Before social media gave complete unknowns a chance at influencer stardom or BookTok and Bookstagram guided readers to new finds, there was a place where anyone could go to share stories with thousands of readers. In the world of fan fiction, teenagers and pop culture enthusiasts could take their literal fantasies — or reimagined versions of their favorite books — and publish them in weekly chapters. Like-minded readers launched some of these writers to online fame — some even gained book deals and Hollywood adaptations.
Wattpad was founded in 2006, before e-books and e-readers became popular. Its founders took the chance that readers would soon embrace digital formats. They provided a simple platform on which anyone, of any age, could experiment with writing. This led to a seemingly limitless database of choices for readers. Since then, some of the platform’s most addictive reads have made their way to screens, and you can watch a few of them right here on Netflix.
With their viral meet cutes and angsty romances, these movies and shows prove that Wattpad must-reads make for captivating watches!
Wattpad fanfic often features characters modeled after major celebrities, and Harry Styles is a favorite choice. After, by Anna Todd, is arguably the most famous story to feature a character inspired by the pop star, and it led to both a novel adaptation and this movie series. In it, Tessa (Josephine Langford) is a somewhat sheltered bookworm adjusting to life at college. Hardin Scott (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) is the Harry Styles stand-in, a tattooed bad boy who initially sees Tessa as a challenge. He agrees to a bet with his friends that he can woo her into bed. But Tessa and Hardin start to see the deeper layers beneath their stereotypes, and real feelings develop.
The couple makes their way through ups and downs and into adulthood in the sequel films After We Collided, After We Fell, After Ever Happy, and After Everything.
For a lighthearted rom-com with plenty of miscommunication reminiscent of You’ve Got Mail, put on this Mexican film. It’s based on the Wattpad story Anónima by Wendy Mora about a teen cinephile, Vale (Annie Cabello), who dreams of being a filmmaker despite expectations that she take over the family business. She’s texted by a wrong number one night and begins a flirtation with a boy she knows only as “Anonymous.” Vale has no idea that her new digital crush is actually new student Alex (Ralf Morales), who’s also growing smitten with the nameless person on the other side of the phone. Then the two meet in person in detention, eventually forming a friendship that could be something more. Feelings grow complicated because they both believe they are falling for two different people, and the truth threatens to ruin everything.
This Spanish thriller originated on Wattpad as Mala influencia by an anonymous writer, teensspirit. Reese Russell (Eléa Rochera) is a teen dancer with a secret stalker whose threats are getting increasingly violent. Eros Douglas (Alberto Olmo) is an ex-con who gets a chance to stay out of jail by acting as Reese’s bodyguard. She resents being given a babysitter, and he’s just looking to hold a job long enough to help a friend in foster care. But an undeniable attraction between them develops as they work to uncover who’s behind the threats.
At 15 years old, Beth Reekles wrote this teen rom-com on Wattpad, and it quickly rose in popularity and even won her the 2011 Wattpad prize for Most Popular Teen Fiction. At 17, she had a book deal, and in 2018, Netflix released this film adaptation. High school student Elle Evans (Joey King) harbors a secret from her lifelong best friend, Lee Flynn (Joel Courtney). She’s hidden her crush on Lee’s older brother, Noah (Jacob Elordi) — strict friendship rules between her and Lee prevent her from acting on her feelings. Elle and Lee set up a kissing booth for a school fundraiser, and the previously unkissed Elle has to participate. Blindfolded, she’s surprised by a particularly toe-curling kiss … from none other than Noah. Things get increasingly complex as the two start to secretly fall for each other.
To see how Elle and Noah fare in the future, continue the story with sequels The Kissing Booth 2 and The Kissing Booth 3.
With two seasons — and a third and fourth on the way — plus two bestselling novels, it may be a surprise for some to learn this popular teen drama series from Ali Novak was born on Wattpad. In My Life with the Walter Boys, 15-year-old Jackie Howard (Nikki Rodriguez) has no choice but to move to Colorado from New York City when a tragic accident leaves her orphaned. Still grieving and very much a fish out of water, Jackie must also adjust to her new home on a ranch with 10 kids. They’re all being raised by her mother’s best friend, Katherine (Sarah Rafferty), and her husband, George (Marc Blucas). Among Jackie’s new housemates are moody, athletic Cole (Noah LaLonde) and his younger book-loving brother, Alex (Ashby Gentry). Drawn to both for very different reasons, Jackie is soon headed into a messy love triangle.
Filled with the kind of angst and raw emotion Wattpad stories are famous for, this Italian adaptation of Erin Doom’s novel Fabbricante di lacrime brings all the gothic romance vibes to the screen. Teens Nica (Caterina Ferioli) and Rigel (Simone Baldasseroni) have grown up in a strict orphanage where Nica was treated poorly by headmistress Margaret (Sabrina Paravicini), while Rigel was seemingly spared as her favorite child. They’re both adopted by a couple and thrown into a new world of high school, where Rigel keeps Nica at a distance. When Rigel has health issues, Nica is there to help him, and the strength of their shared trauma brings them together in a way that makes their intense feelings for each other undeniable.
Bad Wi-Fi brings together two neighbors in this film based on the Wattpad story and later novel A través de mi ventana by Spanish writer Ariana Godoy. Raquel Mendoza (Clara Galle) has long held a massive crush on her wealthy neighbor, Ares Hidalgo (Julio Peña). His family owns a major company, which the three sons stand to inherit. The Hidalgo house has internet connectivity issues, and as Raquel’s home is so close to theirs, they can easily pick up her signal. Ares sneaks in through her window to hack her Wi-Fi password, which is how he gets onto her laptop and sees private files that reveal her feelings for him. Thus begins a flirtation that gets progressively steamier as the two teens fall for one another despite their very different worlds.
Ares and Raquel’s tumultuous relationship continues its ups and downs in the sequels Through My Window 2: Across the Sea and Through My Window 3: Looking at You.
