The 1990s were fruitful times for the world of cinema in all aspects, but the surge in romantic comedies was impossible to miss. We’re talking about iconic movies that have stood the test of time, have continually been picked for slumber parties, and have been referenced throughout all of popular culture since their releases. Although romantic comedies have been with us ever since 1920s and 1930s, many of us collectively agree upon the superiority of classics that came out in the 90s and helped actors, such as Julia Roberts, Nicolas Cage or Hugh Grant, make a name for themselves in Hollywood.
There’s no denying the abundance of romantic comedies that blessed our screens in the last decade before the new millennium. However, there's something about 90s rom-coms that hold treasured spots in our heart and on our shelves. Here's a list of the 10 best romantic comedies from the 90s.
10 Four Weddings and A Funeral
The whole question around British cinema and its relevancy has been around for ages. Whether something can be considered British if it's enormously influenced by the American culture and its production teams, doesn't change the immeasurable impact this romantic comedy directed by Mike Newell has had on the British film industry. A story told through the eyes of an umarried best man Charles (Hugh Grant) as he repeated runs into an American woman Carrie (Andie MacDowell) on different social ocassions, Four Weddings and a Funeral is delivered with the right amount of sprinkle of Britishness.
9 Double Happiness
Watching Sandra Oh blow up over the years through shows such as Grey's Anatomy and Killing Eve, the audience tends to forget about her early beginnings in movies like Double Happiness (1994). Oh plays actress Jade Li who is wrestling with the reality of being raised in a traditional Chinese household in the modern society of America. This romantic comedy with a hint of realism stays as an important piece of work for Asian-American representation.
8 Pretty Woman
This list would be incomplete without the iconic duo of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. A rich business-man Edward Lewis needs to look presentable at public events, so he ends up hiring a prostitute Vivian Ward to act as his girlfriend for a certain amount of time, not expecting to eventually fall for her. No matter how many times you let this movie play, it's always heart-warming to realize that Julia Roberts has been the Pretty Woman all along.
7 10 Things I Hate About You
"Don't let anyone ever make you feel like you don't deserve what you want" - is one of the countless memorable lines this romantic comedy provides us with. A pretentious sophmore Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) lets her guard down and falls for a new student Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger), despite her reputation of a no dating rule. The loose Shakespearean theme loosely threading through this story makes it all that much unforgettable.
6 My Best Friend’s Wedding
Let's admit it - Julia Roberts was the queen of the 90s romantic comedies. She, once again, makes an appearance in a movie with Dermot Mulroney, which follows the story of two best friends - Jules Potter and Michael O'Neal - who agreed that they would get married if they were both single at twenty-eight. Only when Michael announces he's getting married to someone else does Jules realize her true feelings for him. And, yes, Jules is actually the true villian in this story, but you're not ready for the conversation.
5 You’ve Got Mail
The director Nora Ephron has done an excellent job with You've Got Mail, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, telling the story of two people who fall in love through mail, unaware of the fact they emotionally torture each other in real life. Many also consider this movie a Christmas classic, thanks to the festive feeling it carries as the story evolves.
4 Love Jones
Nia Long and Larenz Tate's chemistry in Love Jones radiates beautifully as they play a talented poet and a photographer who are indecisive about their newly established relationship. Romantic comedies such as these hold an immense amount of importance for representation as they don't make race the centre of their premise, but rather treat it as any other romantic comedy.
3 It Could Happen To You
This highly-underrated rom-com starring Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda, follows a story of two strangers who jokingly decide to share a lottery ticket and end up winning the highest prize. It's definitely a really sweet movie thanks to the undeniable on-screen chemistry the two main stars share. It perfectly embodies the usual fictionality of rom-coms that we love to escape to.
2 Last Holiday
Georgia Byrd played by Queen Latifah is an unforgettable character in the movie history, not only because of the comic humor she perfectly delivers, but also because of its unique premise. Last Holiday centers around Georgia who gets mistakenly diagnosed with a brain tumor and since she can't afford the treatment, she decides to spend all of her savings on her bucket list. The whole of one hour and 52 minutes promises a feel-good watching time filled with laughter and butterflies.
1 Notting Hill
In Notting Hill, abookseller (Hugh Grant) falls in love with a famous actress (Julia Roberts). However, due to the difference between their social statuses (per usual, heavily discussed in British movies), their love gets complicated. Of course this movie doesn't miss the opportunity to portray the cliché trope of falling in love under 15 minutes, but Roberts and Grant somehow make it work. Not to mention the most iconic rom-com line: "I'm just a girl. Standing in front of a boy. Asking him to love her."