Love Hard

Natalie Bauer, a Los Angeles woman unlucky in romance, matches with an East Coast guy named Josh Lin on a dating app. Hoping to surprise him for Christmas, she flies cross country to meet him. Upon arrival she learns the online flirtation was a lie; the real Josh Lin lives in the same town, and the man who duped her offers a plan: pretend to be his girlfriend for the holidays to help him out. What follows is a holiday comedy built on mistaken identities, family chaos, and the awkward line between a perfect online image and a messy, genuine connection. Natalie then has to juggle judgmental relatives, awkward meetups, and a growing sense that the faux romance might just spark something real.

Directed by Hernán Jiménez, Love Hard is based on an original story by Daniel Mackey and Rebecca Ewing. It premiered on Netflix in 2021 as a breezy, contemporary holiday rom-com with a modern dating twist designed for easy streaming and replay value.

Box office data for Netflix originals are not publicly released, and Love Hard did not have a traditional theatrical run. Its visibility grows through recommendations and social media chatter promoted by the service around the world.

Placed among Netflix's holiday rom com lineup, Love Hard reinforces a trend toward light hearted miscommunication plots during festive seasons. It features Nina Dobrev in a sunny lead, with a supportive ensemble that emphasizes humor over cynicism and warmth over heartbreak. Its light tone and practical humor keep it accessible to a broad audience, even those skeptical of dating apps.

Critics praised the film for its breezy pace and natural chemistry, while noting familiar rom com beats. The themes center on authenticity in dating, the danger of pretending to be someone you are not, and the idea that holiday magic comes from honest connection for many viewers and fans of holiday romance.