For decades, romantic comedies have been considered by the film-going masses to be little more than "chick flicks," designated as lighter fare that falls more into the guilty-pleasure viewing category than, say, Scorsese's latest film. However, with the modern era of 24-hour news cycles and social media addiction, there's nothing like watching two people fall in love to briefly quell the existential angst. These movies allow you to get lost in the moment-by-moment nuances of courtship and supply you with a hefty dose of witty banter, unlike a plot-heavy piece of Oscar bait.

Despite a lack of rom-coms starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan these days, the genre is experiencing a resurgence, with new movies coming out all the time and old classics finding new audiences. Streaming services are popping out original content faster than it can be consumed, with hidden gems on every platform imaginable. On Netflix alone, there are enough titles to keep you in the world of meet-cutes and quirky dates until you run out of popcorn.

Viewers often slight themselves sticking to films set in specific genres when Netflix hosts so many movies that bend genre stereotypes. Rom-coms, although often characterized in their own genre, can cross the lines from period pieces to horror. Luckily, we've curated a diversified list of the best rom-coms on Netflix for fans across the board.

Update January 4, 2024: If you love rom-coms and still subscribe to Netflix, you're in luck. This article has been updated with more entries to reflect what is currently streaming on Netflix.

20 Your Place or Mine (2023)

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Releasing exclusively to Netflix in 2023, Your Place or Mine stars Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher. Best friends Debbie, played by Witherspoon, and Peter, played by Kutcher, have a long-standing relationship. Debbie, living in Los Angeles, has to venture to NYC in hopes of receiving a better-paying job. Without anyone to watch her son, Jack, Peter, living in NYC, says he will fly out and spend the week with him while Debbie works. Despite their contrasting personalities, the two realize the feelings they've harbored for years and admit they love each other.

What Makes It Great

Receiving average reviews from critics, the story of Your Place or Mine is not one that hasn’t been written. It has the standard best-friends-to-lovers narrative playing out in subtle reluctance and the weight of balanced adult lives pushing down two people's feelings. Also, a grand airport confession that we all see coming. And yet, there’s something about watching Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher exude immense charm, grace, and romance that makes the movie sing. It was definitely a guilty pleasure film that enlivened the story well and had a decent reception.

19 Nappily Ever After (2018)

In Nappily Ever After, Violet (Sanaa Lathan) is plagued by deep-seated insecurities about her natural hair. The insecurities stem from her mother's criticism of her as a child and her insistence on straightening her hair before she went out in public. As a grown woman, Violet's diffidence begins to affect her love life negatively. After a challenging break-up, Violet must learn to accept and love herself, and, in turn, she finds love again. According to Sheila O'Malley of Roger Ebert's website, Lathan's performance in Nappily Ever After is "fearless."

What Makes It Great

Thriving on representation not only of Black women but also their person, Nappily Ever After is a bold and unapologetic rom-com directed by Haifaa al-Mansour. Through its careful examination of one woman’s struggle, it allows room for empathy and understanding. Beyond the piercing messages, the film is very sweet and heartwarming, with Sanaa Lathan’s performance being extraordinarily beautiful. That said, it is a movie everyone should watch at least once in their life.

18 Holidate (2020)

The premise of two people pretending to be a couple, only to end up falling in love in the end, predates the existence of filmmaking itself. Spoiler alert: Holidate is one of those fake-couple-becomes-real-couple movies. Of course, we don't watch romantic comedies to wonder if the leads will get together in the end — it's all about seeing the process of how it happens. In this case, Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey play the main characters who fall in love while pretending to be a couple for the sole purpose of being able to bring someone home for the holidays.

Related: Best Romance Movies That Use the Fake Dating Trope

What Makes It Great

Under John Whitesell’s incredible direction, the overused trope comes alive in vibrant style. A crisp and joyful ode to love, Holidate stars Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey in the main roles, and despite their clashing beliefs on the holidays, their chemistry is wonderful. Even though the ending is predictable, the film keeps you engaged throughout, and much of the credit for that goes to the seamless acting from the stars. Ultimately reminding the audience to take the pressure off of dating and enjoy each other’s company, Holidate is a must-watch.

17 All The Bright Places (2020)

Though more on the drama side with hints of comedy through the adversity that the characters face, All The Bright Places is a standout rom-com. The story follows Violet Markey, whose sister died in a car crash that Violet survived. Having survivor’s guilt, Violet refuses to ride in a car even though almost a year has passed. Not only that, but she is suffering the loss of her best friend, making her unmotivated to do anything, especially schoolwork. When Theo, known as Finch, played by Smith, notices how unhappy Violet is, he makes an effort to be partners with her for their class project. Not knowing that Finch suffers from depression as well, Violet gives him a hard time until she finally realizes that he truly cares about her and is trying to be her friend. The plot turns when Finch attempts suicide and is successful.

What Makes It Great

This Netflix adaptation of a best-selling novel written by Jennifer Niven blends teen romance with a deeply affecting profundity. Known to stay faithful to the emotional intensity of its source material, it stars Elle Fanning and Justice Smith alongside one another. As Theo and Violet, their performances tug at your heartstrings. Despite its devastating ending, the movie leaves you with a reminder that even in our loneliest moments, it’s small acts of kindness towards oneself that can lead to a brighter future than you could ever imagine.

16 Love, Guaranteed (2020)

Released exclusively to Netflix in 2020, Love, Guaranteed, follows Susan, played by Rachel Leigh Cook, and Nick, played by Damon Waynes Jr. Susan works for a law firm that is doing research on an online dating application. Nick, who has been on 986 dates before meeting with Susan, decides to sue the company behind the dating app. They offer him $100,000 to settle outside of court, but Nick declines. During their client and lawyer relationship, Susan and Nick grow feelings for each other. Not only did Susan and Nick fall in love, they were asked to be the face of the dating app, giving them more than they could have imagined.

What Makes It Great

A well-written and beautifully shot film starring Rachael Leigh Cook and Damon Wayans, Love, Guaranteed is the kind of movie you put on when you just want to sit back and relax after a long day at work. It tackles several aspects of modern relationships, like embracing messy truths and seeing beyond surface assumptions in order to truly open your heart to love. Director Mark Steven Johnson steers away from complexity or flaws to prove that rom-coms can have their cake and eat it, too.

15 Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between (2022)

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Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between tells the story of two high school sweethearts who promise to break up before college. On their last night of high school, the two plan to share one last night of dates, but Aidan, played by Jordan Fisher, hopes to change his girlfriend's mind. Clare, played by Talia Ryder, is adamant about the breakup remaining permanent, and despite Aidan's attempts, the two part ways after a fight. The ending shows the two meeting again while Clare is on summer break, suggesting that another Hello, Goodbye movie could be in the works.

What Makes It Great

Starring Talia Ryder and Jordan Fisher in the lead roles, this coming-of-age adaptation of Jennifer E. Smith’s novel of the same name is the authentic portrayal of first love and how it does not always mean forever, and that it’s important to treasure little moments before two souls drift apart. The movie is Michael Lewen’s directorial debut, and through the tender storyline and minimalist style of cinematography, he brings out the deepest nostalgia and poignancy of being in love.

14 The Kissing Booth (2018)

The Kissing Booth is a Netflix original movie that showcases three films starring Joey King, Jacob Elordi, and Joel Courtney. King plays Elle, a high school girl who has had a crush on her best friend Lee's (Joel Courtney) brother since childhood. When she signs up to run the school's kissing booth at the spring carnival, Elle is pushed face-to-face with her crush Noah, and the two have to work together. The three-film series shows the ups and downs of the couple's relationship from start to finish and leaves the ending up for interpretation.

What Makes It Great

Even though the latter films received criticism for being a sun-kissed fantasy and downright problematic, the inaugural film in the series still had a beginner’s luck thing going for itself. Taking the teen rom-com genre in a direction we’ve seen several times before, it featured Joey King and Jacob Elordi. Their charming imperfection and relatable growth, paired with that chemistry, made their heartwarming journey somewhat memorable.

13 Someone Great (2019)

Someone Great follows Jenny, played by Gina Rodriguez, gets dumped by her long-time boyfriend Nate, played by LaKeith Stanfield. Shortly after, she spirals into a deep depression and makes the decision to move to San Francisco. Before her big move, Jenny and her two closest girlfriends take on New York City for one last hoorah. The film concludes with a confrontation between Nate and Jenny, and closure is surely delivered.

Related: Someone Great: Why It’s the Best Movie to Watch with Your Girl Friends

What Makes It Great

The movie, like its storyline suggests, taps into post-breakup emotions. But instead of being mopey, it choses a rather vibrant and hilarious aesthetic to the art of letting go by focusing on female friendships. Gina Rodriguez, Brittany Snow and DeWanda are simply gorgeous as long-time friends whose bond runs deeper than blood. From the dramatic highs to the thought-provoking lows, Someone Great reminds us that when one chapter ends, a new one begins.

12 My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)

Imagine having a best friend so oblivious of their feelings that it takes an entire wedding for them to finally get the courage to confess their love for you? But first, they’ll sabotage the said wedding. That’s basically the premise of My Best Friend’s Wedding, a beloved ‘90s romantic comedy that features all the tropes that made the decade iconic. Julianne is appalled when her best friend breaks the news of his wedding and gives up on their arrangement of marrying one another at age 28. This sends Julianne into a spiral, and the rest, well is for you to witness for yourself.

What Makes It Great

Starring Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney in mesmerizing roles, My Best Friend’s Wedding is an entertaining and hugely rewatchable rom-com. The two put their heart into making this seemingly ordinary narrative filled with depth, nuance, and an effortless charm that was only synonymous with the decade. Directed by P.J. Hogan, the movie also delivers underlying commentary on the human dread of existentialism and the emotional melancholy we all endure.

11 Frances Ha (2013)

Along with displaying her outstanding talent as a director, Greta Gerwig has also delivered brilliant on-screen performances, such as in Frances Ha. The story is about a 27-year-old aspiring dancer named Frances, living in Brooklyn without so much as an apartment, especially now that her best friend Sophie has moved in with her boyfriend. Adrift, she tries to navigate life and adulthood on her own, always striving for unanticipated happiness and self-discovery.

What Makes It Great

Written and directed by Noah Baumbach, Frances Ha pays a whimsical homage to the twenties and the perpetual feeling of losing control of your adulthood. Through Frances’ journey and Gerwig’s relatable heroine, it shines a light on the poignancy and beauty of finding one’s way in this world. Moreover, the black-and-white cinematography, wry humor, and perfectly written dialogue enhance the dreamlike quality of the narrative.

10 Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Another boundary-pushing romantic comedy is the Netflix original Always Be My Maybe, which was co-written by and co-stars comedian Ali Wong, who is no stranger to breaking ground, best known for performing her stand-up special Baby Cobra while she was very pregnant. Taking place in San Francisco, the story unfolds when Wong's character reconnects with her childhood neighbor (Randall Park) when returning home after becoming a successful New York City restaurateur. Only in the Bay Area to open up her latest fine-dining outpost, things get complicated when old feelings are dredged up.

Related: Here Are the Best Rom-Coms With South Asian Leads

What Makes It Great

Wong brings the same messiness and refreshing humor as her stand-up specials to the small screens to deliver a story about how opposites may attract when time and circumstances allow it. With Randall Park, her performance is as sharp and layered as several A-listers. The two leads navigate the potential of a relationship when hilariously foiling their intense pull-push with humor. Overall, Always Be My Maybe is an outstanding rom-com from the 2010s.

9 Love Actually (2003)

After Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill, Love Actually is director Richard Curtis’ holiday romance film that follows various people wrestling with the many complications of love in London five weeks before Christmas. Among the ten stories told in parallel fashion, there’s this interwoven narrative that somehow twists and turns so the characters can seek answers to their troubles and understand their hearts better.

What Makes It Great

The movie is among the few ensemble rom-coms that not only feature multilayered characters and their miseries but also maintain the effortlessly funny and lighthearted essence of the genre. Love can come in any form. What’s important is to identify it, acknowledge it, and embrace it. Through the thawing hearts of stars like Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Kiera Knightley, Alan Rickman and more, the movie sheds warmth and sincerity.

8 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is an outstanding film based on the graphic novels created by Bryan Lee O'Malley. The titular character is a 22-year-old bass player who meets and falls in love with the mesmerizing Ramona Flowers. However, in order to date her, Scott must first battle all her seven evil exes. With his friends behind him and great challenges ahead of him, he discovers his true worth.

What Makes It Great

The way Edgar Wright uses millennial humor and comic book visuals to bring an incredible story to life is nothing if not phenomenal. With Michael Cera shining in the iconic role of the clueless yet romantic Scott Pilgrim and Chris Evans and Jason Schwartzman thriving in their roles as Ramona’s exes, the movie emerges as an outlandish yet wildly entertaining romantic comedy. Moreover, its exquisite blend of various genres also makes it highly rewatchable. The film has since been enhanced by the animated series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, which is both a sequel/reboot/reimaging of the story that actually improves the original film.

7 Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

With perhaps the most relatable dating (or post-dating) premise ever, Forgetting Sarah Marshall introduces us to a devastated Peter, who decides to go for a vacation to Hawaii after his girlfriend of five years dumps him. But things go south when he realizes that his ex-Sarah is also vacationing there… with her new boyfriend. As they cross paths and exchange awkward glances, Peter finds himself drawn to someone else.

What Makes It Great

Forgetting Sarah Marshall is directed by Nicholas Stoller in his feature directorial debut, and it is only fitting to say that Stoller has turned the film into a quintessential, funny, and empathetic romantic comedy to be remembered for ages. Jason Segel pens and stars in the film, and while Kristen Bell brings her witty persona to the screen, Mila Kunis steals all scenes as the unapologetic hotel concierge. Messy, hilarious, and unexpected in places, the movie is simply perfect.

6 Set it Up (2018)

Indie darling Zoey Deutch is infinitely charming opposite Glen Powell in the clever romantic comedy Set it Up. The movie achieves a unique self-awareness as Deutch and Powell's characters work together to set up their overbearing bosses, orchestrating meet-cutes and spying on them relentlessly in the hopes of creating a relationship that will get their employers off their backs once and for all. Of course, in the process of scheming to create love where there is none, their organic feelings for one another develop. It might seem formulaic, but the payoff is decidedly worth the watch.

What Makes It Great

Only the most entertaining workplace rom-com ever, Set It Up puts a fresh spin on the trope and emerges as a funny and charming little film. From the superb acting to the simplistic plot, the movie has a universal likability. Leads Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell spark fun chemistry and deliver fantastic one-liners every chance they get, making the movie’s 90-minute runtime fly by in a daze. Overall, Set It Up is built on a brilliant will-they-won’t-they dynamic that leads to a predictable end.

5 No Hard Feelings (2023)

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Directed by Gene Stupnitsky and starring Jennifer Lawrence in the lead, No Hard Feelings tells the story of a 30-something Uber driver named Maggie, who is about to lose her childhood home in Montauk because of piling debts. Determined to save it, she accepts an unusual offer from an aristocratic couple – to date their 19-year-old son, Percy, and get him out of his shell before he leaves for Princeton in exchange for a car. What follows is a series of hilarious hijinks and subtle setbacks.

What Makes It Great

Lawrence has an irresistible charm to her, which he imbues Maggie entirely with. She brings witty banter to a vibrant shoreline and throws away the sweet rom-com tropes to deliver an outrageously funny sex comedy. Another scene-stealer is Andrew Barth Feldman. He starts off as a sheltered boy but transforms into a refreshingly motivated one. Stupnitsky’s direction, the use of Hall & Oates’ Maneater, and the overall cinematography make No Hard Feelings a must-watch.

4 13 Going on 30 (2004)

A lighthearted 2000s rom-com with an enjoyable storyline, 13 Going on 30 centers around thirteen-year-old Jenna, who is already exhausted by the pressures of being her age. All she wants to be is cool and popular. But after a humiliating birthday party, she makes a wish to “thirty and flirty and thriving.” The next morning, Jenna wakes up in her dream body, in the year 2004, now an editor of a fashion magazine. From lifelong crushes to career challenges, Jenna’s dreams of adulthood don’t seem fancy anymore.

What Makes It Great

Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo are absolute darlings in this dream romantic comedy from director Gary Winick. With his lighthearted story, Winick taps into the universal insecurities of being at a certain age. But in the process, he gives an important message of wisening and maturing with time instead of rushing into it. Jenna’s fish-out-of-water plight is as fun as it is relatable. That said, 13 Going on 30 is all about second chances and first love.

3 To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)

The second teen romance story on this list, To All the Boys I've Loved Before explores a novel premise: what if our crushes knew exactly what we thought of them, down to every last embarrassing detail? In the film, high schooler Lara Jean (Lana Condor) accidentally ends up with a stack of love letters sent out to every boy she's ever liked. Of course, chaos ensues, but it also manages to resolve brilliantly in a heartwarming way without veering into overly corny territory.

What Makes It Great

Adapted from Jenny Han’s beloved novel To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is one of those films that sweep you off your feet by being incredibly sweet and romantic. The film featured Lana Condor and Noah Centineo’s breakout performances, and as Lara Jean and Peter, they showcased incredible on-screen chemistry and humor. It’s no surprise that fans were overjoyed with the two sequels that came after. Plus, their happily ever after was unforgettably tender, too. If you can't get enough after the first installment of To All The Boys, there are two sequels on Netflix as well: To All The Boys: PS I Still Love You and To All The Boys: Always and Forever.

2 Love at First Sight (2023)

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In Love at First Sight, Haley Lu Richardson plays Hadley, a 20-year-old student who misses her flight to London, where she’s expected to attend her father’s wedding to his current girlfriend. A dead phone battery leads her to Oliver, played by Ben Hardy. They instantly hit it off and basically fall in love during the flight. However, when the flight lands, the two lose each other at customs and the chances of meeting each other again look slim. But are they really?

What Makes It Great

With no charm to spare, Richardson and Hardy make this love story one of the most genuinely fun and touching in years. The film is adapted from Katie Lovejoy’s 2011 novel The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, so there are a lot of statistical jump scares made by Jamila Jameel, but keeping that aside, the movie handles its story well. The bittersweet narrative, paired with heartwarming moments and seamless conversations, makes the film instantly likable.

1 Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

A special film for all cinephiles, Silver Linings Playbook centers around Pat Solitano, who after being released from a mental institution, is living under the care of his parents. His crime? Attacking his cheating wife’s lover. When Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl who suffers from depression and has an outrageous personality, she convinces him to be her partner in a dance competition by promising to help him get back with his wife.

What Makes It Great

Based on Matthew Quick’s novel of the same name, Silver Linings Playbook is directed by David O. Russell with just the right amount of intensity and humor. The movie stays real to its characters and explores themes like mental health and finding purpose in a meaningless life. Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper form this crackling chemistry that layers the film’s raw narrative. Despite being rich and deep, the film also keeps viewers thoroughly entertained and uplifted.