The 63 Best Romantic Comedy Movies of All Time
From Love, Simon to Mamma Mia!, and every Hollywood classic in between.
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Are romcoms the best movies out there? We think they might be. They’re funny. They’re romantic. Sometimes they’re so bad, they’re good. What more could you want from a movie?
We love to press play on a romcom for a girls night with some wine or for a romantic date night with some sushi. There’s just something about laughing (or sometimes crying, or even cringing) together, knowing the movie will have a happy ever after at the end. From the meet-cute to the hijinks to the confession, most romcoms follow a formula — and we eat it up every single time. And in the end, they set our romantic standards just a little bit higher.
This list of the best romantic comedies features both new and classic hits, including romantic comedies on Netflix and some of the best queer romance movies out there. So pop some popcorn and settle in with these silly and sexy flicks.
Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
Middle aged Cal (Steve Carell) divorces his wife after she has an affair. He meets pick-up artist Jacob (Ryan Gosling) who helps transform his look and teaches him how to seduce women — but is that really what they both want?
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
After a devastating breakup with his girlfriend Sarah, Peter retreats to island resort to heal his broken heart. There’s only one problem: Sarah is staying in the room next to his, and she’s brought her new rock star boyfriend.
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
When Rachel travels to Singapore for a wedding with her boyfriend, she's shocked to discover that his family is, well, crazy rich. She has to navigate jealous women and his family disapproving of her background to try to find a happily ever after in this funny and opulent flick.
Definitely, Maybe (2008)
Will (Ryan Reynolds) is a thirty-something going through divorce in New York. When his hilariously precocious young daughter asks about her mother, he tells her the stories of three women he loved, not telling her which one is her mother. Heartfelt with unexpected laughs, this grown up romcom will have you guessing until the end.
Miss Congeniality (2000)
In this blend of action and romantic comedy, Sandra Bullock stars as Gracie, a rough around the edges FBI agent who must go undercover in the Miss United States pageant when it's threatened by a terrorist. Overseeing her mission to find her feminine side and perform in the pageant is FBI agent Eric (Benjamin Bratt), who she both fights and flirts with.
The Princess Bride (1987)
This charmingly campy love story is one of the most quoted movies of all time. Buttercup (Robin Wright) loses her true love Westley (Cary Elwes) at sea. Years later, she’s betrothed to the loathsome Prince Humperdink and must be rescued by the Dread Pirate Roberts and a colorful cast of misfits. For true love to win, together they must overcome the Fire Swamp, the Pit of Despair, Rodents of Unusual Size, forced “mawwiage” and death itself.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, this teen flick sees outspoken Kat (Julia Stiles) fall for the unrelentingly charming Patrick (Heath Ledger). The only problem? Patrick is being paid to date Kat, and she doesn’t know it. It’s hard not to swoon watching Patrick’s feelings become real.
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
Struggling indie bookstore owner Kathleen falls in love with a guy on the internet. But she doesn't realize it’s her business rival Joe (Tom Hanks), who opened a chain bookstore across the street that is putting her out of business. It’s a riff on the classic The Shop Around the Corner with charming ‘90s tech.
Love, Simon (2018)
This sweet teen romance is a coming-of-age story about coming out and searching for love. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows as Simon learns how to embrace his identity, especially as he is blackmailed to come out. But he has also fallen in love with an anonymous classmate online, and they must search for each other to find happiness together
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Here we go again! This romantic comedy is an ABBA jukebox musical, making it almost impossible not to sing or dance along. Growing up on a tiny Greek island, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) has never known who her father is. When she invites all three prospective dads (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgård) to her wedding without warning her mom (Meryl Streep), hilarity ensues.
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The Proposal (2009)
High-powered publishing agent Margaret (Sandra Bullock) browbeats her employee Andrew (Ryan Reynolds) into a green card marriage to avoid her deportation. An awkward visit to his family ensues, with sometimes raunchy family hijinks led by Andrew’s grandma (Betty White). Can they go through with their plot, or does meeting the family change everything?
Pretty Woman (1990)
This iconic romcom sees businessman Edward (Richard Gere) hiring Hollywood prostitute Vivian (Julia Roberts). As they unexpectedly fall in love, they must learn how to reconcile their worlds as Vivian learns how to live the high life. Not watching this movie would be a “Big mistake. Big. Huge."
Red, White & Royal Blue (2023)
Alex (Taylor Zakhar Perez), the son of the President of the United States, and England’s Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine) hate each other. After a fight at a royal wedding creates an international embarrassment, the two are forced into a press tour to pose as friends. But as hatred shifts to love, they must learn how to navigate coming out, international politics and defying expectations.
She's the Man
Inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, this rom-com is a genderswap classic. Viola (Amanda Bynes) pretends to be her male twin to play on his all-boys boarding school’s soccer team. A ridiculous love triangle ensues as she falls in love with her hunky roommate Duke (Channing Tatum), who is in love with the beautiful Olivia, who in turn is in love with Viola, thinking she is a boy.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Can men and women ever truly just be friends? That's the question this film by rom-com queen Nora Ephron attempts to answer. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal's chemistry just bleeds through the screen, and who can forget that iconic moment at Katz's Deli? With scenes including Central Park in the fall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and plenty of bustling streetscapes, it's also a love letter to New York City.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
For those who like their romantic comedies with a little science fiction flare, this collab between director Michel Gondry and writer Charlie Kaufman is the one. Jim Carrey plays a man, spurned by a breakup, who agrees to a procedure to erase the memories of his ex, Clementine (Kate Winslet). But as his memories of her disappear, he realizes he still has feelings for her.
But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)
This campy cult classic satirizes the idea of conversion therapy, starring a young Natasha Lyonne. Megan is sent away to a conversion camp when her parents decide she is gay. At camp, she must come to terms with her identity and the hypocrisy of the camp (which is led by RuPaul) — and she falls in love in the process.
Moonstruck (1987)
In what might be Cher's best acting performance, she stars as a young widow living with her Italian American family in Brooklyn Heights. She plans to get remarried, but things get complicated when she meets her fiancé's brother (Nicolas Cage). He seems all wrong for her, but there's undeniable chemistry.
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Love and Basketball (2000)
We love a sweet story about childhood sweethearts. In this one, Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps play next-door neighbors who fall for each other. But their ambitions get in the way of their romance since they both strive to play professional basketball.
Always Be My Maybe (2019)
In comedian Ali Wong’s directorial debut, she also plays Sasha Tran, a celebrity chef who returns home to San Francisco to open a restaurant. Of course, she runs into her childhood BFF, Marcus Kim (Randall Park) whose life hasn't exactly gone as planned. Sparks fly, banter follows and so does plenty of drama.
Sarah Vincent (she/her) covers the latest and greatest in books and all things pets for Good Housekeeping. She double majored in Creative Writing and Criminal Justice at Loyola University Chicago, where she sat in the front row for every basketball game. In her spare time, she loves cooking, crafting, studying Japanese, and, of course, reading.
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