What makes a rom-com? Merriam-Webster defines a romantic comedy (rom-com) as “a light, comic movie or other work whose plot focuses on the development of a romantic relationship.” The definition is one we all know, and your favorite probably instantly pops into your head. Is it something from the 2000s? Are you a 13 Going on 30 kind of person? Maybe you prefer a tearjerker like 10 Things I Hate About You or The Notebook. Or you could go the chick-flick route with something like Bride Wars or Mamma Mia! Either way, you can close your eyes and picture a romantic comedy made in the 2000s or 2010s, and there will absolutely be a long list of fan favorites. There’s always a plethora of options to choose from that won’t fail to make you laugh and cry. Recently, I chose Anyone But You, the highly-anticipated, overly-advertised, romantic comedy starring Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeny. To say I’m a sucker for romance is one of the understatements of the century, so I was looking forward to this new movie. Prior to my viewing, I’d seen mixed reviews all over my social media pages, with many people calling it the resurgence of cheesy rom-coms, and others wishing for two hours of their lives back.
As your self-declared rom-com expert, I can confidently, without a doubt, strongly say… I didn’t know how to feel about it. It had all the makings of a great rom-com: the soundtrack, the gorgeous actors (with gorgeous chemistry), and a semi-predictable plot line. However, something about it was missing. This begged the question: what happened to good rom-coms? Where did they go? Are we forced to live the rest of our lives without a 10/10 movie because Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson are out of the game? Anyone But You was a breath of fresh, love-filled air after many failed attempts at rom-coms during the decade of the 2020s. Its hopeful plot got me thinking about movies that have lived up to the classics’ standards in these past years. To fulfill my romance-obsessed duty, here’s a list of 10 movies (and where to find them) that live up to the rom-com title. I can almost guarantee that they will either leave you smiling, tearing up, or simply thankful for the love around you.
2020s RomComs Worth Watching:
- Holidate
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This 2020 rom-com follows Emma Roberts’ character, Sloane Benson, as she tires of her family questioning her romantic life. Out of desperation, she takes the advice of her aunt (played by Kristin Chenoweth) to acquire a “holidate.” The movie follows Sloane and Brady as they navigate holidays together as each other’s designated date to events. Eventually, they also attempt to navigate their growing feelings for one another. This movie has all the makings of a classic rom-com with its great cast and comedic lines. I highly recommend this next time you’re aimlessly scrolling through Netflix for your next watch!
- Palm Springs
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Palm Springs follows Nyles (Andy Samburg) and Sarah (Cristin Milioti) as they attempt to work through a Groundhog Day-like situation at a wedding. This film puts a twist on the classic rom-com plot and keeps you on your toes through its entirety. Samburg’s infectious comedy shines through in Palm Springs and the movie holds its own as a Hulu Original.
- Desperados
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Another streaming service original, Netflix’s Desperados includes everything chick flick and girl trip with Nasim Pedrad and Lamorne Morris’ stellar chemistry to make this extremely comical movie. As a New Girl fan, this casting announcement had me hooked to watch Winston and Aly’s characters portrayed in a new plot line. Desperados follows Pedrad’s character throwing herself back into the dating pool, only to be met with twists and turns that lead her down many different paths — one being Mexico. In cheesy, silly, rom-com fashion, this movie delivered, and I highly recommend it to anyone with a Netflix subscription.
- Anyone But You
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The movie that started the conversation: Anyone But You. This film has all of the classic rom-com must-haves: the fake dating trope, the enemies to lovers, the destination wedding, and the dramatic professing of love. If you’re looking for a movie in theaters that will quench your rom-com thirst, look no further. While it wasn’t perfect, it delivered scenes that had my friends and me giggling and wishing for our very own Glen Powell by the end of it.
- The Half of It
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A movie with a tagline of “a different kind of love story” has big shoes to fill, and this one didn’t disappoint. The 2020 Netflix original, The Half of It, follows Ellie Chu, a shy high school student who gets paid to write her classmates’ papers. When Paul Munsky, a stereotypical jock, asks her to help him write love letters to his crush, she accepts, and a friendship begins to form. This movie borders on rom-com and teen coming-of-age, which is one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much on my first watch. The movie follows typical rom-com strategies but adds its own twist on certain aspects which is what makes it stand out. Where there would usually be a classic friends-to-lovers plot line, this film veers from the course and creates brilliant, lovable complex queer characters with intricate conflicts.
- Love in the Villa
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Another Netflix original, Love in the Villa follows Julie Hutton, a Romeo and Juliet-obsessed woman looking forward to her vacation in Verona. When she arrives, she comes to find out that her lodging has been double-booked with, you guessed it, a devilishly handsome, six-foot-five British man — what could go wrong? The movie follows Julie and Charlie (her unexpected roommate) as they attempt to co-exist peacefully in their respective areas and possibly even enjoy each other’s company. Love in the Villa is a constant rewatch for me because of its humorous moments, heartwarming plot, and wonderful soundtrack.
- About Fate
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Currently housed on Amazon’s Prime Video, About Fate is the perfect example of what a 21st-century rom-com should look like. The extremely creative and funny plot had me thinking about this movie for months after I first watched it and trying to convince all of my friends to give it a chance. Another Emma Roberts movie that serves lovey-dovey, fate-filled romance on a silver platter, About Fate single-handedly had me laughing, crying, and hoping for a movie-like love story that these characters had. The film follows Margot and Griffin, two characters with identical apartments who find themselves in a comical mix-up and form a friendship designed to help each other out. After spending the day together and being continuously pushed closer, the two have to consider if their meeting occurred by pure coincidence, or if fate was at play.
- Red, White, and Royal Blue
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After Prime picked up this book to movie adaptation, I was ecstatic to watch it come to life and thankfully wasn’t disappointed. Red, White, and Royal Blue follows a forbidden love story between Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of the President of the United States, and Prince Henry of Wales. It depicts a precious queer love story between Henry and Alex and never loses its comedic touch when covering deeper issues. As a book fan, this film not only lived up to its recreation standards but those of a true rom-com as well.
- The Hating Game
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Another book-to-screen adaptation that didn’t disappoint was Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game. This movie practically covers all of its rom-com bases: a workplace rivalry, an insane height difference, and a cold and un-smiling man who’s secretly a loverboy. While some find The Hating Game cringier than hoped for, I thought it not only did a great job of portraying these book characters onto the big screen but also created a love-filled funny movie. One that I’m not ashamed to admit I gravitate towards from time to time when scrolling through Hulu.
- Love at First Sight
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Last, but certainly not least, Netflix’s Love at First Sight is a perfect blend of a fate-filled love story and well written characters that leave an impact. This movie was recommended to me by a friend who knew it’d be right up my alley, as it’s filled with nerdy statistics about fate, a sweet British man, and a story comedically narrated by Jameela Jamil. Love at First Sight follows a couple who meet by chance and have to rely on fate to bring them back together. It’s a heartwarming story about love, family, and taking chances (and flights) you never thought possible.