The Ultimate List of Rom-Coms

BY ANUSHA NAIK '26

Romantic comedies are one of the most popular film genres, and understandably so. When combining lighthearted comedy and swoon-worthy romance, you’re guaranteed to have a hit. Although it can be hard to create the perfect rom-com, these movies take enjoyment to the next level.  While this list does have a couple classic fan favorites, there are also underrated movies to broaden your cinematic horizons. From enemies to lovers, slow burn, a rich boyfriend and his disapproving mom, this list has something for everyone. Lastly, before we get into the movies, I want to clarify that they are not ranked in order of how good they are –mostly because I couldn’t decide!

1.  You’ve Got Mail: Starting off strong is one of the best romantic comedies of all time, and my personal favorite, You’ve Got Mail. Starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, this film features them as business rivals and personal enemies who unknowingly begin an online romantic relationship. The casting is absolutely incredible; if a movie has Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks together, you already know it’s going to be good. This movie is perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re sad, bored, or angry, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks’ adorable chemistry will never fail to make you smile. 
   
2. How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days: This movie is funny, charming, and wildly entertaining. It features Kate Hudson as Andie Anderson, an up-and-coming journalist asked to write an article on how to lose a guy in ten days (I love when movies directly reference their titles!). The man she picks as her target is playboy Benjamin Barry, played by Mathew McConaughey. But Benjamin is on a mission of his own: convincing his colleagues that he can stay in a long-term relationship. The “Dating As a Dare” trope is relatively common, but this is the first time I’ve seen it done on both ends. I could honestly watch this movie every day and never get sick of it. The sassiness and sarcasm of Andie is incredibly portrayed by Kate Hudson, and as the movie progresses, she gets even better. The same can be said for McConaughey, whose reactions toward Andie’s bold attempts to scare him away are frankly hilarious. 
   
3. Confessions of a Shopaholic: Rebecca Bloomwood, played by Isla Fisher, is a young aspiring journalist in New York City. Everything in Rebecca’s life seems to be on the rise –except for one fatal flaw: she is a severe shopaholic. In an odd twist of fate, she ends up authoring a highly successful column on personal finance while dealing with thousands of dollars in credit card debt herself. But as she tries to leave the job, she finds herself increasingly enamored with her charming editor, Luke Brandon (Hugh Dancy). This movie is so underrated for how amazing it truly is. The romance paired with Rebecca’s increasingly desperate attempts to escape her debt collector make for a really entertaining film. The storyline is quite fast-paced and features more adventure than some of the others on this list, but not at the expense of cute moments either.
   
4. Crazy Rich Asians: Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), an independent woman from New York, is excited to accompany her boyfriend, Nick Young, to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. After arriving, she finds that Nick is heir to one of the largest fortunes in Asia, an relationship exposing her to jealous socialites, odd relatives, and his vicious mother. This movie is definitely not underrated, but it’s so good that I had to include it. From the casting to the storyline, I genuinely have no critiques. My favorite thing about this movie is the insight it provides into the lives of the obscenely wealthy. For example, the homes are modeled after Vanderbilt estates and thousands of dollars were spent on obscure artifacts. It is funny and a little scary how much money these families have. Something about the glamor and spunkiness of the characters makes the movie so good.
   
5. 10 Things I Hate About You: Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles), is a classic Sylvia Plath reading, indie rock listening, radical feminism-loving teenage girl. Unfortunately, her ever-present annoyance paired with her eccentricity has made her the most hated girl in her suburban high school. In a long and complicated series of events, Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) is paid to somehow get the unattainable Kat Stratford to fall for him. This movie is loosely based on The Taming of The Shrew by William Shakespeare, so it retains all the classic elements of romance but with a modern twist. In my opinion, it is easily one of the best Shakespeare adaptations. Additionally, all the actors do phenomenal jobs in their roles, especially Stiles and Ledger, which greatly contributes to the movie’s depth.
   
6. Fools Rush In: This criminally underrated movie features Mathew Perry and Salma Hayek, who play Alex Whitman and Isabel Fuentes, a couple thrown into a whirlwind marriage after an unexpected surprise turns their lives upside down. Alex grew up in a wealthy and rather conservative New England home, while Isabel grew up in a traditionally Mexican household in Nevada. Despite parental disapproval and vastly different cultural backgrounds, the couple must learn to find balance in their marriage. This movie is a classic reiteration of “opposites attract,” but it’s so lighthearted and fun that I’m not mad about it. I think Mathew Perry is an amazing actor, especially for Romantic Comedies, and he did a great job in this movie. This film is a charming no-brainer perfect for nights when you want to watch a good movie, but don’t feel like thinking too much. 

Well, that's it! As the winter season ramps up, I know that I’m going to be rewatching most of these movies. I hope that at least one of these movies caught your interest. If not, I still urge you to give them a try –you never know what could be your next favorite!  

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