Romantic comedies, a surefire way to break your heart even more upon realizing that, no, you will never find a love like theirs, or, the much more optimistic opine to the existence of true love that fuels your subsequent search for love. The latter of which is the road I typically find myself traversing. Live in a world of delusion, babe! Such falsities have never harmed anyone before, and more importantly, they never will! Delude on! Regardless of whether you’re a “realist” or a delusional wrecking ball chaotically moving through life, you may be running short on material to laugh at, to cry to, or fuel half-baked plans and you need not worry because I am here to provide a definitive list of the best rom-coms to strengthen your current roster.
Bridget Jones’ Diary – 2001
What’s there even to say? It’s a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. There’s Colin Firth playing Darcy. There’s Hugh Grant playing this interpretation’s version of Wickham and while wearing a blue button-up, he falls out of a rowing boat. It’s very hot! Renée Zellweger is fantastic as Bridget Jones, a 32-year-old woman (who has the gall to be unmarried) attempting to turn her life around, following a terribly uncomfortable set-up attempt between her and Darcy. Think about it, you get the core emotional response you would from the masterful Pride and Prejudice, but with all the enjoyable trappings of modern day: form-fitting button-ups, more relatable-phrased musings from a semi-directionless woman, and public declarations of love.
But I’m a Cheerleader – 1999
Following Megan, a supposedly straight cheerleader, who dreads kissing her boyfriend (and kind of just being around him in general) and prefers thinking about girls (#straightgirlvibes), at conversion camp, But I’m a Cheerleader is camp at every turn and incredibly romantic as you watch the romance between Megan and Graham bloom. There’s pining and longing stares! And storming off the dance floor while watching the person you want to be with dance with someone else. Cheer even makes it way back into the plot for an incredibly fitting declaration of love.
When Harry Met Sally – 1989
IFYKYK – the sweaters, the banter, the New Year’s Eve scene, and the sweaters again. People, the sweaters!
10 Things I Hate About You – 1999
Another modern adaptation of a classic, but instead of Pride and Prejudice, it’s now The Taming of the Shrew. And we’re following Kat, our shrew, get duped into dating hot guy and local bad boy, Patrick. We’re also watching Bianca, Kat’s younger sister, and Cameron fall in love, and Cameron’s desperation to date Bianca fuels his and Patrick’s plan for Kat to date Patrick (Bianca is not allowed to date until Kat does, and as we’ve established, she’s a shrew!). The movie contains an entire ensemble of incredibly fashionable characters, a serenade and just a very fun energy.