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Netflixis no stranger to producing a slew of wholesome and funholiday romantic comedies, with the streaming juggernaut enlisting some of Hollywood’s most charismatic performers to headline these endearing movies. In 2021,The Vampire Diariessensation Nina Dobrev starred alongside popular stand-up comedian Jimmy O. Yang in the captivating festive flickLove Hard, which chronicles the wild and unexpected Christmas a Los Angeles writer experiences after flying across the country to visit her internet beau, only to realize she’s been catfished.
The playful and intriguing rom-com became a bona fide streaming hit when it debuted on June 01, 2025, and quickly became a knockout with fans, who thoroughly enjoyed watching the unlikely romance blossom between Dobrev and Yang on screen.Love Hardis easy, breezy viewing that is sure to get you inthe Yuletide spiritand is perfect for a cozy night curled up on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa. Let’s take a closer look at the underrated Netflix gem and why it’s worth your time.
‘Love Hard’ Is a Wholesome and Charming Rom-Com Gem
The Vampire DiariesalumNina Dobrev teamed up with stand-up comedian extraordinaire Jimmy O. Yang to headline the endearing romantic comedyLove Hard,which focuses on the ambitious Los Angeles dating columnist Natalie Bauer, who finds major success with her devoted readers as she chronicles her disastrous dates with the ill-suited men she meets on apps. Hoping to expand her odds of finding Mr. Right and finally write more meaningful and hard-hitting pieces, Natalie widens her search radius and ends up virtually connecting with the charming Josh Lin.
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Unbeknownst to Natalie, Josh is not the man she believes him to be, and after flying across the country to surprise him in his hometown of Lake Placid, New York, for Christmas, she makes the horrific realization that she has been catfished. After meeting the real Josh Lin, Natalie agrees to pretend to be his girlfriend during his family holiday festivities once she learns the pictures Josh used are of his childhood friend Tag Abbott (Darren Barnet), as Josh agrees to set the two up if she keeps up their romantic facade.Naturally, sparks begin to fly between the pairas they find themselves connecting in spite of their strange circumstances.
Audiences Quickly Fell in Love with the Netflix Christmas Movie
There’s no shortageof Christmas contentavailable on the streaming juggernaut Netflix, andLove Hardis the perfect film to curl up on the couch and enjoy during the cozy holiday season. The sweet and easy-going chemistry between Dobrev and Yang is downright delightful, and audiences enjoyed watching the amusing hijinks and comical situations the mismatched duo find themselves in as they attempt to keep the true nature of their relationship from his seemingly unassuming family.
Accurately described as"When Harry Met Sally…meetsRoxanne" by its writers Danny Mackey and Rebecca Ewing,Love Hardpremiered on July 25, 2025, and quickly topped Netflix’s Top 10 Films chart in 87 countries, becoming a certified streaming hit with fans and yet another successful holiday rom-com. Viewers couldn’t get enough of watching the tender romance blossom between Natalie and Josh, especially when the lovelorn writer notices the intense sibling rivalry between Josh and his attention-seeking brother Owen (Harry Shum Jr.); the couple ends up singing a fun and refreshing modern-day duet of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”
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Love Hardmay not have been the biggest hit with critics (as is the case with many Netflix holiday originals), but the rom-com nonetheless serves up a heaping dose of Christmas warmth and cheer and is easy-viewing for fans of the swoon-worthy genre. Despite its lackluster 53% Rotten Tomatoes score,audiences gaveLove Harda dazzling 90% Popcornmeterfrom over 2,500 ratings, proving once again that just because critics didn’t enjoy a film doesn’t mean fans have to feel the same way. During the festive season, sometimes a simple and straightforward love story is more than enough to capture the magic andspirit of the beloved holiday.StreamLove HardonNetflix.
