While rom-coms are fun to watch all year around, there is something truly magical about cozying up to romantic features during the season of love! Whether you have a special someone, a few galentines, or having a self-care night, a charming film starring America’s sweetheart, Julia Roberts, is the perfect choice of entertainment for a relaxing evening. But with so many nostalgic options, it might be difficult to find the right place to start, so here’s a ranking of the best of Julia Roberts’ romantic comedies!
First up, the beloved 80’s classic that made Julia Roberts a household name, Mystic Pizza (1988). Mystic Pizza focuses on Daisy (Roberts), her sister Kat (Annabeth Gish), and their friend JoJo (Lili Taylor) during their summer after high school in a town called Mystic. The three girls have a tight knit bond fortified through working together as waitresses at the local pizzeria, Mystic Pizza. The girls navigate through romantic relationships, friendships, family bonds, and more in this memorable and heartwarming feature. Mystic Pizza is available on HBO Max.
Up next, My Best Friend’s Wedding! Roberts plays opposite Dermot Mulroney in this 1997 romantic comedy. Julianne Potter and Michael O’neil are childhood friends that had made a pact to marry each other when they turn 28, but Michael gets engaged to a younger woman (Cameron Diaz) just a few days before Julianne’s 28th birthday. Suddenly, Julianne is forced to navigate through her commitments as maid of honor despite realizing she is in love with the groom-to-be. My Best Friend’s Wedding is available to rent on Amazon Prime.
I’m just a girl, standing in front of a reader, asking them to love this movie. Next on the list is Notting Hill (1999)! Hollywood movie star Anna Scott (Roberts) wanders into William Thacker’s (Hugh Grant) London bookstore, and the rest is history! A moment of fate leads to a whirlwind romance between a glamorous actress and an average (but attractive!) Englishman who are faced with the reality of the difference between their lifestyles. Notting Hill is available to stream on Netflix.
In second place, we have one of the most iconic romantic comedies of all time, Pretty Woman (1990)! Julia Roberts and Richard Gere have an undeniable chemistry that cannot be beat. Similar to Notting Hill, Pretty Woman features an unlikely pair. This time, Vivian, an L.A. prostitute, gets picked up by Edward, a wealthy man in town on a business trip. Edward hires Vivian for the weekend, but the pair quickly end up growing close, which poses challenges as they steer their passionate new relationship through their contrasting lives. Pretty Woman is available to rent on Apple TV+.
Before revealing our top choice, some honorable mentions are Eat, Pray, Love (2010), Steel Magnolias (1989), and Valentine’s Day (2010). Based on a memoir of the same title, Eat, Pray, Love documents the journey of Elizabeth Gilbert (Roberts) through Italy, India, and Indonesia as she finds herself after a divorce and years of living an unfulfilling life. Steel Magnolias and Valentine’s Day both feature a stellar ensemble cast. While the former portrays complicated but steadfast relationships between a handful of women in Louisiana, the latter is closer to the usual rom coms of the 2010s filled with familiar faces and bumps in the road to true love. Plus, what better movie to watch on Valentine’s Day than Valentine’s Day!
Finally, the best Julia Roberts flick is Runaway Bride! Julia Roberts and Richard Gere reunite on screen to give us this 1999 classic. Gere plays Ike Graham, a journalist from the city who is struggling to find a topic for his upcoming article, and stumbles upon a story about a girl labeled as “the runaway bride.” In an attempt to save his reputation, Ike heads to a small town where he finds Maggie (Roberts), who is set to walk down the aisle for the fourth time. While gathering facts for his article and awaiting Maggie’s fourth flee from matrimony, Ike unexpectedly falls in love with the notorious heartbreaker. Runaway Bride is available to rent on Youtube.