These 26 romantic comedies make the case that the genre can be raunchy, bittersweet, absurd, tender, or all of those at once. This is an editorial selection, not an objective ranking: the films are chosen for the centrality of their romances, the way comedy shapes their stories, and the range of moods, eras, and perspectives they offer.
A useful test, suggested by critic Scott Meslow and quoted by TIME, is whether a film would still work if its love story were removed. If not—and if comedy meaningfully shapes that story—it has a strong claim to the rom-com label. The list moves broadly from early-century favorites to newer films, with no implication that a later title is better than an earlier one.
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How to choose a rom-com for your mood
Romantic comedies do not all promise the same thing. Some are built around a meet-cute and a satisfying couple; others find comedy in dating mishaps, mismatched expectations, or the awkwardness of trying to build a life with someone. A few lean more heavily into drama without losing their comic perspective.
Audience expectations vary, too. In a 2022 YouGov survey of 3,000 U.S. adult citizens, 71% said a rom-com should be humorous and 69% said its primary plot should revolve around a central romantic relationship. Yet respondents disagreed about conventions: 42% considered a meet-cute necessary and 37% did not. Those are opinions from a particular survey, not rules every film—or viewer—must follow.
- For a classic romantic setup: try Bridget Jones’s Diary, Hitch, or Set It Up.
- For love with a bittersweet edge: try (500) Days of Summer, About Time, or The Big Sick.
- For ensemble energy: try Love Actually or Crazy, Stupid, Love.
- For a fresh spin on familiar tropes: try Palm Springs, Rye Lane, or Always Be My Maybe.
- For queer romance: try Fire Island or Bros.
26 romantic comedies worth watching
1. Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Bridget’s romantic missteps are inseparable from her efforts to make sense of her own ambitions and insecurities. It is a warm, self-deprecating choice for viewers who like a heroine whose love life is messy rather than magically effortless.
2. Amélie (2001)
This whimsical French romance makes matchmaking, observation, and small acts of kindness part of its comic machinery. Its story is less about a standard battle of the sexes than about a shy woman learning to take part in the life she has been arranging for others.
3. Kissing Jessica Stein (2001)
A newspaper advertisement brings Jessica into a relationship that unsettles her assumptions about dating and desire. The film’s dry humor and conversational style make it a good pick for viewers who prefer character-driven romance to grand gestures.
4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
Romance is the catalyst, but family, cultural identity, and the pressure to fit in provide much of the comedy. Its appeal lies in watching two people negotiate not only their feelings for each other, but the very different worlds around them.
5. Love Actually (2003)
This ensemble holiday film follows several overlapping stories of love, longing, and miscommunication. Its many threads make it a natural choice when you want a big cast and a mix of romantic moods rather than one couple’s single arc.
Rank #2
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6. 50 First Dates (2004)
A man courts a woman whose short-term memory loss means each day begins without her remembering him. The high-concept premise puts unusual demands on the romance; the film pairs broad comedy with the question of what commitment means under those circumstances.
7. Hitch (2005)
Will Smith plays a dating adviser whose professional confidence is tested by his own attraction to a skeptical journalist. The film gets much of its fun from the gap between polished dating tactics and the vulnerability that real intimacy requires.
8. The Holiday (2006)
Two women swap homes across the Atlantic and find new possibilities in unfamiliar settings. With parallel romantic stories and a cozy seasonal atmosphere, it suits viewers looking for gentle escapism rather than sharp satire.
9. Knocked Up (2007)
An unexpected pregnancy forces two people with very different lifestyles to reckon with the consequences of a casual encounter. Its comedy is raunchier than a traditional courtship story, while the relationship develops amid questions of responsibility and compatibility.
10. (500) Days of Summer (2009)
This nonlinear account of a relationship separates what one person hopes love will be from what the other person actually offers. It is a smart choice for viewers who want a romantic comedy willing to question the idea that a couple’s story must end in a conventional happily-ever-after.
Rank #3
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11. Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)
Several generations’ romantic entanglements collide in this ensemble comedy about breakups, attraction, and the stories people tell themselves about love. Its shifting points of view make it especially satisfying for a group watch.
12. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Two complicated people form a connection while dealing with grief, family pressure, and mental-health struggles. It leans into romantic-comedy rhythms without making the characters’ difficulties disappear, so expect more emotional volatility than in a breezy meet-cute.
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A time-travel premise frames a romance and a wider reflection on how to live with the moments one has. The film’s humor is gentle, and its emotional reach extends beyond the couple—making it a good pick when you want a tearjerker as well as a love story.
14. Obvious Child (2014)
A struggling comedian faces an unplanned pregnancy and makes a decision that mainstream romantic comedies often sidestep. Its frankness and dry humor give it a distinct voice among films built around dating and adulthood.
15. Trainwreck (2015)
A commitment-averse magazine writer finds herself rethinking her assumptions after meeting a doctor. The comedy is brash and adult, while the romance turns on whether the characters can revise their ideas about who they are.
Rank #4
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16. The Big Sick (2017)
Based on the courtship of writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, the film combines a developing relationship with family conflict and a serious medical crisis. Its humor and drama share the same story rather than taking turns in separate compartments.
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17. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
A woman discovers that her boyfriend’s wealthy Singaporean family brings formidable expectations to their relationship. The film’s romance is wrapped in family and class conflict, with lavish spectacle and a strong ensemble around the couple.
18. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
Private love letters accidentally sent to their recipients set off a high-school romance built on a pretend relationship. Its teen perspective gives familiar rom-com devices a fresh, sweet tone.
19. Set It Up (2018)
Two overworked assistants try to pair off their demanding bosses and end up spending plenty of time together themselves. It is a brisk workplace rom-com for viewers who enjoy scheming as a route to self-discovery.
20. Long Shot (2019)
A journalist reconnects with a former babysitter who is now a high-profile politician, and their unexpected pairing becomes a source of both romance and political comedy. The premise lets the film play with the gap between public image and private connection.
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21. Always Be My Maybe (2019)
Childhood friends reconnect as adults after taking very different paths. The film uses the second-chance setup to explore ambition, old hurt, and the possibility of becoming close again without pretending time has stood still.
22. Palm Springs (2020)
Two wedding guests find themselves trapped in a time loop and begin a relationship under surreal circumstances. The high concept gives the comedy room to get strange while the romance asks what commitment looks like when tomorrow keeps repeating.
23. Bros (2022)
This contemporary gay rom-com follows two men who are wary of commitment but drawn to one another. Its dating comedy makes space for the characters’ differences and for questions of identity, community, and what a relationship should look like.
24. Fire Island (2022)
Inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, this queer ensemble comedy relocates the familiar tensions of status, attraction, and first impressions to a summer gathering among friends. The group dynamic is as important as any single romantic pairing.
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Two people dealing with recent breakups spend a day together in South London. Its vivid setting and playful energy make this a distinctive choice for viewers who want an urban meet-cute that feels rooted in a particular place.
26. Anyone But You (2023)
Two people whose first date goes badly pretend to be a couple at a destination wedding. The fake-dating setup leans into romantic-comedy spectacle and friction, making it a straightforward pick when you want a glossy, contemporary crowd-pleaser.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are these the objectively best rom-coms?
No single definitive ranking establishes the best romantic comedies of the century. Rotten Tomatoes’ guide and Den of Geek’s staff selection offer different reference pools, with different scopes and methods; they are useful places to see the genre’s range, not a shared consensus list. TIME’s account of early-2000s films also describes a period when filmmakers tried increasingly contrived premises while keeping the romantic story relatable.
The list here treats “best” as a matter of craft and fit: a central relationship that matters to the plot, comedy that shapes the telling, and a distinctive point of view or tone. That includes films that are light and conventional as well as those that complicate the usual happy-ending formula. Streaming availability changes by service, country, and date, so check the catalog in your region before planning a watch.
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