Rom-coms you’ll swoon over
When you’re in need of a little escape, there’s nothing more delightful than romantic comedy movies. These sweet, funny movies generally have a happy ending, leaving you with feel-good vibes for date night. On top of that, they cross backgrounds and cultures, giving rom-coms the universal appeal of true love. While we love sweeping romances and sad movies, too, sometimes you just need everything wrapped up in a neat package.
There are actors and actresses who have literally made their careers out of starring in romantic comedy movies, like Meg Ryan, who just might be the queen of the genre. From Sleepless in Seattle to When Harry Met Sally…, Ryan’s characters search for love in ways that make us root for her every time. But wait—don’t forget about Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, and Drew Barrymore, who also make a few appearances on this list with some of our favorite leading men.
So, are you ready to fall in love over and over again? Cancel your plans for the day (and get some popcorn), because we’ve rounded up 50 of the best rom-coms of all time. To narrow things down, we took into account each movie’s staying power, box office numbers, and awards-show buzz around the time of release. Some of them are classics that qualify as the best movies of all time, while others are newer romantic movies on Netflix, but they’re all pretty darn perfect in all the right ways.
1. Sleepless in Seattle
Released: 1993
Rated: PG
Memorable Quote: “It was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together, and I knew it. I knew it the first time I touched her. It was like coming home, only to no home I’d ever known. I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew it. It was like magic.”
The big-screen pairing of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks is always a winner. Enter a cute kid who just wants to help his widowed father find love via a radio talk show and you have rom-com perfection. The film was even nominated for two Oscars and a number of other big awards.
Available on: Apple TV, Vudu, Amazon Prime and Netflix