The 10 Best Classic Rom-Coms
If you’re like me, Valentine’s Day coming up this Saturday means crowding around the TV with a couple of friends and a few pints of Ben & Jerry’s and watching rom-coms until we fall asleep. If that sounds fun, but you have no idea what to watch, don’t worry. This is the definitive list of the best rom-coms to chase away your Valentine’s Day blues.
- Pride and Prejudice (2005)
This movie has gone triple platinum in my dorm. It’s one of the rare exceptions to my need for book-to-movie accuracy. Yes, the vibes are just that good.
A love confession in the pouring rain? Check. A woman who loves to humble the men around her? Check. Getting offended when someone else insults your family even though you definitely agree? Check.
Even though it’s a classic, Pride and Prejudice feels brand new every time you watch it. With stunning shots of the British countryside, a regal orchestral score and the legendary hand-flex scene, this movie was destined to be a fan favorite.
- When Harry Met Sally (1989)
The quintessential rom-com, When Harry Met Sally is the most famous example of the slow-burn, friends-to-lovers trope that’s so popular right now. Meg Ryan shows exactly why she’s the rom-com queen, and Billy Crystal shows that he possesses more than just comedic talent in a film that spans years.
Funny, lighthearted, and genuine, this movie is a staple for a reason. It highlights the intimacy that we all want in love, and shows that to really love someone, you have to know and love all of them. Even the part that takes an hour to order a sandwich.
- Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
This is The Airplane Movie for a reason. Breathtakingly beautiful and extravagant, Crazy Rich Asians shows how love can truly endure. Through familial disapproval and culture shocks, Nick and Rachel always choose each other over it all. They exist outside of each other, and choose to prioritize the happiness of their partner. It’s a 60-40 relationship, with both of them giving 60%.
What really makes this movie so special is how it focuses on more than the romance of the two leads. Even though every scene they share is electric, it’s the authenticity of their interactions with the ensemble cast that truly reaches the audience. The family dynamics and friendships are realistic, even if the money isn’t. Crazy Rich Asians stands on its own as the rom-com of the 2010s.
- 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
If a man sang “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” to me in front of all of my friends, I think I would blow up from sheer embarrassment. However, 90s Heath Ledger might be the exception (emphasis on might).
I love a good Shakespeare retelling, and this one may take the cake. It may be the only teen rom-com on the list, but it’s arguably the best one of all time. 10 Things kickstarted the careers of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Julia Stiles and Ledger for a reason, all of whom went on to define acting in the 2000s. Even though I have my own problems with The Taming of the Shrew, this is an objectively good retelling and an absolute classic.
- Friends with Benefits (2011)
Apparently, this is a controversial pick to some who aren’t as enlightened as I am. However, as an extreme avoidant, I stand by it. This movie signified the end of the 2000s professional rom-coms, and in my opinion, closed it out with a bang. Mila Kunis is hilarious in every scene and Justin Timberlake is a surprisingly good actor.
This movie is as much a platonic love story as it is romantic, and New York City is practically its own character. Plus, who doesn’t love watching a good flash mob? Even if it is with someone who mixes up Semisonic and Third Eye Blind.
- Pretty Woman (1990)
If you’re not quoting “Big mistake. Huge,” every time there’s a minor inconvenience, what are you doing?
This movie does have very obvious problems: sugar-coated depictions of sex work, crazy levels of sexism, and a very clear power imbalance. But in spite of that, it has an honest and real love story.
Yes, the packaging is flimsy, but that doesn’t diminish the tenderness that our main characters have for each other that truly blossoms into love. That sincerity is what makes Pretty Woman such a classic. It’s a lesson in vulnerability and taking risks, because love doesn’t depend on social standing. The main message is clear: everybody deserves their own love story.
- How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
Before Matthew McConaughey was in The Wolf of Wall Street, Interstellar and Dallas Buyers Club, he was rom-com royalty. And this movie, opposite Kate Hudson, was his magnum opus.
Yes, it’s a little basic. Yes, it’s predictable. Yes, they somehow stop traffic for a kiss on the Manhattan Bridge. But isn’t that the type of love we all want?
Besides, the cover of Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” is simply too iconic to give up.
- Amélie (2001)
It’s cute! It’s whimsical! It’s French!
Light-hearted and sweet, this movie is the dream for any introvert, especially those who could never imagine confessing to a crush. While leading them on a scavenger hunt across the city might not be your next step, it’s still relatable.
Romance takes a backseat to personal growth in this one, which makes the ending that much more satisfying. If you’re looking for something heartwarming on Saturday, this one’s for you.
- Notting Hill (1999)
Another Julia Roberts movie is on this list, and for good reason. It took a while for me to be able to appreciate this movie fully, but I think I understand it now. Perhaps it uses the miscommunication trope over and over, but these instances are realistic and add depth to our main characters. They feel like real people who make mistakes and continue to learn from them.
If you want a fun and practical fairy-tale, Notting Hill is definitely it.
- 13 Going on 30 (2004)
Closing out this list is yet another movie about a woman working at a magazine in New York City. With a magical wish, 13-year-old Jenna gets transported to a future that seems perfect, until she realizes what she’s been up to for the last seventeen years.
This movie can seem a bit cheesy, but to the 13-year-old in me, it’s everything I wish I’d heard at the time. It emphasizes being yourself unapologetically, and that the person who loves you most will love you for who you are.
What more can you ask for?
With this list, you can trust that your Valentine’s Day will be lovely. Rest assured, you won’t even think about your demonic situationship. If anything, you’ll just add to the reasons their number should remain blocked.