Prime Video is adding another buzzy book-to-screen romance to its lineup. The Love Hypothesis, based on Ali Hazelwood's New York Times bestselling novel, begins streaming on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The film stars Lili Reinhart (Riverdale) as Olive, a PhD student who stumbles into a fake relationship with a notoriously prickly professor, Adam Carlsen, played by Tom Bateman (Based on a True Story).
For the uninitiated, the movie's backstory is almost as juicy as its plot. Hazelwood's novel famously started life as Star Wars fanfiction centered on Rey and Kylo Ren—better known online as "Reylo." That origin has only added to the anticipation among fans who followed the story in its earliest form. Adding another layer of meta appeal: Bateman is the real-life partner of Daisy Ridley, the actress who brought Rey to life on screen.
Prime Video has become a reliable home for romantic adaptations. The streamer previously turned Elle Kennedy's Off Campus books into a social-media sensation, adapted Carley Fortune's Every Summer After into a streaming hit, and scored big with Jenny Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty—a series so popular that its story will continue as a feature film. The Love Hypothesis looks to continue that hot streak.
Early reviews suggest the film delivers on its promise. In her review, Collider's Carly Lane gave the adaptation a strong 8/10, calling it "a successful experiment led by Reinhart and Bateman" and praising Reinhart's "charming and hilarious" performance alongside Bateman's "deceptively complex" turn. For more on the film's strengths and minor stumbles, check out our full review of the rom-com.
The supporting cast includes Rachel Marsh and Nicholas Duvernay, rounding out a film that aims squarely at the ever-growing audience for easy-viewing romance. While it may not dethrone Prime Video's current streaming titans—like Alan Ritchson's Reacher and its new spin-off Neagley—The Love Hypothesis is positioned to be a major draw this weekend. For a look at what else is trending on the platform, see Prime Video's top picks for September 21.
Rom-coms are having a moment on streaming, and The Love Hypothesis arrives at the perfect time. With its fanfiction roots, beloved source material, and a cast that knows how to balance humor and heart, it's poised to become the next feel-good obsession for subscribers. Whether you're a Reylo loyalist or simply a sucker for a good fake-dating trope, this one is worth adding to your watchlist.
The Love Hypothesis streams on Prime Video starting Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more streaming news and updates.
