Love can be a lot of things — not all of them good. But it’s a lot easier to experience the rollercoaster of emotions in an hour and a half on a screen than it is in your own life. That’s why people love romantic comedies so much. But, given that people love them so much, it’s a very crowded genre. So, if you’re in the mood for a rom-com, you have a lot to choose from on Netflix. Too much, really, which is why we’ve gone ahead and found the best available on the platform. These are the best romantic comedies on Netflix right now.
We’ve also curated a post highlighting the best rom-coms on Amazon Prime Video and the best rom-coms on Hulu, just in case Netflix doesn’t have what you’re looking for.
Recently added to Netflix
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The Wedding Singer1998 -
Runaway Bride1999
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Think Like a Man2012
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The Wedding Singer (1998) new
95m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Christine Taylor
Directed by
Frank Coraci
Adam Sandler has been in a lot of rom-coms, but The Wedding Singer might just be his best. Set in 1985, Sandler plays Robbie Hart, a hopeless romantic who sings at weddings for a living. When his fiancé leaves him at the altar, though, his broken heart impacts his job performance just a little. But when a young woman (Drew Barrymore) enlists him to help plan her wedding, he starts to let the love back in.
Runaway Bride (1999) new
116m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Joan Cusack
Directed by
Garry Marshall
Need a Julia Roberts and Richard Gere fix? Runaway Bride is your Netflix choice! Roberts plays Maggie Carpenter, a heartbreaker who has left three grooms at the alter, leading city journalist Ike Graham (Gere) to brand her the “runaway bride.” When his facts are called into question, however, Ike heads to Maggie’s hometown to report on her fourth wedding — which he is sure she’ll run from again. However, when he actually meets Maggie, he soon finds himself falling for her.
Think Like a Man (2012) new
122m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Meagan Good
Directed by
Tim Story
Friends Dominic (Michael Ealy), Jeremy (Jerry Ferrara), Michael (Terrence J), and Zeke (Romany Malco) are all doing fine with the ladies but just can’t seem to seal the deal and find their happily ever afters. When their respective ladies buy a book by Steve Harvey and begin to apply its advice to their relationships, things get even more out of control. Feeling put aside by the relationship teachings of a man, Dominic and his friends soon conspire to use the book to turn the tide.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012) new
122m
Genre
Drama, Comedy, Romance
Stars
Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro
Directed by
David O. Russell
Silver Linings Playbook probably falls more in the romantic dramedy category, but it’s too good not to include here. Bradley Cooper stars as Pat Solatano, a man who suffers a mental breakdown, losing his job and his wife while spending time in a mental institution. When he’s released, he’s forced to live with his parents and try to desperately rebuild his life and reunite with his wife. When Pat meets free spirit Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), she offers to help him reconnect with his wife as long as he’ll help her win a dance competition in exchange.
As Good as It Gets (1997)
139m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear
Directed by
James L. Brooks
Jack Nicholson is all grumpy charm as Melvin Udall, an obsessive-compulsive romantic fiction writer who treats everyone like crap, including his gay neighbor Simon (Greg Kinnear). But when Simon reluctantly asks Melvin to look after his dog, Melvin begins to soften a bit, finding he’s actually capable of being decent to some people. That comes in handy with the only waitress (Helen Hunt) at the local diner who is willing to serve him.
The DUFF (2015)
100m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne
Directed by
Ari Sandel
Imagine having it all — being in the high school cool kid crowd, great grades, a supportive community — and then finding out that everyone secretly refers to you as the designated ugly fat friend. Such is the setup of The DUFF. Bianca goes from the top of the world to the bottom of the totem pole when she finds out about her humiliation and she becomes desperate to save her senior year by enlisting the help of charming jock Wesley. But as she plots to get revenge, she might just find love instead.
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Holidate (2020)
104m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, Kristin Chenoweth
Directed by
John Whitesell
It’s a bit formulaic, but that’s what makes rom-coms work, right? You know how it’s going to end, you’re just here for the chemistry between the leads and Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey deliver. Fed up with being single on holidays, Sloane and Jackson decide to be one another’s platonic plus-ones for all the holiday parties they’re going to have to attend for the year. As you might expect, though, they catch feelings.
To All the Boys: Always and Forever (2021)
115m
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Drama
Stars
Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish
Directed by
Michael Fimognari
The third and final entry in Netflix’s hit To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy is a bit more grown-up than the first two. It makes sense, considering the characters are growing up, about to leave high school, and making the first truly major decisions of their lives. Lara Jean (Lana Condor) is back from a family trip to Korea that has inspired her to think a bit more broadly about her future. That means making college plans — with or without beau Peter (Noah Centineo).
The Incredible Jessica James (2017)
83m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Jessica Williams, Chris O'Dowd, Noël Wells
Directed by
Jim Strouse
The Daily Show veteran Jessica Williams has a star-making turn as the title character in The Incredible Jessica James. Fresh off of a breakup with her boyfriend, Damon (Lakeith Stanfield), Jessica unexpectedly hits it off with a recently divorced man named Boone (Chris O’Dowd). The pair bond over stalking their exes via social media, and they decide to make some changes in their lives for their mutual benefit. However, Damon still lingers on Jessica’s mind, and Boone’s ex isn’t as out of the picture as Jessica is led to believe.
She's Gotta Have It (1986)
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Spike Lee’s directorial debut was a daring black and white romantic drama/comedy called She’s Gotta Have It. He even co-stars in the film. However, the movie really belongs to Tracy Camilla Johns’ Nola Darling, a woman who completely rejects traditional relationships. Instead, Nola openly dates three men simultaneously: Jamie Overstreet (Tommy Redmond Hicks), Greer Childs (John Canada Terrell), and Mars Blackmon (Lee). Regardless, Nola’s trio becomes dissatisfied when they finally meet each other, because they all want her to themselves. But she’s much too independent to ever be tied down to anyone. She’s Gotta Have It is part of Netflix’s Black Lives Matter collection.
The Perfect Date (2019)
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Cast
Noah Centineo, Camila Mendes, Laura Marano
Noah Centineo is certainly making his name as Netflix’s go-to romantic foil in To All the Boys I’ve Ever Loved and Sierra Burgess Is a Loser. But Centineo takes the leading role in The Perfect Date as Brooks Rattigan, a high school student who is desperate to get into Yale. With the help of his friends, Murph (Odiseas Georgiadis) and Celia Lieberman (Laura Marano), Brooks launches an app that lets him hire himself out as the perfect plus-one to any female companion. He also pursues Celia’s rich cousin, Shelby Pace (Camila Mendes), while crossing some moral lines that ultimately force him to question who he is becoming.
I Am Not an Easy Man (2018)
Genre
Comedy
Cast
Vincent Elbaz, Moon Dailly Monira, Marie-Sophie Ferdane
We would not be surprised if there is an eventual English language remake of the French comedy, I Am Not an Easy Man. In the meantime, this is an ideal example of why subtitles were invented. Vincent Elbaz stars in the film as Damien, an unapologetic womanizer. However, a head injury lands Damien in a world that he barely recognizes. In this apparent alternate universe, women have all of the power, and Damien is routinely mocked and sexually harassed by the opposite sex. The lone bright spot is a novelist named Alexandra (Marie-Sophie Ferdane), because she and Damien may be kindred spirits.
Yes, God, Yes (2020)
78m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Natalia Dyer, Timothy Simons, Wolfgang Novogratz
Directed by
Karen Maine
How do you deal with the unrelenting sexual impulses of adolescence when you’re constantly told that they’re evil and must be suppressed at all costs? You have a crisis of conscience! Alice (Natalia Dyer) is a good Catholic girl who does all the right things. But when an AOL chat surprisingly turns sexy, she’s suddenly overcome with temptation and all these confusing thoughts!
The Knight Before Christmas (2019)
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Cast
Vanessa Hudgens, Josh Whitehouse, Emmanuelle Chriqui
The Knight Before Christmas is basically a Hallmark Channel movie that was just made for Netflix instead. So, it’s a standard time-travel romantic flick that just happens to take place around Christmas. But there’s something charming about this earnest flick that doesn’t even really try to get all of the historical facts right. In the distant past, a young knight named Sir Cole (Josh Whitehouse) goes on a quest that ultimately leaves him stranded in the far future. That would be the present for us. It’s almost love at first sight for Brooke Winters (Vanessa Hudgens) when she accidentally smacks Sir Cole with her car. While Brooke initially believes that Cole lost his memory, she finds herself drawn to his genuine warmth and his good old-fashioned chivalry.
The Half of It (2020)
104m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire
Directed by
Alice Wu
The Half of It takes a bit of inspiration from Cyrano de Bergerac and makes the formula its own. In this case, Leah Lewis (Ellie Chu) plays the Cyrano role, as she reluctantly agrees to help Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) pursue the girl of his dreams, Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire). The problem is that Aster is already the girl of Leah’s dreams. But to make ends meet, Leah agrees to coach Paul so he can get closer to Aster. Of course, Paul and Leah get close as well. But the film never loses sight of who Leah really wants to be with, or what she wants out of life. Leah can’t get everything she desires, but she does have a transformative experience that allows her to grow and become the person she was always meant to be.
The Lovebirds (2021)
87m
Genre
Comedy, Action, Romance
Stars
Issa Rae, Kumail Nanjiani, Paul Sparks
Directed by
Michael Showalter
Getting decent reviews since it was released in late May, this film stars Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani as a couple on the brink of breakup. After they witness a murder, they decide to go on the run to avoid being blamed for something they didn’t do. Forced to stay together under such unexpected circumstances, they begin to reconnect in new ways. The two stars are lauded for their performances and chemistry. As a follow-up to The Big Sick, which got rave reviews, this isn’t director Michael Showalter’s best project (he did, after all, co-create the Wet Hot American Summer franchise). But it’s a worthy watch for a fresh and modern take on the typical rom-com.
Someone Great (2019)
92m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Gina Rodriguez, Brittany Snow, DeWanda Wise
Directed by
Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Someone Great isn’t a typical romantic comedy, and that’s one of the reasons the film’s primary romance ends early. On the verge of a cross-country move, Jenny Young (Gina Rodriguez) is blindsided when her longtime boyfriend, Nate Davis (Lakeith Stanfield) breaks up with her. Distraught, Jenny turns to her best gal pals, Blair Helms (Brittany Snow) and Erin Kennedy (DeWanda Wise); both of whom have troubled romantic entanglements of their own. To complicate matters, Jenny can’t seem to escape Nate’s shadow. Jenny has to determine if she even wants Nate back. But it’s the friendship between the three women that really turns this film into an uplifting story.
Set It Up (2018)
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Cast
Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Lucy Liu
Sometimes, even characters in romantic comedies know the rules of engagement. In Set It Up, assistants Harper Moore (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie Young (Glen Powell) realize that their respective bosses, Kirsten Stevens (Lucy Liu) and Rick Otis (Taye Diggs) need a little love in their lives. However, arranging a romance between Kirsten and Rick is easier said than done. Meanwhile, Harper and Charlie’s relationships start to hit the skids just as they slowly realize they might be right for each other too. It’s a sweet story, and one of the best Netflix original romances.
Falling Inn Love (2019)
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Cast
Christina Milian, Adam Demos, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman
Admittedly, Falling Inn Love has a very punny and predictive title. But no one can say that it doesn’t deliver on its premise. On a whim, Gabriela Diaz (Christina Milian) enters a contest to win an inn in New Zealand. However, her good fortune is seemingly fleeting when she discovers that the inn is terribly run down. Fortunately, local boy Dean Conner (Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman) holds the key to restoring the inn and finding a way to Gabriela’s heart. Dean and Gabriela form a business partnership, but that partnership becomes something more as they face challenges from Gabriela’s ex and the community as well.
Lady Bird (2017)
94m
Genre
Drama, Comedy
Stars
Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts
Directed by
Greta Gerwig
Lady Bird is one of the most mature movies about first love that you’ll find. Driven by powerhouse performances from Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf as a mother and daughter who can hardly live in the same house yet deep-down are terrified by the impending adventure of college, Greta Gerwig’s take on the last year of high school is beautiful, profound, and very, very funny. Ronan plays Lady Bird, an intrepid, bright Sacramento high schooler who keeps looking ahead to college on the East Coast as life keeps on happening right in front of her. From navigating her rocky relationship with her mother to the trials of first love, there’s so much Lady Bird has to learn.
About Time (2013)
123m
Genre
Drama, Romance, Fantasy
Stars
Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy
Directed by
Richard Curtis
Starring Rachel McAdams, Domhnall Gleeson, and Bill Nighy, this 2013 British film blends traditional rom-com themes with a sci-fi twist. The film follows Gleeson as a young man who discovers he can travel through time. In doing so, he hopes to change his past to improve his love life, taking us on a journey of his most poignant moments and deepest regrets. Also featuring Margot Robbie and Vanessa Kirby, the film is a bit sappy, but great performances and an intriguing plot carry it through for a heartwarming watch.
Always Be My Maybe (2019)
101m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Ali Wong, Randall Park, James Saito
Directed by
Nahnatchka Khan
Comedian Ali Wong both wrote and stars in this 2019 film as Sasha, a woman who reunites with Marcus (Fresh Off The Boat‘s Randall Park), a childhood friend and one-time fling, when she returns to her hometown of San Francisco. There’s a clear chemistry between them but Sasha has a demanding career and the timing is always off, especially when Marcus discovers Sasha’s new celebrity love interest: Keanu Reeves (yes, he’s in the movie!) Will they finally realize they’re meant for one another? The film has been almost universally liked, and praised for its ability to layer typical rom-com tropes with “smart social commentary.”
Ali's Wedding (2017)
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Cast
Osamah Sami, Don Hany, Helana Sawires
This Australian film from 2017 is one of the, if not the first, Muslim rom-coms. The story follows Ali, a musically inclined young Muslim man struggling with his desire to be with one woman when he has been promised to another by his family. The film touches upon universal ideas about relationships that anyone can relate to despite the very specific and cultural setting.
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