Let’s start with what makes it a rom-com. There are lots of movies with romance and comedy—Coming to America, 40 Year Old Virgin, etc. But they don’t fit our definition. We think it needs to be evenly balanced between romance and comedy, and be light-hearted without too much content that would need to be edited for a younger audience. So without further ado, here’s our list of the best rom-coms.

‍

10.  Love Actually (2003) Richard Curtis

A Christmas themed rom-com, with a massive ensemble cast, you can almost always catch it on TV during the holiday season. Indirectly intertwined, we follow 9 sets of characters in London as they deal with the ups and downs of relationships. (One being a hilarious and tender story of friendship.)

‍

9.   My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) Joel Zwick

As much about cultural identity as romance and comedy, My Big Fat Greek Wedding follows 30-year-old “Toula” as she falls for a ‘non-Greek’ as her large, loud and way too overbearing family hilariously interject into her business. A surprise monster hit, it grossed over $370 million on a $5 million budget.

‍

8.   High Fidelity (2000) Stephen Frears

Rob (John Cusack) is a record store owner in Chicago, who knows music, but perpetually struggles with women. The movie opens with a break-up and unfolds as he learns what love is. Most of the comedy comes from his hilarious goof-ball employees. Perfectly cast with Jack Black and Todd Louiso.

‍

7.   Moonstruck (1987) Norman Jewison

Deliberately over-the-top in it’s acting, Moonstruck seems to be mimicking an Italian opera with high emotions, overpowering passions, pain, tragedy and the magic of the moon. Just one of it’s tributes to Italian culture. Cher won a Best Actress in this highly acclaimed romantic comedy.

‍

6.  Bridget Jones Diary (2001) Sharon Maguire

Renee Zellwegger is an early 30’s Brit who is struggling with her weight and her love life. It’s her imperfections that make her so charming and the movie so funny. Caught between a good guy and bad guy, she finally ends up with someone who loves her, “just as she is”.

‍

5.   Clueless (1995) Amy Heckerling

If you know the 90’s, you know this clever comedy captured it perfectly. This coming of age classic was inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma. Director Amy Heckerling took the England of 1800’s into the Beverly Hills of 1990’s and made a rom-com that’s incredibly insightful and super sweet.

‍

4.   When Harry Met Sally (1989) Rob Reiner

“Can men and women ever just be friends?” is the theme that carries through the film as it tracks two people over a twelve year span. We’re introduced to them as not liking each other, then becoming friends, to finally falling in love. This was the movie that set Meg Ryan’s trajectory as being the queen of the modern rom-com.

‍

3.   Amélie (2001) Jean-Pierre Jeunet

This French film is the story of an imaginative, withdrawn girl who decides to covertly make the the people around her happy, and along the way falls in love. As sweet and tender as a movie can be, it’s also hilarious as she enacts her schemes. One of the biggest international hits in French film, it’s amazing warmth is universal.

‍

2.   Sleepless in Seattle (1993) Nora Ephron

The most important component of the rom-com is, without a doubt, the chemistry between it’s two leads. Few partners on screen have had as much as Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. The romance is set up with someone falling for a stranger and on the phone. From there we see the hilarious pursuit. The most romantic moment comes at the very end when they finally meet and don’t even say a word, as they simply look into each other’s eyes.

‍

1.   Annie Hall  (1976) Woody Allen

There’s a tad element of seriousness to this comedy with themes of psychoanalysis and Jewish identity, but it all works for fun in this landmark classic that many critics consider one of the greatest movies ever. It was Annie Hall that Woody Allen moved away from his farcical works and into his unique approach to comedy, and gave us a completely different way to present a rom-com.