If there’s one thing to know about me, it’s that I love a good rom-com. There’s just something magical about watching two people overcome every obstacle to find their way to each other and fall in love along the way. But, what really gets me is a rom-com with a festive holiday twist. As someone who fully believes the holiday season officially begins on Nov. 1, I’m kicking things off with my top five favorite holiday rom-coms that are guaranteed to make your heart melt during this holiday season!
1. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING
Yes, I do consider While You Were Sleeping starring Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman to be a holiday film! Released in 1995, it’s truly a perfect cozy holiday movie to watch. Set in Chicago during Christmas, the film follows Lucy, a lonely transit worker who saves her longtime crush from an oncoming train, only to be mistaken for his fiancée while he’s in a coma. As she becomes unexpectedly close to his warm, chaotic family (and his charming brother Jack), Lucy finds herself caught between her lie and her heart. It’s a charming, heartfelt story filled with laughter, unexpected twists, and the kind of romantic tension that defines a great rom-com. And of course, Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman’s effortless and hilarious chemistry makes it impossible not to root for them. From start to finish, While You Were Sleeping is the perfect film to curl up with during the holiday season!
2. The Holiday
It feels almost criminal to not put out one of the most iconic holiday films of the past decades: The Holiday! Released in 2006 with an all-star cast consisting of Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Jack Black, it’s truly the perfect rom-com with a fun holiday twist! The film follows two women: a high profile Hollywood producer from Los Angeles named Amanda, and column editor from England named Iris. After facing heartbreak, the women decide to swap homes for the holidays and as they step into each other’s worlds, they both find unexpected love and new beginnings in the most heartwarming ways. The Holiday perfectly captures that blend of romance, laughter, and holiday magic that makes it a timeless favorite in my book!
3. Last Holiday
Gosh, how I love when Queen Latifah gets in her acting bag! Especially in a rom com! Last Holiday is such a fun film to watch this holiday season! Released in 2006, it follows Georgia, a sweet but often disrespected department store assistant, who is told that she has a rare brain condition and only has a few weeks to live. Instead of waiting for the inevitable, she decides to use her last weeks to splurge on a luxurious vacation to Europe where she finds love, and finally figures out who she truly is! It’s an incredibly hilarious and fun film to watch, but also moving and beautiful to watch during the holiday season. Also, Queen Latifah is incredible in this movie and her outfits are to die for! Her romance with LL Cool J is a welcome and sweet surprise that gives this film the rom-com energy that it deserves!
4. Holidate
So, I have been talking about a lot of 90’s and 2000’s holiday rom coms, I thought it would only be fitting to talk about one that has come out in recent years! Holidate was released in 2020, and I honestly can’t recommend it more! Starring Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey, the film centers around two single people, Sloane and Jackson, who are fed up with the pressures of dating and family expectations during the holidays. They agree to be each other’s “holidate,” which is a strictly platonic plus-one for every festive occasion throughout the year. Of course, as the holidays roll on, their fake arrangement starts to feel a little too real and feelings begin to emerge. With Roberts and Bracey’s phenomenal chemistry and comedic timing, Holidate is a great self-aware take on modern romance, with a holiday twist!
5. Love Actually
Last, but certainly not least, how could I do a holiday rom com list without mentioning my favorite Christmas movie of all time: Love Actually! Love Actually is truly an iconic holiday film. Released in 2003, it’s a staple of not only British cinema, but also the holiday season as well! Featuring an iconic cast of British icons, ranging from rom-com kings Hugh Grant and Colin Firth to Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Alan Rickman, and many more, Love Actually beautifully weaves together multiple love stories set in London during the holiday season. Each storyline captures a different side of love, from the sweet and spontaneous to the heartbreaking realness of it all, culminating in a joyful, emotional celebration of love and connection during the holiday season. To me, Love Actually is the perfect must-watch movie during the holiday season.
All five of these movies are the perfect cozy and heartwarming films to watch this holiday season! I hope my list inspires you to grab a blanket, pour some hot cocoa, and fall in love with these rom-coms like I do every year!