Everything to know as The Love Hypothesis lands on Prime Video

Sometimes the most complicated equations involve matters of the heart.

That's certainly the case in The Love Hypothesis, the eagerly anticipated film adaptation of Ali Hazelwood's bestselling romance novel, which won over readers with its irresistible blend of academia, humour and slow-burn chemistry.

Starring Riverdale's Lili Reinhart and Murder on the Orient Express actor Tom Bateman, the film follows PhD candidate Olive Smith whose attempt to prove she's over an old crush leads to an unexpected fake dating arrangement. What begins as a harmless deception soon becomes something far more complicated as genuine feelings start to develop.

Directed by Claire Scanlon and written by Sarah Rothschild, The Love Hypothesis premieres globally on Prime Video on 23 September 2026. Here's everything you need to know.

At the centre of The Love Hypothesis is Olive Smith, a talented PhD candidate who prefers dealing with scientific facts rather than matters of the heart.

When Olive impulsively kisses a professor to convince her friend that she's moved on from a previous crush, she finds herself at the heart of an unlikely misunderstanding. The professor in question is Adam Carlsen, a brilliant but intimidating academic known throughout the department for his demanding standards and no-nonsense reputation.

Rather than correcting the misunderstanding, the pair agree to continue the charade and enter into a fake relationship complete with rules, boundaries and carefully planned appearances.

Of course, emotions rarely follow a predictable formula. As Olive and Adam spend more time together, the line between pretending and reality begins to blur, forcing both of them to question whether their arrangement is quite as fake as they first thought.

Since its release in 2021, Ali Hazelwood's novel has become one of the biggest romance publishing success stories of recent years, finding a huge audience through passionate recommendations on BookTok.

The book struck a chord with readers thanks to its combination of fake dating, a fan-favourite "grumpy meets sunshine" romance and life in the world of academia.

While the romance is front and centre, the story also explores themes of ambition, friendship, self-confidence and finding your place in a competitive world. Now, after winning over millions of readers, Olive and Adam's romance is making the leap from page to screen.

Leading the film is Lili Reinhart as Olive Smith, the intelligent and determined doctoral student whose carefully ordered life is thrown into chaos by one impulsive decision.

Leading the film is Lili Reinhart as Olive Smith, the intelligent and determined doctoral student whose carefully ordered life is thrown into chaos by one impulsive decision.

The supporting cast includes Rachel Marsh (Adults) as Ahn and Nicholas Duvernay (The White Lotus) as Jeremy, helping bring the world of Hazelwood's bestselling novel to the screen.

At its core, The Love Hypothesis is a classic romantic comedy with a twist. What starts as Olive's attempt to convince her friend that she's moved on quickly spirals into a fake relationship with the last person she'd expect: the notoriously intimidating Adam Carlsen.

Fans of the novel will already know why the story became such a hit. Olive is warm, chaotic and relatable, while Adam's serious and intimidating exterior hides more than first impressions suggest.

Set against the backdrop of university labs, research projects and academic deadlines, the film adds a fresh spin to the rom-com formula, proving that some feelings can't be explained by science alone.

The Love Hypothesis premieres globally on Prime Video (Apps > Prime Video) on 23 September.

Virgin TV customers with Virgin TV 360 or our Stream box can watch Prime Video with an active subscription. Prime Video is fully integrated into our 360 and Stream boxes, so you will find The Love Hypothesis without even going into the app – just press Home on the remote, hit the Search icon and type in the name of the show. Or use voice search and just say "The Love Hypothesis" to find the film instantly.

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