When you don’t know what to watch, one of the easiest things to do is resort to the best romantic comedies on Netflix right now. Rom-coms are an incredibly popular genre for good reason. Experiencing love vicariously protects your heart while giving you plenty of relatable laughs — whether you’re alone or with a special someone.
It’s a crowded genre, however, especially on Netflix. So, to help you bypass the rom-com duds, we’ve done the research and identified the ones most worth your time. These are the best romantic comedies on Netflix right now.
We’ve also curated posts 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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You've Got Mail1998 -
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How to Be Single2016
You've Got Mail (1998) new
119m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Greg Kinnear
Directed by
Nora Ephron
A beloved rom-com of the ’90s from rom-com legend Nora Ephron, You’ve Got Mail has aged… well, terribly. The story of book superstore magnate Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) falling in love with the independent book shop owner Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) he’s supposed to be putting out of business via anonymous internet chat is a cute, somewhat innovative idea for 1998. Modern internet etiquette, however, makes it often cringe and occasionally downright creepy. Still, it’s a great slice of rom-com history and Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are always winners.
It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010) new
102m
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Stars
Keir Gilchrist, Emma Roberts, Zach Galifianakis
Directed by
Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden
If you’re looking for more of a tear-jerky rom-com, look no further than It’s Kind of a Funny Story. Craig Gilner (Keir Gilchrist) is a 16-year-old overwhelmed by the demands of teenage life, so he checks himself into a mental health clinic. However, the youth ward is temporarily closed, forcing Craig into the adult ward, where he meets Bobby (Zach Galifianakis), who soon becomes a mentor. But it’s when he meets another displaced teenager, Noelle (Madame Web‘s Emma Roberts), that he begins to appreciate the mandatory five-day minimum stay imposed upon him.
How to Be Single (2016) new
110m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Leslie Mann
Directed by
Christian Ditter
A romantic comedy about avoiding love, How to Be Single stars an outstanding ensemble as a community of lonely hearts all figuring out their individual definitions of love and what they actually need romantically. Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Leslie Mann, Alison Brie, Damon Wayans Jr., Anders Holm, and Jake Lacy key a dynamite rom-com cast.
Irish Wish (2024)
93m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Lindsay Lohan, Ed Speleers, Alexander Vlahos
Directed by
Janeen Damian
Lindsay Lohan stars in the family-friendly Netflix rom-com Irish Wish. When the love of her life gets engaged to her best friend, Maddie (Lohan) swallows her pride and agrees to be a bridesmaid in their destination Irish wedding. Nonetheless, she’s lovelorn, so Maddie makes a wish to find true love one day, only to wake up the next morning as the bride-to-be. But although her dream seems to be coming true, she soon discovers her real soulmate may be someone else.
Think Like a Man (2012)
122m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Meagan Good
Directed by
Tim Story
It’s a battle of the sexes in Think Like a Man when the balance of power in four couples’ relationships gets flipped as the women start using advice in Steve Harvey’s book, Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man. Suddenly, the women are getting more of what they want out of their men, and when the men realize the women have the playbook, they devise their own plan to use the book to their advantage.
Something's Gotta Give (2003)
128m
Genre
Drama, Comedy, Romance
Stars
Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves
Directed by
Nancy Meyers
One of Nancy Meyers’ (Father of the Bride, The Parent Trap, The Holiday) best rom-coms, Something’s Gotta Give stars Jack Nicholson as Harry Sanborn, an older womanizing music industry exec who travels to the Hamptons with his latest trophy girlfriend, Maria (Amanda Peet). But the two are surprised that Maria’s mother, Erica (Diane Keaton), is already there. Things get especially awkward when Harry suffers a heart attack and is forced into the care of Erica as Maria has to return to the city. The adage that opposites attract soon sets in as Harry and Erica begin to discover they have more in common than expected.
Plus One (2019)
98m
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Drama
Stars
Maya Erskine, Jack Quaid, Beck Bennett
Directed by
Jeff Chan, Andrew Rhymer
When that annoying late 20-something year comes along when seemingly everyone they know is getting married, long-time single friends Alice (Mr. and Mrs. Smith star Maya Erskine) and Ben (Jack Quaid) decide to be each other’s plus ones to soften the blow of nosy friends and family members asking about their love lives. But while they expect the arrangement to remain a platonic one, they soon find the inklings of a romantic connection as they spend more time together.
No Hard Feelings (2023)
104m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti
Directed by
Gene Stupnitsky
No Hard Feelings is perhaps a little light on the romance, but it is heavy on the comedy, so it makes this list. After her car is impounded, Uber driver Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) is desperate to find a car to get back to work and make up the property taxes on her Montauk home before she loses that, too. Lo and behold, an opportunity arises as rich parents offer a car to a woman to “date” their awkward, sheltered 18-year-old son, Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman), to help him escape his shell before college. Maddie, however, is 32, unhinged, and dealing with more emotional baggage than Percy. She struggles to seal the deal and suppress what slowly blossoms into a very real friendship.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016)
94m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Elena Kampouris
Directed by
Kirk Jones
Fourteen years after the smash-hit original, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 brings Toula (Nia Vardalos) and Ian (John Corbett) back to another Portokalos family wedding. This time, however, there’s trouble in paradise as Toula and Ian are dealing with their troubled teenage daughter and a marriage that is beginning to strain.
Your Place or Mine (2023)
109m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher, Jesse Williams
Directed by
Aline Brosh McKenna
Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher team up in this Netflix Original rom-com! Debbie (Witherspoon) and Peter (Kutcher) are best friends, but complete opposites — living diametrically opposed lives in LA and New York, respectively. But when they decide to swap houses and lives for a week, they find that each is lacking something that the other provides, coming to the realization that there’s more to their relationship than just friendship.
The Kissing Booth (2018)
105m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Joey King, Joel Courtney, Jacob Elordi
Directed by
Vince Marcello
A list of the best romantic comedies would never be complete without at least one teen rom-com on the list, and The Kissing Booth is a good fit. Joey King stars as Elle, a teenager who finds herself in a pickle when she begins a romance with her best friend’s popular, bad boy older brother, played by Euphoria’s Jacob Elordi. Spawning two sequels, it’s a heavily clichéd story, but that’s precisely what makes The Kissing Booth the perfectly predictable movie to watch when you’re in the mood, provided you go into it with the right expectations.
Long Story Short (2021)
90m
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Fantasy
Stars
Rafe Spall, Zahra Newman, Ronny Chieng
Directed by
Josh Lawson
One of the newer entries on the list, Long Story Short hails from Australia, and it tells the story of Teddy (Rafe Spall), a man who wakes up after his wedding to discover that time is moving at a rapid pace: A year has already passed, and every minute, another year goes by. Confused and shocked, he discovers that time isn’t moving as fast for anyone else he interacts with. While Teddy and his best friend concoct a plan to ensure he has a “perfect day” to try and break the curse, Teddy learns of growing troubles in his marriage down the road that make this difficult to accomplish. Long Story Short is predictable and repetitive, but the clever premise and moral lessons about focusing on what matters make for a fun watch.
Digital Trend's streaming roundup
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.
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.
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.
Always Be My Maybe (2019)
101m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Ali Wong, Randall Park, James Saito
Directed by
Nahnatchka Khan
Comedian Ali Wong (Beef) 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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