The Love Hypothesis: Prime Video's #1 Movie Inspired By Star Wars Was Built For Streaming

Published Sep 29, 2026, 5:34 PM EDT Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant with expertise in new streaming releases. He's published over 3000 articles at SR, including weekly recommendation guides and dozens of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. He previously worked in Development at ABC Television & Lawrence Bender Productions. Greg majored in Film Production at Chapman University's Dodge College. Greg also has years of broadcast TV production experience at major networks such as NBC, TNT, and ESPN. He currently lives in Greater Boston. Prime Video's #1 new movie this week was quietly inspired by a Star Wars fan fiction, giving it a distinct advantage and setting it up for streaming success. Not many romantic comedy movies can share a unique connection to the Star Wars universe, but Prime Video's new feel-good movie starring Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman defies the odds with its surprising and unusual rom-com source material. The Love Hypothesis surged to Prime Video's #1 spot overnight after its release on September 23, 2026, and has firmly held onto it ever since. Sporting a Certified Fresh 76% Rotten Tomatoes score and 74% audience score, this romantic comedy is based on a bestselling novel that was inspired by a Star Wars fan faction and was built to be a streaming hit thanks to its pre-existing online fandom. The Love Hypothesis Became Prime Video's #1 Movie Worldwide Overnight Long before The Love Hypothesis became Prime Video's #1 movie last week, it originated as a love story between two modern Star Wars characters, Rey and Kylo Ren. Author Ali Hazelwood initially wrote the story titled Head Over Feet starring the two Star Wars characters, who are commonly referred to as "Reylo" in a fictional dating context. Hazelwood modeled the two leads in The Love Hypothesis after Rey and Kylo Ren, even to the point where she named the male lead, Adam, after Adam Driver for his portrayal of Kylo Ren. The female lead, Olive, is similarly characterized based on Rey. The 2018 fan fiction developed into The Love Hypothesis novel, which was published in 2021. Following its success, Prime Video chose to adapt it into a feature-length film, an investment that has immediately proven to pay off. While the Prime Video rom-com doesn't feature any sci-fi elements and does not take place in a galaxy far away, the initial spark can be credited to the Star Wars franchise and its vast online fanbase. Additionally, there is the odd coincidence that actor Tom Bateman, who plays the character inspired by Adam Driver's Kylo Ren, is actually married to Daisy Ridley – the actress who famously played Rey in three Star Wars blockbusters. The Love Hypothesis Turned Its Online Fandom Into A Streaming Advantage Whether it was intentional or not, The Love Hypothesis seems to have tapped into another target audience outside of the rom-com demographic with its foundational Star Wars connection. This may have played a role in the film's immediate success, as in retrospect, The Love Hypothesis has been a film roughly 8 years in the making ever since the Reylo fan fiction was first completed. Although The Love Hypothesis doesn't appear to attract the typical Star Wars fan on the surface, there is the added element of imagining Olive and Adam's dynamic as Rey and Kylo Ren – without the lightsabers and Force. Claire Scanlon, the director of The Love Hypothesis, also made sure to include a few Star Wars Easter eggs within the Prime Video rom-com that viewers would have to pay extra close attention to catch. The first song featured in the movie is by Gracie Abrams, the daughter of the director of two recent Star Wars films featuring Rey and Kylo Ren, J.J. Abrams. Adam is also seen dressed in all black on several occasions in the film, carrying a similarly brooding demeanor that Star Wars fans would recognize in Kylo Ren. These small inclusions are meant to honor the history of the source material but don't quite classify the film as part of the Star Wars universe, even indirectly. What's more, following the immediate streaming success of The Love Hypothesis, Hazelwood just announced that a sequel to her original novel will be published in February 2027, and a movie sequel is officially in the works at Prime Video. Although the sequel is not based on a separate Star Wars fan fiction story, the characters of Olive and Adam will continue to live on through these projects, and will hope to earn just as much viewership and strong reviews as its predecessor. The Love Hypothesis Release Date September 23, 2026 Director Claire Scanlon Cast Lili Reinhart Olive Smith Tom Bateman Dr. Adam Carlsen