With recent releases like Anyone But You, No Hard Feelings and The Idea of You, there's a sense that the romcom is being revived. Yet, we can't help but feel that they don't make them like they used to. From mid-century classics like Breakfast at Tiffany's and Roman Holiday to the cinematic worlds crafted by Nora Ephron, Richard Curtis, and Nancy Meyers, modern romcoms have to really pull out all the stops if they want to win 90 minutes of our attention.
So what competition are they up against? From Notting Hill to 10 Things I Hate About You, there are plenty of romcoms considered classic. Here are 32 we think are the best.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Discussing romcoms without first paying respect to Nora Ephron's finest masterpiece? Straight to jail. A will-they-won't-they storyline that's well-observed in the politics of dating between men and women. When Harry Met Sally is a tier above the rest because the romance between the film's titular pair brews over years. It gave us that orgasm scene in Katz's and a cosy aesthetic to cling to. It's at the top of this list because yes, it's officially The Greatest Rom Com Of All Time.
Bridget Jones' Diary (2001)
The second best? That award would have to go to the adaptation of Helen Fielding's magnum opus. Intensely relatable, cosy, comedic and stacked with a dishy cast, fashion faux pas, sharp one-liners, and yes, a Christmas storyline. We'll take four, which is lucky since the final (we've heard that before) instalment of Ms Jones' diary is heading our way. This is on repeat whenever the mercury dips into the single digits.
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Picture this: New York in the 1960s, a woman with a wardrobe full of Givenchy and a closed-off heart who sometimes strums an acoustic guitar and sings on the fire escape. A hapless but handsome man. And the kind of Vaseline-on-the-lens cinematography that screams romance. Truman Capote's short story sparkles to the score of Henry Mancini.
There's Something About Mary (1998)
As a kid, I used to get Ben Stiller and Adam Sandler mixed up, and I blame it solely on their work in romcoms. There's Something About Mary and Along Came Polly are spiritually in sync with Sandler's 50 First Dates and The Wedding Singer. But that's a thesis for someone else to flesh out. Heavy on the comedy, and admittedly a lot of the jokes haven't aged well, but who doesn't love a dose of 90s Cameron Diaz and her heartthrob bob?
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
It's Richard Curtis, Nora Ephron and Nancy Meyers against the world. Now that we've established that, let us call upon one of Curtis' best: Four Weddings and a Funeral. With a cast that reads as a who's who of great British actors and a plot that deals with the worst and best bits about weddings, appealing to cynics and romantics alike, each rewatch surfaces something meaty and new. We also adore the costuming, particularly those worn by Kristin Scott Thomas and Charlotte Coleman. Plus, it has some of the greatest on-screen speeches I've seen, including a moving reading of Auden.
The Princess Bride (1987)
Haven't yet seen The Princess Bride? Inconceivable! The adaptation of William Golding's beloved fantasy novel is faithful, if not better, than the source material. Starring Robin Wright as Princess Buttercup and Cary Elwes as the fearless Westley, it's an 80s cult classic that will tug at your heartstrings. True love triumphs all, especially with the help of giants, swordsmen, poison, and miracle workers.
The Holiday (2006)
Why do so many great romcoms take place around Christmas time? Well, it's cuffing season of course. And like birthdays and New Year's, Jesus' birthday is a marker of time passing. As The Holiday posits, it passes painfully or with pleasure whether you're alone (unwillingly) or have someone to share it with. This Nancy Meyer's romp gets an A+ from team RUSSH, a romantic comedy crammed with meet cutes. There's a cosy English cottage, star-crossed romance, a cameo from Dustin Hoffman, antics from Jack Black and female solidarity between Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz. Personally, I adore the ASMR in the scene of Diaz loading up her shopping trolley in preparation for a night in bed.
Suddenly 30 (2004)
The definition of "I'm just a girl". Once again, a fashion movie. But also, a great romcom, especially for young women who dreamed of working in magazines and having the means to support their budding shopping addictions. Also, a reminder that Mark Ruffalo has always been end game? Sweet, sensitive... a total heart throb. Jennifer Garner is pretty cute too – especially in that striped Versace dress.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
If you can survive a Russell Brand jump scare, this Nicholas Stoller romcom is worth a rewatch. For fans of Dolly Alderton, it sits in conversation with her latest novel Good Material. Think: slovenly male lead, played by Jason Segel, left reeling after a breakup he didn't see coming. The final conversation between Segel and Kristen Bell's Sarah Marshall is particularly satisfying, giving audiences the necessary two sides to the story of their relationship's breakdown. We like the way it flips tropes like the crazy ex-girlfriend on its head and is brave enough to show male full-frontal nudity (prepare to see a new side of Segel), though it still manages to make a Manic Pixie Dream Girl of Mila Kunis.
Moonstruck (1987)
When the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie, that's Moonstruck. A delicious, flamboyant film about worn-out people who could be cynical but choose love instead. It's difficult to really capture what makes it so great. On paper, it reads like a melodrama, a little strange with atypical romantic leads running around yelling about wolves, bad blood and the moon. The setting is mostly nocturnal, focusing on a Brooklyn-based Italian community in the 1980s – if all the pasta, shouting, and surplus of hairy people didn't register – starring Cher and Nicolas Cage. It also won three Oscars, what else do you want?
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Every generation gets their share of American high school romcoms. There's an argument that the 90s did it best – Clueless, She's All That, Never Been Kissed – with its crowning jewel undoubtedly 10 Things I Hate About You. A rewatch reminds you of its star power, featuring Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, Allison Janney, and revamp on American stereotypes like the brainiac, outsider, jock.
Obvious Child (2014)
A lesser known picture in A24's arsenal starring Jenny Slate, a comic heroine. Jake Lacy plays the nice guy, again. Gaby Hoffmann is the feminist voice of reason we all yearn for and who isn't addicted to Paul Simon's iconic track of the same name? Obvious Child is an endearing take on modern love.
Mississippi Masala (1991)
The screen debut of Sarita Choudhury, the actress develops a chemical bond with Denzel Washington's Demetrius in a tale that deals with colourism, migration, prejudice, familial responsibilities and history. Spanning India, Uganda and the American South, we see Mina and Demetrius negotiate these external pressures together while also just having a steaming hot romance.
Bridesmaids (2011)
Sure, there's romantic love (as there must be when Chris O'Dowd shows up to work) but the main romantic-comedy aspect of Bridesmaids occurs between two best friends. The strength of Annie and Lillian (played by Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph) bond is tested when Lillian's wedding lays bare insecurities around money, success, romance and friendship. Heightened stakes result in some of the most memorable comedy bits this side of 2000.
Amélie (2001)
A romance about how loving others can lead to greater love for ourselves. We promise it's more altruistic than it sounds! Thanks to Audrey Tautou, young girls around the world dreamed of cropping their hair, learning French and performing the part of ingénue. A case for opening our eyes and looking for the joy and magic in the everyday.
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
A stroke of genius that the two romantic leads only meet at the end of the movie, having never spoken once. Ephron's fingerprints are all over it. Also, both Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan look incredibly virile in this film, I think it's because both of them have thick, luscious hair. Also more Gaby Hoffmann? I love to see it.
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
A romcom entirely cast with Asian romantic leads? A first in Hollywood, at least for a long time, and totally refreshing as it offers unseen narratives and commentary on the intensely stratified social circles of upper crust Singapore. Old money and new money clash, as Rachel Chu, a professor from New York follows her boyfriend Nick to his best friend's wedding in Singapore where she learns he descends from the state's wealthiest families. A square-peg-round-hole storyline that will quench your thirst for a love story with texture.
Notting Hill (1999)
I'm also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her. What happens when a normie and a movie star fall in love? Well, lots of ego-managing and cowardice on William Thacker's – a travel book shop owner played by Hugh Grant – account. Julia Roberts is dextrous as Anna Scott, an actor who is hounded by the press and fame. We especially love her outfits and Rhys Ifans' procession of terrible-good t-shirts.
(500) Days of Summer (2009)
Similarly to Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Marc Webb's film disrupts the traditional romcom formula by following a relationship as it blooms and ends abruptly, until we learn that there were signs all along. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Tom Hansen who falls in love with Summer, but we learn Tom is an unreliable narrator and never really saw or listened to Summer. His idea of her was totally in contrast to the reality of her desires and their relationship, spurring the term Manic Pixie Dream Girl.
Muriel's Wedding (1994)
A visual masterpiece. The humour, the outfits, the gall of Rachel Griffiths, it feeds us every time. Although while Muriel is seeking romance, the most moving scenes occurs between her and Rhonda, a friendship that we can all relate and aspire to. Prepare to weep when Betty, Muriel's mother, wanders on screen. We though this was meant to be a comedy, so why the hell are we sobbing?
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
While we're of the belief that How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is actually a fashion film (that yellow dress, duh), it is also canon as far as romcoms are concerned. All begins with a typical battle-of-the-sexes conceit: man and woman begin dating, each guided by their own hidden motive, and soon fall in love for real. But the thing is, not all films have the dazzling alchemy between Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, and frankly, it's a tragedy.
Love Actually (2004)
As soon as it hits December 1, the world goes absolutely mad. Public transport is iced out in tinsel, shopping centres blast Wham! and every weekend is booked with at least three different Christmas obligations. But the most insane of all, is what happens to popular culture. If Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas is the soundtrack for December, then Love Actually is its movie equal. Must we watch it for the umpteenth time and spend the whole month lambasting Alan Rickman's (rip) character Harry about that adulterous necklace. Yes, actually, we do. Love Actually is the perfect romcom with a unparalleled ensemble cast. Netflix, if you're reading, this is how you do Christmas romance.
Easy A (2010)
The Scarlet Letter gets a modern remake, leading with Emma Stone and a roster of supporting characters including the likes of Stanley Tucci, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley and more.
Jamón Jamón (1992)
Put two of the sexiest people in the world together in the same film and watch the sparks fly. Silvia and Raul's sexual chemistry is palpable, in this melodrama from Bigas Luna meant as a satire filled with machismo, seduction and legs of cured ham. It also helps that Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem are married in real life, giving us completely unrealistic expectations for our own love lives.
Hairspray (2007)
Queen Latifah, Amanda Bynes, Zac Efron, Michelle Pfeiffer, John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Brittany Snow! Take a breath, there's more where that came from, and they all take on the beloved musical, transporting audiences to 1960s Baltimore during where segregation and fatphobia is rife, and the Civil Rights Movement is reaching its apex.
But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)
Honestly, it would be enough to put Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Michelle Williams, RuPaul and Julie Delpy in the same room. That would turn our heads. But the way this campy coming-of-age satire pokes holes in gay conversion therapy while advocating for queer acceptance makes it one for the repeat list.
50 First Dates (2004)
The continuation of Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler's collaborative partnership. Set to the lush backdrop of Hawaii, Henry meets Lucy in a diner and quickly falls head over heels. Things get complicated when he learns she suffers from short-term memory loss after a traumatic accident and struggles with new faces. Determined to stay in her life, Henry courts Lucy and her protective family, taking each day as an opportunity for romance.
Annie Hall (1977)
I won't let Woody Allen get in the way of a good time. While we can give or take his neurotic nattering, we do love Diane Keaton's portrayal of the titular character, her wardrobe, Shelley Duvall and the set design.
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Now, no more moody, brooding romcoms. We want drama! Theatrics! Foreshadowing! Colin Firth strumming a guitar! Oh, isn't Mamma Mia! absolute heaven? Between the Greek coastline, summery wardrobes, continental and intergenerational romance and campy ABBA covers, it's a perfect movie.
27 Dresses (2008)
Before Katherine Heigl was iced out of Hollywood for speaking her mind, she was the leading lady in her fair share of romcoms, Knocked Up and The Ugly Truth, no less. Looking back now, a lot of these romcoms got their kicks from humiliating women, but 27 Dresses escapes mostly unscathed. Heigl embodies the always-the-bridesmaid-never-the-bride character with Jane, a selfless romantic who shoulders the burdens of other people's weddings, until she finds out her sister is marrying the man of her dreams. With the help of a journalist, played by James Marsden, Jane finds her spine and stands up to her sister.
Pretty Woman (1990)
We all know things that are problematic with Pretty Woman; sex-workers don't need to be saved and that age gap was creepy. But isn't that the point of love, knowing something's flaws and adoring it anyway? That's how we feel about this classic romcom starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Giving audiences a runway show and everyone's ultimate high-end shopping revenge fantasy.
Ever After (1998)
How many romcoms have you watched that feature a nutty portrayal of Leonardo da Vinci? Ever After is pretty special, a Cinderella-inspired storyline set in renaissance-era France and starring Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston and Melanie Lynskey. With gorgeous period costumes to fawn over.
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