She's Dating the Gangster is a 2014 Philippine coming-of-age romantic comedy drama film based on the Pop Fiction book of the same name originally published on CandyMag.com's Teen Talk section,[7] which was popularized on Wattpad[8] by Bianca Bernardino under her pen name SGwannaB.

[3][4] The film is directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, topbilled by Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, together with Dawn Zulueta and Richard Gomez.

[9] It was distributed by Star Cinema with the co-production of Summit Media and was released on July 16, 2014, in theatres nationwide as part of its 20th anniversary presentation.

He rushes to the airport to see the list of survivors and meets Kelay, who causes a scene claiming Kenji was her father.

The young Kenji was a feared "gangster" who is brokenhearted over Athena Abigail "Abi" Tizon (Kenneth's mother).

To Athena's surprise, Kenji kisses her forcefully and tells her that she will be his pretend girlfriend in order to get Abi jealous.

Athena refuses despite Kenji's bullying and pressuring, but eventually gives in when he attempts to jump off the school's rooftop.

Kelay says that all she knows was it was a “big case of bad timing”, and that Kenji and Athena’s love story ended after their return from Bicol.

Kelay and Kenneth are upset with the revelations of Lucas, when she suddenly receives a phone call and is told that Athena is now in her final moments.

In the letter, Kenji writes that he decided to go to Legazpi to say goodbye to his memories with Athena and to atone for his shortcomings to Abi and Kenneth.

Some time after, Kelay wakes up to a phone call telling her that a flight has gone missing and Kenneth was onboard.

Several actors and actresses also made their cameo appearance in the film–including Karen Reyes as Bridesmaid, Matutina as Nana Buding, Hyubs Azarcon as Truck Driver, Pooh as News Reporter, Jojit Lorenzo and JM De Guzman as Airline Officers, Rayver Cruz, Patrick Sugui, Carl Ravanes, and Rasheed Rivero as the basketball players, Joross Gamboa and Ketchup Eusebio as the Coach, Janus del Prado as the Bus Ticket Vendor, Joem Bascon as hair stylist, Gerry Bricenio as Bus Conductor, and Olivia Cruz as the Doctor.

Its portrayal of young, intensely romantic love is really charming, especially placed as it is in this wacky conception of its period setting.

[...] This kind of magical thinking just doesn’t mesh well with the real medical terms that the film just trots out.

"[18] According to Star Cinema's advertising manager Mico del Rosario, the film gathered ₱15 million (US$340,000) on its first day of showing.