10 Best Faking Dating Rom-Coms To Watch After Prime Video’s Off Campus

If you enjoyed the Prime Video series Off Campus, here are ten romantic comedies that offer similar fun and heartwarming moments. Based on Elle Kennedy’s popular books, Off Campus takes you into the exciting world of college hockey at Briar U. Just like the books, the show focuses on a different couple and classic rom-com themes each season. As someone who studied romantic comedies in college, I’m always curious to see how these familiar tropes are used in new shows. The first season followed Hannah and Garrett as they pretended to date each other.

The idea of a fake relationship in romantic comedies is a classic, almost as old as the genre itself. Rom-coms began with silent films and quickly moved into talkies by 1928, as noted by Glamour magazine. The first movie to really use this plot device was Sin Takes a Holiday in 1930, but it became incredibly popular with It Happened One Night, a landmark film that bridged the gap between pre-Code and screwball comedies. Today, you can find fake relationship storylines everywhere in both movies and TV shows.

While Off Campus follows a familiar rom-com formula, it does so very well, leaving viewers wanting more. If you enjoyed the show’s playful fake relationship and simmering chemistry, here are ten other rom-coms you’ll love.

It Happened One Night (1934)

When I first started studying romantic comedies, the 1934 film It Happened One Night immediately stood out to me – it feels remarkably fresh even today. The story centers around Ellie Andrews, a wealthy heiress who runs away from her father. She reluctantly teams up with a reporter, Peter Warne, who hopes to get a sensational story about her journey to reach her fiancé. Their chaotic adventure leads them to pretend to be a married couple to avoid problems with the law, resulting in a lot of laughs.

The film It Happened One Night was a game-changer for romantic comedies, establishing many of the now-familiar elements we see today. The playful back-and-forth between the characters Ellie and Peter is similar to that of Garrett and Hannah, and they come from very different backgrounds and have contrasting personalities.

Beyond its charming story, It Happened One Night featured scenes considered shockingly daring for its time. While tame by today’s standards, these moments – including partial nudity from Clark Gable, a playful threat of full nudity, Claudette Colbert in a negligee, and her briefly lifting her skirt – pushed boundaries before strict censorship rules (the Hays Code) took effect. The film even showed an unmarried couple sharing a bed separated only by a sheet. Because of this willingness to be provocative, It Happened One Night helped pave the way for later romantic comedies, including modern shows like Off Campus.

Easy A (2010)

Okay, so I love the movie Easy A! It’s about this high school girl who, to deal with some rumors started by bullies, pretends she’s, well, more experienced than she is. It totally spirals out of control, and suddenly all the guys at school are offering her money to keep up the pretense. Through it all, she’s still secretly hoping her middle school crush will notice her. It’s hilarious and surprisingly sweet!

Garrett and Hannah’s relationship mirrors Olive and Todd’s. In both cases, a less popular woman develops feelings for a very popular man. Both Olive and Hannah felt like outsiders, and both Todd and Garrett simply wanted to be supportive.

The movie Easy A offers a fresh take on the classic fake-dating storyline. Usually, this trope involves two people pretending to date and falling in love along the way. But Easy A does the opposite: Olive Penderghast pretends to date—or even have more intimate relationships with—almost everyone except the person she actually likes.

Something Wild (1986)

The 1980s romantic comedy Something Wild features a free-spirited woman named Lulu who unexpectedly kidnaps a conservative banker, Charlie. Their impulsive act leads to a series of crimes, and they’re eventually forced to pose as a couple at a high school reunion, where their deception quickly gets out of hand.

Romantic comedies have often varied in how much they show sexually, sometimes being very conservative and other times pushing boundaries. The 1980s generally favored the more conservative approach. But the film Something Wild is a surprisingly risqué movie that fans of Off Campus will likely enjoy – it includes playful, light bondage and a fun sexual encounter. The movie is a unique mix of crime thriller and romantic comedy elements.

Lulu from Something Wild and Allie from Off Campus feel like similar characters. They’re driven, easygoing, fun-loving, and have a great sense of humor. What’s really refreshing is that Something Wild doesn’t try to change Lulu, and it looks like Off Campus won’t try to change Allie either.

Something About 1% (2016)

The K-Drama Something About 1% features a wealthy, seemingly cold man named Jae-in who enters a pretend engagement with a kind school teacher, Da-hyeon. Their plan? To fulfill the conditions of Jae-in’s grandfather’s will. Both insist their relationship is purely for show and that they won’t develop real feelings.

While the plot of Something About 1% is straightforward, the connection between Jae-in and Da-hyeon is what makes it special. A key improvement over the first book of Off Campus is the avoidance of the common rom-com trope of characters misunderstanding each other – and thankfully, this issue doesn’t appear in the K-drama adaptation either.

Garrett and Hannah communicate very well, with their relationship based on being open and honest with each other. Jae-in and Da-hyeon are also direct and honest about their expectations. This maturity and honesty is a welcome change, and it helps Jae-in avoid becoming the typical controlling or arrogant love interest often seen in romantic stories.

Couple-ish (2015-2017)

K Alexander’s novel, Couple-ish, introduces Dee, a nonbinary artist who’s looking for a roommate with help from their sister, Amy. Eight months after Rachel Mannt, a bartender from Britain, moves in, she quietly applies for common-law status with Dee to avoid being deported.

Dee is hesitant at first, but eventually agrees to a plan that involves starting a YouTube channel for couples, hoping to influence the government. The LGBTQ+ romantic comedy Couple-ish is a hidden gem and easy to watch all the way through. Despite having two full seasons with a total of 22 episodes, each episode is short—only 3 to 10 minutes long.

While both shows are funny and feature a fake dating storyline, Off Campus and Couple-ish are quite different – Couple-ish is especially distinct from the original Prime Video series. Still, it’s a good choice for a light watch after you finish Off Campus. It takes a few episodes, but Couple-ish really finds its footing and becomes very enjoyable.

Sabrina (1954)

If you’re a fan of Hannah from Off Campus, you’ll love the original Sabrina movie – not the 1995 version. It tells the story of Sabrina Fairchild, a quiet girl who goes to Paris and comes back a confident woman ready to go after her dreams.

Linus pretends to date Sabrina to protect David’s marriage and a crucial business deal, but unexpectedly starts to fall for her. Fans of Hannah Wells and Off Campus will likely enjoy Sabrina as the two stories share many similarities.

Both women desire someone they can’t be with, and their social positions prevent them from acting on their feelings. Initially dismissed and ignored, they possess a beauty that goes beyond appearances, stemming from their strong personalities. Ultimately, their journeys aren’t just about finding love, but about self-discovery and learning to embrace themselves.

23.5 (2024)

Okay, so I just finished watching 23.5, and it’s seriously adorable! If you loved Off Campus, you absolutely need to check this one out. It’s a Thai rom-com that centers around Ongsa, a new student who develops a major crush on Sun, a popular girl who’s created this whole online persona called Earth. The story follows their blossoming online romance, but here’s the catch: Ongsa has to navigate how to reveal she’s a girl, since Sun thinks ‘Earth’ is a guy! It’s a sweet and funny watch, and I was totally invested in seeing how it all played out.

Okay, so technically, calling it a ‘fake romance’ isn’t quite right when we’re talking about characters pretending to be siblings who fall in love. It’s more accurately called ‘romance under false pretenses.’ But honestly, to me, it feels like the same ballpark! Any time there’s deception involved to start a romance, I think it falls under the umbrella of ‘fake romance.’ But not every fake romance needs to involve pretending to be siblings – it’s a one-way street, if that makes sense!

Whether you call them one type of story or another, 23.5 and Off Campus share a lot of similarities. Both focus on the characters and their relationships, and the romantic connections—between Sun and Ongsa, and Garrett and Hannah—quickly move from friendship to deep passion. While both stories begin with the idea of fake relationships, they quickly develop into genuine connections.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)

Jenny Han is well-known for her fun and romantic teen novels, and her most popular work is the To All the Boys series, which became a successful trilogy of movies. The first movie features a classic fake-dating storyline that’s just as enjoyable as Off Campus.

Lara Jean, a Korean-American teenager, secretly writes love letters to boys she likes. When her little sister accidentally mails them all out, Lara Jean panics! To deal with the awkwardness, she makes a deal with one of the letter recipients, Peter Kavinsky, to pretend to date. This also helps her avoid a tricky situation with her sister’s ex-boyfriend, who also received a letter and is trying to make his ex jealous.

The Netflix film To All the Boys and the series Off Campus both center around characters who are complete opposites. In To All the Boys, Lara Jean is shy and loves to read, while Peter is a well-known lacrosse player. While sports aren’t the main focus of the films, viewers get a glimpse into the excitement surrounding lacrosse.

Nick & Nora’s Infinite Playlist (2008)

When Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist was released, it didn’t get much attention, but it immediately came to mind while watching Off Campus, as both movies center around a possible love story connected to music.

Norah and Nick are both trying to heal after tough breakups. When Norah impulsively asks Nick to pretend to be her boyfriend – just for five minutes, followed by a kiss – he agrees, hoping to make his ex jealous. This brief act of pretending sparks something unexpected, and the two music fans find themselves connecting as they search for a secret concert by their favorite band. It’s the start of a really sweet story.

The 2008 film feels like a story that would have unfolded if the relationship between Hannah and Justin had been the central focus, rather than Hannah and Garrett. Plus, the songs chosen for Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist are just as memorable as the amazing soundtrack from Off Campus.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

If you enjoy the lively Drunk Shakespeare show at Off Campus, you’ll love watching a movie inspired by one of Shakespeare’s plays. A great choice is 10 Things I Hate About You, a fun high school update of The Taming of the Shrew featuring a cast of now-famous actors before they hit it big.

The movie centers around Cameron, a boy who likes Bianca, but Bianca’s parents won’t let her date until her older sister, Kat, does. Kat is known for being tough and doesn’t care much for socializing, so Cameron comes up with a plan: he pays the school’s rebellious bad boy, Patrick, to ask Kat out. The movie is famous for iconic moments, including Patrick’s energetic performance of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” in the school stands and a powerful poem recited by Kat, which gives the film its title.

While it’s not as overtly wild as Off Campus, 10 Things I Hate About You is just as funny, making it a great choice to watch next. The connection between the actors is fantastic – even better than in Off Campus, perhaps. And, as I said before, it features Heath Ledger singing and dancing in a memorable scene.

2026-05-17 22:55