From the 80s to the late 2000s, Nora Ephorn dazzled the world with her romantic comedies and her special style of writing for almost three decades. With hits like Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally, the late Ephron was, and still is, beloved by many romantic comedy lovers. To this day, her work shines through as both heartwarming, hilarious, and comforting.
Whether you’re a die hard rom-com fan or watch them just for the occasional chuckle, there’s no denying that rom-coms take some skill in writing and producing in order to be successful. Ephron undoubtedly showed off her talent in this niche market, considering she has cranked out an extensive filmography. Our list will be covering only the movies she has written. Here are all of Nora Ephron’s films from worst to best.
14 This is My Life (1992)
Revolving around Dottie, a single mom who longs to be a stand-up comedian, you can see where this piece would go wrong. This is My Life was not nearly as successful as Ephron’s other pieces. The plot is flimsy and not relatable enough to the masses; indeed, most people don’t believe comedy to be a respectable career and when you throw two daughters into the mix of it all, it’s a bit of a mess. This is My Life makes the bottom of the list as an unmemorable and unrelatable film.
13 Cookie (1989)
Things change for the rambunctious and troubled Cookie when her father Dino sends her to work with his old colleague Carmine. While the storyline of Cookie has potential, it’s not clear what the goal of the protagonist is and it’s unclear who the antagonist is. The film revolves around prison, the FBI and even the witness protection program as this dysfunctional family tries to rekindle their relationships. The content matter of Cookie is a little too heavy to be able to just throw it on and have a few laughs. On top of that, the plot is generally disorganised, it’s easy to see where Ephron went wrong with this one.
12 The Super (1991)
“Big Lou” is threatened with prison time unless he can live in the slums he overrules and bring it up to code. Stuck on house arrest in one of his shoddy apartments, Big Lou sees no reason to upgrade the living conditions and waits for his father to bail him out until he has a change of heart meeting the young Marlon and Tito, two boys struggling to get by in the slums. The Super stars Joe Pesci and is a heart-warming tale of an overprivileged man being changed by the hearts of those deep in the struggle. The Super successfully takes a serious topic and approaches it in a comedic way.
11 Bewitched (2005)
Bewitched is based on the original television series that aired in the 70s. Starring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrel and even huge stars like Shirley McClaine, Bewitched follows a struggling actor who discovers his love interest is a witch. With such a dynamite cast, it’s hard to go wrong, that said, because Bewitched is a film remake of the original series, it will forever be compared to the original. While Bewitched is good for some light-hearted fun, it does seem to lack some substance to give it a place higher up on the list.
10 Mixed Nuts (1994)
This classic holiday film follows Philip, the manager of a suicide prevention hotline and his journey during the holidays with his co-workers. Between the topic of suicide and the eviction of the workers from the office building, Mixed Nuts is a dark comedy. Unlike Bewitched which gains laughs through the light, Mixed Nuts aims for gallows humour, including throwing in a transvestite and a pregnant lady into this mess. While its cast is nothing to be sneezed at, Mixed Nuts is an acquired taste, and especially being a holiday film, it's easy to see why this film was a commercial flop. Who would want to see a Christmas movie about eviction?
9 My Blue Heaven (1990)
Another dark comedy to add to Ephron’s filmography, My Blue Heaven is based on the life of Henry Hill, the same protagonist that Goodfellas is based on, though Ephron renamed his character to Vinnie. That said, My Blue Heaven focuses on Vinnie’s struggles within the Witness Protection Program rather than being a full recount of how he wound up there and even shows his struggles as he must testify against big-time mobsters. While not as successful as Goodfellas, My Blue Heaven has perks of its own. With a perfect cast of Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, and John Cusak, it’s hard to go wrong in this comedic storytelling of an ex-mobster’s new life.
8 Hanging Up (2000)
Hanging Up follows three sisters who bond over their lack of relationship with their father when he suddenly falls ill and is admitted to the hospital. With Diane Keaton, Meg Ryan, and Lisa Kudrow, Hanging Up is a recipe for wonderful things. As it focuses on the dysfunctional relationship the women have with their father, the film explores the meanings of relationships and how they are what we make of them.
7 Heartburn (1986)
A one-night stand between food-critic Rachael and columnist Mark leads to more when the couple falls in love. Leaving behind their wonderful careers, Rachael and Mark settle down together, but it’s not all smooth sailing. Heartburn tears at heartstrings as the unlikely happens and two headstrong people risk everything important for love. Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson show off their chemistry in Heartburn and lead the audience through the rollercoaster of their love.
6 Michael (1996)
Two journalists travel to small-town Iowa to follow up on a lead and meet Michael, a strange man claiming to be an angel. His behaviour is far from virtuous as he indulges in many vices including drinking, smoking, and toying with women. However, the journalists grow to believe he is who he claims based on his wisdom and knowledge of faith. Unlike many others on this list, Michael is a rather unknown film and unless you researched it, you would not know that it’s a Nora Ephron film. John Travolta shines as the unconventional angel who smells like cookies, managing to convince the most skeptical people around that he is indeed an angel.
5 Julie & Julia (2009)
This biopic follows the life of Julia Child, a famous cook who learned French cooking and brought it to America, and Julie Powell who vows to prepare every dish in Julia Child’s cookbook. Julie & Julia is a wholesome view into the life of Julia Child and the influence she has over modern-day amateur and professional chefs alike. Meryl Streep was praised for her performance as Julia Child, emanating her aura perfectly enough for the audience to feel that nostalgia.
4 Silkwood (1983)
Based on the true story of Karen Silwood, the title’s namesake, Silkwood follows Karen who works at a nuclear plant. When she begins to raise awareness about the safety hazards within the facility, she eventually discovers that she’s been exposed to a great deal of radiation. This heavy drama is a departure from the typical light-hearted rom-com we are used to from Nora Ephron. That said, Silkwood is a story that had to be told. Silkwood received a great deal of praise all-around for shedding light on such a serious topic.
3 You’ve Got Mail (1998)
You’ve Got Mail follows Kathleen Kelly, the owner of a small bookstore, and when she’s not at the store, she’s glued to her computer, exchanging emails with a stranger she met in a chatroom who turns out to be a business rival. While this is not a remake of The Shop Around the Corner, You’ve Got Mail is a modern spin, even making shot-for-shot remakes of certain scenes from the classic James Stewart film. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan reunite after their love affair in Sleepless in Seattle. This masterpiece pulls it all together and is emotional enough to make even the coldest heart melt.
2 When Harry Met Sally (1989)
College graduates Harry and Sally head on a road trip together and have a deep discussion of whether or not men and women can truly be platonic friends. After ten years, the two unexpectedly reunite and wonder if they can be just friends. When Harry Met Sally is considered to be an iconic film all because of the “I’ll Have What She’s Having” scene. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal shine, showing off their phenomenal acting and their unexpected chemistry.
1 Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
Recently widowed father Sam searches for new meaning to his life. When his son Jonah puts him on the phone with a radio doctor, Annie, who lives across the country and is engaged to someone else, develops a strong interest in Sam and his tale of woe. Sleepless in Seattle makes the top of the list as the best Nora Ephron film. There is no way for any other film to compete as every aspect of Sleepless in Seattle is perfect. It’s a timeless tale of two people settling with their lives discovering that they can be more than just content. The final scene of the film is considered one of the most emotional scenes in all of movie history.