"I'll have what she's having." The 35 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, Ranked (2024)

Who doesn't love a good romantic comedy? Rom-coms are everything; they can be a thoughtful exploration of romance and its many intricacies, challenges, and rewards; they can also be fluffy, silly stories about boy-meeting-girl that bring butterflies to millions of stomachs; finally, they can be guilty pleasures best enjoyed with a drink and a few snacks on a casual Tuesday afternoon.

The romantic comedy remains one of Hollywood's best genres. Hollywood has produced many amazing romantic comedies throughout the years. Although it suffered a slump throughout the 2010s, the genre bounced back and is now back to its place of honor as an audience and industry favorite. The greatest of these game-changing, grin-generating romances rank among the best and most memorable pictures in cinema, whether because of their heartwarming storylines, unforgettable quotes, electrifying chemistry between their leads, or a combination of all these factors. Acclaimed by fans and critics, these movies (Hollywood and international) are the best the genre has to offer, among them outright legends in pop culture and milestones in the entertainment industry.

35 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days' (2003)

Directed by Donald Petri

Modern rom-com queen Kate Hudson joins Matthew McConaughey in 2003's How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. The plot centers on Andy Anderson and Benjamin Barry, a couple who go into a whirlwind romance. Unbeknownst to one another, they each have their own agendas: he bet he could make her fall in love in one week while she is on a work assignment to drive him away in 10 days.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days features the most rom-com premise ever in that it's wholly unbelievable and not particularly ethical, but weirdly irresistible. Hudson and McConaughey are outstanding together, bringing equal amounts of humor and romance to a film as funny as it's charming. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is a modern rom-com classic, proving that the genre can sell the most ludicrous plots as long as the central couple is engaging, beautiful, and endearing.

How to Lose A Guy In 10 Days

PG-13

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

February 7, 2003

Director

Donald Petrie

Cast

Kate Hudson , Matthew McConaughey , Kathryn Hahn , Annie Parisse , adam goldberg , Thomas Lennon

Runtime

116

34 'Silver Linings Playbook' (2012)

Directed by David O. Russell

Silver Linings Playbook stars Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence in their first collaboration. The film tells the story of Patrick "Pat" Solatano, a man with bipolar who forms an unexpected connection with the young Tiffany Maxwell, a young and emotionally unstable widow while training for an upcoming dance competition.

The romantic comedy seldom attracts wild amounts of acclaim from critics. However, Silver Linings Playbook is the rare rom-com that ruled the Oscars, thanks to its unique approach to love, loss, and romance. Cooper and an Oscar-winning Lawrence are electrifying together, crafting a unique cinematic relationship with emotional heft. However, they never sacrifice the feels, finding gentleness in the most unexpected sides of romance.

Silver Linings Playbook

R

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

*Availability in US

Release Date

September 8, 2012

Director

David O. Russell

Cast

Jennifer Lawrence , Robert De Niro , Bradley Cooper , Julia Stiles , Chris Tucker , Shea Whigham

Runtime

122

33 'Trouble in Paradise' (1932)

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch

The pre-Code romantic comedy Trouble in Paradise is among the genre's most underappreciated efforts. Directed by Ernst Lubitsch, the film stars Miriam Hopkins, Kay Francis, and Herbert Marshall and follows a con artist and a pickpocket who team up to scam a wealthy woman. The early days of Hollywood were filled with trailblazing rom-coms, and this is one of the best.

An essential entry for Lubitsch aficionados, Trouble in Paradise is one of the earliest romantic comedies to feel like one. A passionate and surprisingly frank love triangle with effervescent performances from its three well-matched leads, Trouble in Paradise juggles ideas of its era with a distinctively progressive approach. The result is a singular classic romantic comedy that deserves far more attention from modern audiences.

Buy on Criterion

32 'Notting Hill' (1998)

Directed by Roger Mitchel

The undisputed rom-com queen of the 90s, Julia Roberts, joins the undisputed rom-com king of the 90s, Hugh Grant, in a once-in-a-lifetime pairing for fans of the beloved genre. Notting Hill sees Grant as a meek bookshop owner, William Thacker, who falls in love with world-famous actress Anna Scott, leading to a complicated romance.

Notting Hill lives and dies with its two powerful and never-better stars. Roberts and Grant are utterly winning with their clumsy, awkward, enchanting chemistry; they might possibly be the ultimate rom-com couple of the decade. Few times have two actors been more well-suited, playing off each other's strengths in a delicate balancing act. Notting Hill is among Roberts' and Grant's all-time best movies, solidifying their legacies as titans of the rom-com.

Notting Hill

PG-13

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

*Availability in US

Release Date

May 28, 1999

Director

Roger Michell

Cast

Julia Roberts , Hugh Grant , Richard McCabe , Rhys Ifans , James Dreyfus , Dylan Moran

Runtime

124 minutes

31 'Pillow Talk' (1959)

Directed by Michael Gordon

Rock Hudson and Doris Day are one of the all-time great cinematic pairings. Their three films together have become synonymous with romance and passion, turning them into icons of the romantic comedy genre and legends of American film. All three movies are classics of 50s cinema, but their first collaboration, 1959's Pillow Talk, reigns supreme atop the mountain of their success.

Pillow Talk is very much a film from 1959, meaning it has some themes, scenes, and dialogues that might seem outdated to modern audiences. However, Hudson and Day are explosive together, crafting a unique dynamic many have tried to imitate, but none have succeeded in replicating. Pillow Talk is fun, funny, witty, seductive, and absurdly romantic; everything one of the best rom-com movies should be.

Pillow Talk

NR

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

October 7, 1959

Director

Michael Gordon

Cast

Rock Hudson , Doris Day , Tony Randall , Thelma Ritter , Nick Adams , Julia Meade

Runtime

102

30 'Bridget Jones's Diary' (2001)

Directed by Sharon Maguire

Renée Zellweger received her first Oscar nomination for her star-making performance in the 2001 adaptation of Helen Fielding's 1996 novel. Bridget Jones's Diary follows the romantic misadventures of the titular character, a thirty-something living in London who finds herself deciding between two romantic interests. The film, a modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, co-stars Hugh Grant and Colin Firth.

Bridget Jones's Diary is a modern triumph and further proof of the universality of the author's stories, with one of Jane Austen's greatest heroines at its helm. Powered by a spectacular, vulnerable, and self-deprecating performance from Zellweger, Bridget Jones's Diary is an ode to the modern woman – or at least, the idea of the modern woman from the late 90s. Further elevated by Grant and Firth, two of the defining leading men in modern rom-coms, Bridget Jones's Diary is a classic story of romantic deceit and confusion, with a memorable ending that will leave audiences cheering at Zellweger's clumsy heroine's happy ending.

Bridget Jones's Diary

R

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

*Availability in US

Release Date

April 13, 2001

Director

Sharon Maguire

Cast

Renée Zellweger , Gemma Jones , Celia Imrie , James Faulkner , Jim Broadbent , Colin Firth

Runtime

97 minutes

29 'While You Were Sleeping' (1995)

Directed by John Turtletaub

Sandra Bullock is one of modern cinema's ultimate rom-com queens, thanks to her generous contributions to the genre. 1995's holiday rom-com While You Were Sleeping, one of the most underappreciated Christmas films, sees her starring opposite Bill Pullman and Peter Gallagher in the story about Lucy, a woman who saves Peter, her longtime crush, from an oncoming train. Mistaking her for his finacée, his family takes her in, but things get complicated when she develops feelings for Peter's brother.

Although the plot is admittedly silly and perhaps a tad questionable under the modern gaze, While You Were Sleeping soars thanks to Bullock's endearing portrayal of loneliness and longing. The film finds Bullock at her warmest and most sympathetic, almost single-handedly elevating the formulaic premise and turning it into a feel-good classic.

While You Were Sleeping

PG

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

*Availability in US

Release Date

April 21, 1995

Director

Jon Turteltaub

Cast

Sandra Bullock , Bill Pullman , Peter Gallagher , Peter Boyle , Jack Warden , Glynis Johns

Runtime

103

28 'Fire Island' (2022)

Directed by Andrew Ahn

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice stands as one of the books that cinema most often adapts. However, few adaptations feel as fresh or topical as 2022's Fire Island, a gender-bent, LGBTQ+ take on Austen's most famous romance. The plot centers on a group of gay friends on holiday at Fire Island, finding love but facing challenges that might risk their bond.

Fire Island, one of the top romantic comedies of the 2020s so far, feels like a genuinely interesting take on Austen's novel. The film keeps the story's main themes but reframes them under the queer perspective, delivering a satisfying tale of romance, identity, social expectations, and class. Thanks to a ravishing cast, a clever screenplay, and an earnest, empathetic portrayal of LGBTQ+ sexuality and romance, Fire Island is among the best modern rom-coms.

Fire Island

R

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

June 3, 2022

Director

Andrew Ahn

Cast

Joel Kim Booster , Bowen Yang , Margaret Cho , Conrad Ricamora

Runtime

105 minutes

27 '(500) Days of Summer' (2009)

Directed by Marc Webb

The antidote to the classic romantic comedy, Marc Webb's often misinterpreted but always delightful classic (500) Days of Summer stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. The plot centers on the complicated relationship between Tom, a hopeless romantic, and Summer, a cynical woman unwilling to commit to him.

(500) Days of Summer features one of the most intriguing plots in any modern rom-com. Challenging audiences' notions about love and romance, the film presents a narrative that subverts familiar tropes, offering a more nuanced and realistic approach to the boy-meets-girl tale. It's bittersweet almost to the point of being tragic, but it's an undeniably satisfying alternative to the saccharine offerings that dominate the rom-com genre.

(500) Days of Summer

PG-13

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

*Availability in US

Release Date

July 17, 2009

Director

Marc Webb

Cast

Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Zooey Deschanel , Geoffrey Arend , Chloe Moretz , Matthew Gray Gubler , Clark Gregg

See Also

Disney's First R-Rated Movie Was This Scathing, Underappreciated Satire

Runtime

95

Main Genre

Comedy

26 'Shrek 2' (2004)

Directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, and Conrad Vernon

Back in 2001, Shrek changed the game. One of DreamWorks Animation's earliest works, the movie proved that fairy tale animated movies could be something exaggeratedly different to what audiences had been used to for decades. Somehow, DreamWorks raised the bar even higher with Shrek 2, by far the best sequel they've made so far, where the titular character and Fiona, recently married, go to visit her parents in the kingdom of Far Far Away, which happens to be far, far away.

Charming, hilarious, and delightfully romantic, Shrek 2 is a beautiful comedy about marriage, acceptance, and the experience of learning to love oneself. Aside from excellent music, great animation, and a star-studded voice cast, it boasts many of the most iconic moments in DreamWorks' history, from the enchanting beginning montage to the edge-of-your-seat "I Need a Hero" sequence in the third act.

Shrek 2

PG

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

*Availability in US

Release Date

May 19, 2004

Director

Andrew Adamson , Kelly Asbury , Conrad Vernon

Cast

Mike Myers , Eddie Murphy , Cameron Diaz , Julie Andrews , Antonio Banderas , John Cleese

Runtime

93 minutes

25 'The Shop Around the Corner' (1940)

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch

James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan star in Ernst Lubitsch's romantic comedy The Shop Around the Corner. The plot centers on two employees at a Budapest store who can't stand each other. Unbeknownst to them, they are falling in love by anonymously exchanging letters with each other. It's always delightful to see early depictions of tried-and-true rom-com tropes, and here it's no exception.

The Shop Around the Corner features a classic rom-com premise of mistaken identity and unexpected love. More interestingly, it subverts classic notions about this notoriously elusive and ever-changing feeling, challenging classic perceptions about what it truly feels like to fall in love. Aided by the chaotic chemistry between Stewart and Sullivan, the film delivers an acidic take on relationships and love perfect for cynics and hopeless romantics.

Rent on Amazon

24 '10 Things I Hate About You' (1999)

Directed by Gil Junger

The late Heath Ledger stars opposite 90s icon Julia Stiles in the 1999 teen rom-com 10 Things I Hate About You. A modern retelling of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, the plot centers on rebellious student Patrick Verona, paid by meek classmate Cameron James to seduce the abrasive Kat James so that Cameron can date her sister, popular pretty girl Bianca.

10 Things I Hate About You is a certified 90s classic. Strengthened by the fiery chemistry between Ledger and Stiles, the film is a clever updating of one of Shakesperare's naughtiest and most playful works. It doesn't always rise above tropes typical of the teen genre, but 10 Things I Hate About You still stands out as a smart and funny rom-com whose reputation keeps improving.

10 Things I Hate About You

PG-13

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

*Availability in US

Release Date

March 31, 1999

Director

Gil Junger

Cast

Heath Ledger , Julia Stiles , Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Larisa Oleynik , Larry Miller , Andrew Keegan

Runtime

97 minutes

23 'Crazy Rich Asians' (2018)

Directed by Jon M. Chu

2018's Crazy Rich Asians was a groundbreaking commercial and critical success, proving that the rom-com was far from dead. The film stars Constance Wu as Rachel Chu, who travels to Singapore with her longtime boyfriend only to discover he belongs to one of the country's wealthiest families. Dealing with far more than she had anticipated, Rachel's relationship is put to the test.

Based on the eponymous 2013 novel, Crazy Rich Asians was a milestone achievement for Asian representation. The film is a triumph of the classic rom-com formula, updating but respecting it and delivering a visual and romantic spectacle that enchanted critics and audiences. With a terrific cast, including a scene-stealing turn from the ever-reliable Michelle Yeoh, Crazy Rich Asians is among the 2010s' best rom-coms.

Crazy Rich Asians

PG-13

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

August 15, 2018

Director

Jon M. Chu

Cast

Constance Wu , Henry Golding , Michelle Yeoh , Gemma Chan , Awkwafina , Chris Pang

Runtime

121 mins

22 'Jerry Maguire' (1996)

Directed by Cameron Crowe

Cameron Crowe directed Tom Cruise to his second Oscar nomination with his 1996 romantic sports comedy Jerry Maguire. The plot revolves around the titular character, a sports agent who starts his own management firm alongside a single mother, Dorothy Boyd, played by Renée Zellweger in her breakthrough role.

Jerry Maguire is among the best films of 1996, the perfect marriage between a sports dramedy and a rom-com, with Cruise delivering arguably his best performance as the passionate but struggling Jerry Maguire. Thanks to Crowe's intelligent, tender, and impossibly quotable screenplay, and with Cruise and Zellweger's charming chemistry as the fiery fuel to keep it going, Jerry Maguire is a smashing success, proving that there's more to the rom-com than tears and laughter.

Jerry Maguire

R

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

December 13, 1996

Director

Cameron Crowe

Cast

Tom Cruise , Cuba Gooding Jr. , Renée Zellweger , Kelly Preston , Jerry O'Connell , Jay Mohr

Runtime

139 minutes

21 'Love Actually' (2003)

Directed by Richard Curtis

Richard Curtis' Christmas rom-com Love Actually stars an epic ensemble of British talent, including Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson, Bill Nighy, Keira Knightley, Laura Linney, and the late Alan Rickman. Set throughout the five weeks before Christmas, the film features several loosely connected storylines about love, friendship, longing, and loss.

Love Actually marks Curtis' directorial debut, with the film juggling many of the famous trademarks that made him a household name in the rom-com genre. It might not be particularly polished, but Love Actually thrives on the strength of a stellar ensemble that brings a refreshingly honest and vulnerable approach to the crowded screenplay. Touching, funny, and outright unforgettable, Love Actually is a modern Christmas classic as joyful and irresistible as the season it revolves around.

Love Actually

R

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

September 7, 2003

Director

Richard Curtis

Cast

Bill Nighy , Gregor Fisher , Rory MacGregor , Colin Firth , Sienna Guillory , Liam Neeson

Runtime

135 minutes

20 'Clueless' (1995)

Directed by Amy Heckerling

The Jane Austen adaptations strike again; this time, it's Austen's most confident, brattiest and, in many ways, modern heroine, Emma Woodhouse, who receives an updating courtesy of Amy Heckerling. Clueless stars Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz, a handsome, clever, and rich high school student living in Beverly Hills and using her charm and beauty to get her way.

It wouldn't be an overstatement to call Clueless the best of the many Austen updates. Heckerling's adaptation is clever and timely, seamlessly updating the main themes in Austen's seminal novel and transitioning them to 90s Beverly Hills. For her part, Silverstone delivers a charismatic, star-making performance as the assured and vain yet sympathetic and inspiring Cher, whose romance with Josh, her step-brother of only a few weeks, makes for an unexpectedly winsome love story. Funny, endearing, and endlessly quotable, Clueless is a pop culture masterpiece.

Clueless

PG-13

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

*Availability in US

Release Date

July 19, 1995

Director

Amy Heckerling

Cast

Alicia Silverstone , Stacey Dash , Brittany Murphy , Paul Rudd , Donald Faison , Elisa Donovan

Runtime

97 minutes

19 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' (1961)

Directed by Blake Edwards

Audrey Hepburn cemented her place as a screen icon with her now-iconic portrayal of Holly Golightly in Blake Edwards' 1961 rom-com Breakfast at Tiffany's. The plot centers on Paul Varjak, a struggling writer who falls for Holly, a free-spirited and erratic café society girl. With great music, elegant visuals, and a memorable story, it stands out as one of the most essential films of the '60s.

Breakfast at Tiffany's has little in common with Truman Capote's original novella. It changes the themes and plot, sacrificing Capote's dramatic cautionary tale in favor of a lighter romantic plot. However, the film excels as a romantic comedy thanks to Hepburn's charming performance and her chemistry with George Peppard. Hepburn's Holly is a bona fide cinematic legend, a fashion goddess whose effortless glamour and unassuming allure have turned her into a near-perfect embodiment of the romantic comedy genre.

Breakfast at Tiffany's

NR

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date

October 6, 1961

Director

Blake Edwards

Cast

Audrey Hepburn , George Peppard , Patricia Neal , Buddy Ebsen , Martin Balsam , José Luis de Villalonga

Runtime

115 minutes

18 'The Big Sick' (2017)

Directd by Michael Showalter

Based on his real-life story with his wife Emily V. Gordon, who co-wrote the screenplay, The Big Sick stars Kumail Nanjiani opposite Zoe Kazan, Ray Romano, and Holly Hunter. The plot revolves around an interracial couple who must deal with their inherent differences after she becomes ill. Perfectly mixing laughs with genuinely hard-hitting drama, it's a movie that's easy to fall in love with and impossible to forget.

The Big Sick is the rare rom-com that is truly and ridiculously hilarious. Filled with natural, laugh-out-loud moments that perfectly dissect the nature of the couple's chaotic yet loving relationship, The Big Sick is a thoughtful, clever, and affecting exploration of culture, tradition, love, and faithfulness. Funny, wise, and heartbreaking, The Big Sick is arguably the best rom-com from the 2010s.

Watch on Amazon Prime

17 'My Best Friend's Wedding' (1997)

Directed by P.J. Hogan

Julia Roberts stars opposite Dermot Mulroney and Cameron Diaz in P. J. Hogan's subversive 1997 rom-com My Best Friend's Wedding. The film follows Julianne Potter, a 28-year-old food critic who receives news that her lifelong best friend is marrying Kimberly Wallace, a beautiful young heiress. Realizing she is in love with him, Julianne agrees to be maid of honor to disrupt the wedding from within.

Many might say Pretty Woman is Roberts' best 90s rom-com; however, some of its elements have aged poorly, unlike My Best Friend's Wedding, which still feels fresh 25 years later. The film was a return to form for Roberts after a string of commercial and critical failures. More importantly, My Best Friend's Wedding proves that she's one of the genre's undisputed queens, unafraid of disrupting the classic formula to tell an original and bittersweet story about lost love. Roberts delivers a tricky performance that can easily be unlikable; however, one flash of her winning smile is enough to make audiences empathize with Julianne, even when she is objectively wrong.

Rent on Apple TV

16 'The Worst Person in the World' (2021)

Directed by Joachim Trier

Joachim Trier created a certified classic of the 21st century with his acidic 2021 romantic comedy, The Worst Person in the World. Renate Reinsve stars as Julie, a young Norwegian woman struggling to find her path and purpose while dealing with a complicated love life involving two men.

Few romantic comedy movies are as richly affecting as The Worst Person in the World. Reinsve is an instant icon of the millennial generation: messy, lost, self-sabotaging, and aimless, an imperfect figure that might as well become a new cinematic archetype. Insightful and thought-provoking, The Worst Person in the World is a profound exploration of purpose and meaning, a layered character study, and a bittersweet love letter to the wild and chaotic feeling of restlessness that haunts and defines those crucial formative years.

Watch on Hulu