The Hating Game

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, The Hating Game is available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Kanopy and Hoopla right now. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 1,211 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Watch it for Lucy Hale — stay for everyone else around them. Start it on Amazon Prime Video whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Hating Game is worth clearing space for. The jokes in The Hating Game land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Resolving to achieve professional success without compromising her ethics, Lucy embarks on a ruthless game of one-upmanship against cold and efficient nemesis Joshua, a rivalry that is complicated by her growing attraction to him. Between them, Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell carry the comedy without ever forcing it. The Hating Game came out in 2021. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and The Hating Game holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, The Hating Game is a strong candidate. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Lucy Hale is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.