In one aspect, the invention provides a water-based release coating composition comprising a mixture of (A.) from about 5 to about 100 wt % of a polymer comprising the reaction product of (a.) from 1 to about 15 wt % of a fluorinated monomer selected from the group consisting of monomers according to the general formula: R.sub.fX--OC(O)--C(R).dbd.CH.sub.2, wherein R.sub.f represents a perfluorinated aliphatic group having 3 or 4 carbon atoms, X is an organic divalent linking group, and R represents a hydrogen or methyl group, (b.) from about 40 to about 70 wt % of an alkyl (meth)acrylate, wherein the alkyl group contains from 16 to 22 carbon atoms, (c.) from about 3 to about 20 wt % of (meth)acrylic acid, (d.) from about 20 to about 40 wt % acrylonitrile, and (e.) from 0 to about 15 wt % of vinyl monomer, other than acrylonitrile, wherein the sum of (a.) through (e.) equals 100%; and (B.) from 0 to about 95 wt % of an extender polymer, wherein the sum of (A.) and (B.) is 100% and wt % is based on the total amount of solids in the composition.