement, writing on Instagram that the chemistry between Kitsos and Iacono was "insane" and that both actors could embody her characters even better than she had imagined when writing them.
The rest of the cast was announced on September 3, 2026, coinciding with the start of filming in Chicago. Iacono had previously worked for Netflix on Dead Boy Detectives, while Greer has another release pending on the platform with the 13 Going on 30 reboot, which wrapped filming in August 2026.
Production and filming status
Filming for Better Than the Movies has officially concluded. Julia Hart confirmed this on Instagram on October 24, 2026, thanking the Midwestern community and Lynn Painter for trusting her with the adaptation of her story.
Days later, on October 28, Hart posted a farewell message dedicated to the film's technical crew, whom she described as a group of people who care deeply about both their work and each other.
According to Production Weekly, filming was scheduled between September 3 and October 21, 2026, in Chicago, based at The Fields Studios, although it ultimately extended a few days beyond the planned date. The production is handled by Shauna Phelan, Jordan Horowitz, and Melanie Krauss under the Original Headquarters label, the studio that also produced Don't Say Good Luck.
During filming, both Hart and Painter shared images from the set. The author spent several days in Chicago, where she personally handed out fan-made bracelets to Kitsos and Iacono on the night before what, according to her own posts, was likely the final day of shooting.
When will Better Than the Movies be released on Netflix?
With filming finished and the movie now in post-production, Better Than the Movies is expected to arrive on Netflix during the summer or fall of 2027. A romantic comedy of this scale typically requires eight to ten months of post-production, which would fit a mid-to-late year release.
Netflix usually presents its full film release calendar at the beginning of the year, so more details are expected when the 2027 schedule is announced.
Frequently asked questions about Better Than the Movies
Has filming for Better Than the Movies finished?
Yes, Netflix and director Julia Hart confirmed in late October 2026 that filming for the movie had concluded after nearly two months of shooting in Chicago, Illinois.
Who are the leads in Better Than the Movies?
Beatrice Kitsos plays Liz Buxbaum and David Iacono plays Wes Bennett, the two main characters of the story. The cast also includes Deacon Phillippe, Judy Greer, Luke Kirby, and Claire Coffee, among others.
What is Better Than the Movies about?
The story follows Liz Buxbaum, a teenager who has been in love with her neighbor Michael for years, who teams up with Wes Bennett, another neighbor with whom she has a rivalrous relationship, to try to win him over before prom.
When will Better Than the Movies be released on Netflix?
Netflix has not yet confirmed an exact date. Based on standard post-production estimates, the film is expected to arrive on the platform sometime in the summer or fall of 2027.
Is Better Than the Movies based on a book?
Yes, the film adapts the young adult novel of the same name by Lynn Painter, which was a number one New York Times bestseller in its category.
