Netflix’s ‘Better than the Movies’ Adaptation Finally Has Its Liz and Wes, and Fans Are Losing It
Lynn Painter’s rom-com novels have quietly built one of the most devoted followings in the young adult book world, fueled largely by BookTok’s endless love for her signature blend of banter, tropes, and swoony chemistry. Her breakout hit “Better Than the Movies” has been a fan favorite since it first landed in 2021, and speculation about a potential screen adaptation has followed the book for years as its popularity kept climbing. That speculation officially turned into reality earlier this year, and now the project has taken its next major step forward.
Netflix confirmed back in May that it was moving ahead with a feature film adaptation of “Better Than the Movies,” with Julia Hart attached to direct. The story follows high school senior Liz Buxbaum, a lifelong devotee of classic romantic comedies who schemes to win over her crush Michael with unexpected help from her exasperating but charming next-door neighbor, Wes Bennett.
That project has now reached a major casting milestone. Netflix confirmed that Beatrice Kitsos will star as Liz Buxbaum, with David Iacono cast opposite her as Wes Bennett, officially giving Painter’s beloved characters their onscreen counterparts. Kitsos is best known for playing Alison Simms in Disney Plus’s “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” while Iacono has appeared in “Jurassic World Rebirth” and “The Summer I Turned Pretty.”
The casting announcement capped off what was reportedly an intense fan campaign, with Kitsos herself having previously posted on Instagram asking to audition for the role of Liz. That kind of grassroots enthusiasm mirrors the book’s own rise to popularity, which was driven largely by social media buzz years after its initial publication rather than a traditional marketing push.
Painter, who is also credited as a producer on the film, shared her excitement directly with fans once the adaptation was first announced. Reflecting on the timing of the announcement landing five years after the book’s original release, Painter wrote that she got to post that Netflix is adapting the book, as she said in comments reported by Newsweek. She followed that up by expressing how thrilled she felt seeing her characters land in capable hands for their big screen debut.
Hart is directing the project while also co-writing the screenplay alongside her husband and longtime creative partner Jordan Horowitz, with Heather Flanders rounding out the writing team. Horowitz is producing through Original Headquarters, joined by producers Shauna Phelan and Melanie Krauss. The film marks the second Original Headquarters project set up at Netflix, following the previously announced YA movie “Don’t Say Good Luck,” starring Sunny Sandler.
“Better Than the Movies” has spent an impressive stretch on bestseller lists since its release, appearing on the New York Times monthly YA paperback list for 41 months and its weekly YA hardcover list for 12 weeks. That staying power places it among Netflix’s stronger bets in the crowded YA adaptation space, which already includes projects tied to authors like Emily Henry and other buzzy BookTok favorites.
No release date has been set yet for “Better Than the Movies,” and the project remains in relatively early stages of development following this casting news. Given how quickly the film moved from announcement to casting, though, fans eager to see Liz and Wes’s story play out onscreen may not have to wait too much longer for additional updates.
What do you think of Netflix's casting for Liz Buxbaum and Wes Bennett?
