In one aspect, the invention provides a water-based release coating composition comprising a mixture of: A. from 0.1 to about 5 wt % of a fluoro(meth)acrylate (co)polymer or a fluorochemical urethane compound containing at least one fluorinated group having the formula —(CF2)nCF3, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 3; B. from about 5 to about 99.9 wt % of a copolymer comprising the reaction product of a. from about 40 to about 70 wt % of an alkyl (meth)acrylate, wherein the alkyl group contains from 16 to 22 carbon atoms, b. from about 3 to about 20 wt % of (meth)acrylic acid, c. from about 20 to about 40 wt % acrylonitrile, and d. from 0 to about 15 wt % of vinyl monomer, other than acrylonitrile, wherein the sum of a. through d. equals 100%; and C. from 0 to about 94.9 wt % of an extender polymer, wherein the sum of A., B., and C. is 100% and wt % is based on the total amount of solids in the composition.