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YA Novel Better Than the Movies Is About to Be, Well, a Movie
Beatrice Kitsos and David Iacono will star in the rom-com adaptation of Lynn Painter’s beloved book.
July 31, 2026
Better Than the Movies Adaptation Leads Announcement: Who Plays Beatrice and Wes? - Netflix Tudum
Sometimes falling in love can be even Better Than the Movies. That’s what newly minted rom-com heroine Liz Buxbaum will learn in Netflix’s upcoming YA feature film adaptation. Beatrice Kitsos (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) will lead Better Than the Movies as high school senior Liz, opposite David Iacono (Jurassic World Rebirth) as Wes Bennett. The co-stars snagged the coveted movie roles following a buzzy talent search and passionate fan casting.
Better Than the Movies, directed by co-writer Julia Hart (I’m Your Woman), will be a love letter to romantic comedies. Liz’s obsession with the genre proves very helpful when she schemes with her annoying but cute next-door neighbor to get the attention of her untouchable crush. Better Than the Movies pays homage to all the romance tropes — fake relationship, enemies to lovers, boy next door — but turns them on their heads in this new take on what happily ever after looks like.
Continue reading to find out what to expect from your next favorite love story.
Is Better Than the Movies based on a book?
Yes, the upcoming movie is inspired by Lynn Painter’s popular novel. Better Than the Movies is a #1 New York Times bestseller. So far, it has appeared on the New York Times monthly YA paperback list for 44 months and the weekly YA hardcover list for 20 weeks.
The fervor for Better Than the Movies was so powerful that Kitsos herself posted on Instagram asking to audition for the adaptation. Sometimes dreams really do come true.
Who’s in the Better Than the Movies cast?
So far, the rom-com’s cast is:
- Beatrice Kitsos as Liz Buxbaum
- David Iacono as Wes Bennett
Who’s behind the Better Than the Movies adaptation?
Director Hart is the co-writer alongside Jordan Horowitz and Heather Flanders. The producers are Horowitz for Original Headquarters, as well as Shauna Phelan and Melanie Krauss.
Better Than the Movies is the second Original Headquarters project at Netflix, following the upcoming YA movie Don’t Say Good Luck starring Sunny Sandler. The coming-of-age film, debuting Aug. 14, is directed by Hart, co-written by Hart and Horowitz, and produced by both.
Keep coming to Tudum for all your YA rom-com news.
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