The 20 Best Romantic Comedies Streaming on Netflix Right Now

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Romantic comedy is one of the oldest and most reliable film genres, and for good reason: real-life romance is complicated and sometimes exhausting. This may be true for movie characters, but their problems tend to be funnier than ours, and they’re not our problems anyway. We take comfort either because we know that our film colleagues will be fine, or because we know that we won’t have to deal with the hilarious and/or poignant consequences of interacting with other people.

In that spirit, these are some of the best romantic comedies currently streaming on Netflix—everything from ’90s favorites to non-English imports to old classics.

13 Through 30 (2004)

Not all rom-coms need a high concept, but some of the best rom-coms have it. And next to Groundhog Day we can place 13 30 Going, a time-traveling love story about a frustrated teenager who can’t grow up fast enough—until the day she wakes up to find herself magically 30 and on her way there. head when it comes to love. Then again, she looks like Jennifer Garner and her childhood best friend has turned into the smarmy Mark Ruffalo, so things could be worse. It’s just a joy for the mid-aughts setting, especially for that fantastic time when working at a magazine was actually a cool and lucrative career that people could aspire to. Sigh.

Something’s Gotta Give (2009)

Nancy Meyers is the queen of the glossy, escapist rom-com, and Something’s Gotta Give is one of her best roles. While many films in the genre focus on hapless twentysomethings, this film jumps forward a few decades to focus on fiftysomething Erica (Diane Keaton), who is looking for a new spark in her life after divorce and children. A trip to her (ridiculously gorgeous) Hamptons home turns awkward when her daughter (Amanda Peet) shows up with her much older boyfriend Harry (Jack Nicholson), who has sworn he will never date a woman over 30. Dr. Harry (a particularly attractive Keanu Reeves), who has no qualms about dating older than his age group, Erica feels attracted to Harry, but perhaps only because they make such good sparring partners.

Holiday (2006)

Want more Meyers? Netflix has you covered. In The Holiday, Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz play transatlantic friends who switch homes during the Christmas season in hopes of breaking out of their romantic ruts, while Jude Law and Jack Black play two guys who can make it happen. Yes, all these people live in much nicer houses and have much more interesting jobs (and much more money) than you, and yes, the story is predictable, but who needs realism or surprises in their escapist romantic life when you have one like this cute cast like this?

Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)

Martin Scorsese’s name isn’t synonymous with female-led films, let alone heartfelt romantic comedies, but one of his first films is a prime example of both. Ellen Burstyn plays a small-town widow who hits the road with her teenage son, hoping to fulfill her dream of a career in singing, and is ambushed along the way while working as a waitress at an Arizona diner, where she meets a local rancher. (Kris Kristofferson). Surprisingly funny despite some dark themes (including domestic violence), this is a much richer film than its eventual spin-off sitcom Alice might lead you to believe.

My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)

Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney play Jules and Michael, college friends who years ago promised to be each other’s backup if neither of them got married by age 28. However, now Michael is getting married, and Jules—still single and disillusioned with men in general—isn’t exactly thrilled to see him marry Kimmy (Cameron Diaz), let alone Michael asking to be his best man. Roberts’ return to the genre after years of dramatic flops, it’s also one of the best rom-coms of the ’90s – if only for the kind of work it does, although you know it would have been better if the two of them hadn’t gotten together in the end . (Also, Rupert Everett steals every scene in which he plays Jules’ gay best friend, even if the character is a complete cliché.)

She’s All That (1999)

In the pantheon of rom-coms that reimagine sublime plays in many ways, She’s All That is George Bernard Shaw’s version of Pygmalion. Freddie Prinze Jr. plays a football player who, on a dare, starts dating the shy and artsy Rebecca Leigh Cook and soon finds himself truly falling in love with her. (Obviously.) It’s all completely predictable, but the ’90s vibe is delicious, and I always love movies starring a beautiful actress who can now be said to be beautiful because she (Dong DUN) wears glasses.

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Bradley Cooper and Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence meet sweetly over their shared struggles with mental illness in director David O. Russell’s critically acclaimed rom-com based on the novel by Matthew Quick. The characters here are much more confused (or at least much more open about being confused) than many romance movie protagonists, and you’ll be rooting for them to get together, even if it could be disastrous. if they do.

Diaper Ever After (2018)

Violet Jones (Sanaa Lathan) spends her life almost terrified of the rain, fearing that her carefully straightened hair will be ruined. This hair has significance in every aspect of her life, and straightening sessions were even a way to bond with her demanding mother (Lynn Whitfield). After breaking up with her boyfriend due to her demanding nature (especially regarding her hair), she experiments: different colors, which her friends object to; a natural style that makes her either invisible or the subject of ridicule; at one point she even shaves her head, which only results in her being invited to a cancer support group. The film, directed by Haifa al-Mansour, powerfully highlights the dangerous nature of black hair, especially when that hair belongs to a woman. After meeting a salon owner in the midst of madness, Violet begins the slow journey of learning to love herself, her hair, and possibly the hot salon owner (Lyric Bent).

Always Be Mine Maybe (2019)

Romantic comedies are often (not always) comfort food, so we often find familiar plots: Here, longtime friends who have lost touch (Ali Wong and Randall Park) reunite after a falling out years ago. She is a successful celebrity chef and engaged; he works with his father to fix air conditioners, and that’s how they meet. Nanachka Han (creator of Fresh Off the Boat ) adds a light touch here, and Wong and Park have great chemistry; they’re joined by a fun supporting cast that includes a really funny turn from Keanu Reeves playing himself.

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Set It Up (2018)

Some of the best romantic comedies involve a slightly outlandish setup, and this charming Netflix original has one of those great set-ups: two overworked assistants (Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell) come up with the idea that if they can get their bosses to ( Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs) they believe they will be less interested in putting their employees under stress. So, two assistants in a hurry plan to frame their bosses, which, unsurprisingly, goes awry in almost every way. Naturally, things don’t work out as planned, and the upcoming romance isn’t what everyone expected.

Perfect Find (2023)

While Numa Perrier’s film has plenty of traditional rom-com beats, it’s lead character Gabrielle Union who provides the spark that ignites the entire film (based on the novel by Tia Williams). She’s never been better than here, playing Jenna, a woman in her 40s who completely breaks off a long-term relationship and pursues a high-profile and important career in beauty journalism – only to end up in a one-night stand with Eric (Keith Powers). 15 years younger and the son of her boss.

Half of It (2020)

Writer and director Alice Wu made a splash with her weird classic Saving Face back in 2004. Its long-awaited sequel, a comedy-drama inspired by Cyrano de Bergerac, is better. Here, lonely high school student Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis, from Nancy Drew) is tasked with writing love letters to her crush Aster (Alexis Lemire) on behalf of a football player named Paul. There’s a lot of familiarity here, but Wu keeps everything fresh and fun.

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

One of the most iconic and memorable rom-coms of the 1990s may be new to many American audiences, who are missing out on a film that is both wonderfully silly and deeply poignant, in the best tradition of the genre. Shah Rukh Khan plays Rahul Khanna, Anjali’s (Kajol) best friend in college but in love with Tina (Rani Mukerji). Rahul and Tina get married and time passes, but Tina always feels a little guilty, as if she has interfered with something. With little time left due to birth complications (did I mention there’s drama here too?), Tina writes her daughter a series of letters, the last of which asks her to make sure her father and Anjali are reunited.

Our souls at night (2017)

Indian director Ritesh Batra ( Sense of an End and Lunchbox ) has brought together screen legends Robert Redford and Jane Fonda to create this well-received romantic drama from an ace director. Despite the ominous title, this is a quiet and sweet film worthy of its stars. It’s not really a comedy, so I’m cheating a little by putting it here, but it has such a nice light touch that it hits most of the same buttons as simpler rom-coms.

Perfect Couple (2022)

An upscale Hallmark movie in tone (there’s nothing wrong with that!), “The Perfect Match” has impeccable production: jaded Los Angeles winemaker Lola (Victoria Justice) comes across an obscure family wine from Australia, but an employee steals her idea and passes it on to her boss. before she can. So, fed up, Lola heads Down Under to find a client for what she hopes is her new company. Trying to make her way, she volunteers to cover her missing hand on the family’s sheep farm. The big city girl living on a farm is, of course, accompanied by the slightly brash but increasingly charming (and often shirtless) station master (Adam Demos) with whom she works.

Alex Strangelove (2018)

High school student Alex Truelove (Daniel Doheny) is ready to have sex with his girlfriend Claire for the first time, but something is holding him back. Openly gay Elliott (Antonio Marziale) understands why Alex is so reluctant, and frankly, the audience should have an idea by this point, too. It’s a very sweet, good-natured coming-of-age story that’s a little fun to watch as Alex’s bumbling attempts to set aside expectations and just be himself.

Wedding Season (2023)

Asha (Pallavi Sharda) has just broken off her engagement and left her Wall Street investment firm for a startup in Jersey City. Her concerned mother sets her daughter up on a dating app, and Asha agrees to one date with her first partner: Ravi (Suraj Sharma). Things aren’t going particularly well, but they’re both under intense parental pressure to get married, and Asha has about a dozen weddings to attend over the course of the summer, most of them filled with busy people who want to see her in a relationship. So, naturally (for the film), Ahsa and Ravi decide to play the part of a couple to get people off their backs – and it works well, until it doesn’t.

Baraka Meets Baraka (2016)

Class romance isn’t anything particularly new, but in this straight-talking comedy from Saudi Arabia, middle-class civil servant Baraka (Hisham Faghi) begins a relationship with Bibi, a boundary-pushing Insta celebrity. Simply finding the time and space to pursue disapproving relationships in modern Saudi Arabia is challenging, but the film explores social and political obstacles with a light touch.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)

Imagine that everyone you’ve ever been in love with received a letter expressing exactly your feelings. It’s a nightmare scenario, but reality for shy high school student Lara Jean (Lana Condor), who wrote letters as a secret diary of sorts, only to show up at school one day to find that her little sister had mailed them. All. Can you imagine? The condor here is fantastic and the whole thing is amazing. It was followed by two also very good sequels, as well as an ongoing spin-off ( XO, Kitty ).

Seriously Single (2020)

Here we start in familiar territory: Dineo and Noni (Fulu Mugovhani and Tumi Morake, both very funny) are a pair of successful women from the big city – this time from Johannesburg. Dineo is looking for a long-term relationship, even after being dumped on live television at work, while Noni is quite content with one-night stands. Their romantic (and non-romantic) trials are alternately adorable, terrifying, and hilarious. The heart of the film is the two main characters and the friendship that sustains them.

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