You can always rely on a reliable, romantic comedic movie to send you merrily daydreaming into a world of pure love and romance. Not only are romantic comedies uplifting, but they’re full of hope with simple storylines that rarely require a thinking cap. Cast your mind back to some of the greatest romantic comedies that Americans just can’t get enough of.
Crazy, Stupid, Love
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone lead an ensemble cast in this romantic comedy about love, lust, and life’s unexpected twists and turns. The film’s clever script and relatable characters make it less sugar-coated than many romantic comedies. Steve Carrell is a great watch.
When Harry Met Sally
This classic rom-com starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal explored the age-old question: Can men and women really be friends? The question still looms. With its witty banter, memorable New York City backdrop, and some classic one-liners, this film has stood the test of time.
Pretty Woman
Julia Roberts and Richard Gere made a perfect couple on screen as the wealthy businessman who falls for a prostitute. The premise sounds far more complex than the film itself, but it was the modern-day fairy tale that we fell for. Audiences couldn’t resist the charm and chemistry between the leads, and the soundtrack was excellent.
You’ve Got Mail
Tom Hanks and 80s rom-com legend Meg Ryan reunited in this heartwarming tale of online romance set against the backdrop of the early days of the internet. It’s an interesting flashback to a time when internet dating was less than a notion in someone’s brain. It’s a nostalgic favorite that captures the pre-dating site excitement of falling in love online.
The Proposal
Comedy stars Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds star in this hilarious rom-com about a high-powered executive who forces her assistant to marry her to avoid deportation. You can always rely on Sandra Bullock to deliver the humor, but the added heartfelt moments make it an uplifting classic.
The Princess Diaries
Anne Hathaway shone as an awkward teenager who discovered she’s a princess in this charming coming-of-age rom-com. Who knew that pop royalty Whitney Houston produced the movie? Julie Andrews added some classic regal flair as her grandmother, Queen Clarisse.
10 Things I Hate About You
For many of us, it was our first sighting of the multi-talented Heath Ledger, and he played the lovesick teen as convincingly as he did the Joker. The movie is a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, with Julia Stiles giving her best as an angst-ridden adolescent.
My Best Friend’s Wedding
80s favorite Julia Roberts features again, but this time, she stars as a woman who realizes she’s in love with her best friend just as he’s about to marry someone else. Awkward. The film’s mix of comedy and heartache has made it a beloved classic, with some great performances from an A-list cast.
Hitch
If you want a great rom-com lined with laugh-out-loud humor, here’s your movie. Will Smith stars as a smooth-talking date doctor who helps men woo the women of their dreams. The ever-bashful and delightfully awkward Kevin James is a delight. It’s also pretty rare to see a male-centered romantic comedy.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey make the perfect couple in this battle of the sexes rom-com about a journalist trying to drive away a man in 10 days while he tries to make her fall in love with him. It’s a hilarious game of cat and mouse, and their on-screen chemistry makes you wish they were a real-life couple. Apologies to their respective partners.
The Notebook
Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams star in this sweeping romance about a young couple who fall in love one summer but are torn apart by cruel societal expectations. Be warned, this romantic movie is also a tearjerker, and you’ll cry a lot. It’s an American favorite, but it isn’t for the overly emotional.
Notting Hill
The Brits certainly know how to deliver a rom-com, and Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant shone in this charming rom-com about a bookstore owner who falls for a famous actress. With its London setting, endearing characters, and bumbling awkwardness from the lovable Hugh Grant, it’s a feel-good favorite.
Sleepless in Seattle
The rarely-seen Meg Ryan strikes again, and once again, she teamed up with Tom Hanks for this romantic comedy about two strangers brought together by fate and the power of love. Modern rom-coms just don’t do one-liners like they used to, but this movie has more than a generous offering.
Love Actually
This star-packed ensemble rom-com follows the interconnected lives of several characters in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It features unrequited love from The Walking Dead star Andrew Lincoln, an office betrayal at the hands of Alan Rickman, and a grieving father played by action hero Liam Neeson. It has become a holiday classic.
The Holiday
England meets Los Angeles in this heartwarming rom-com starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet. The actresses star as two women who swap homes for the holidays and find love in the most unexpected places. With its cozy atmosphere and charming performances from Jude Law and Jack Black, it’s the perfect winter romance.
Bridget Jones’s Diary
Texan favorite Renée Zellweger stars as the lovable but clumsy Bridget Jones in this adaptation of Helen Fielding’s novel. After reading the novels, audiences doubted her ability to take on the role, particularly questioning the denial of a British actress, but Zellweger gave us the perfect Bridget. This is a favorite rom-com for all.
13 Going on 30
Jennifer Garner stars as a 13-year-old girl who wakes up in her 30-year-old body and gets a second chance to make her dreams come true. The movie is similar to the 1976 movie Freaky Friday, which starred Jodie Foster, but still takes up its own space in the rom-com landscape. It’s a fun and nostalgic romp through the ’80s and ’90s.
Serendipity
John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale star in this romantic tale of destiny and love at first sight. Aside from Cusack’s classic wisecracks, the movie gets you thinking about the small things in life that we can easily miss. A heartwarming movie that presents a great philosophy about embracing the moment.
