Lovin' Lately no. 25
I'm a Rom-Com girlie, through and through
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Welcome back to another dose of Lovin’ Lately. This week, I’m sharing my all-time favorite rom-coms from the past decade (plus a few bonus gems).
My 21 Favorite Rom-Coms Since 2010
Look, maybe it’s unfair to say that Katherine Heigl’s 2009 rom-com The Ugly Truth was so bad it killed the entire genre. But much like the past two decades of superhero content led to the fatigue we all feel today, the rom-com boom of the 1990s and early 2000s meant Hollywood was pretty burnout on romantic comedies headed into the 2010s.
In fact, I’d argue that rom-coms are now more at home on TV than they are at the movies–with shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty, Bridgerton, Emily In Paris, and Starstruck, and continuing on the tradition of 2010s rom-com TV shows like Jane the Virgin, New Girl, The Mindy Project, and Younger.
But that doesn’t mean romantic comedy films have disappeared entirely, and I’m not just talking about the “quantity over quality” approach of Hallmark Christmas movies and Netflix original rom-coms. The genre still exists, even if it’s evolved a bit. I rounded up my 21 favorite rom-coms of the past 14 years, in hopes of putting a few new favorites on your radar.
They’re listed in no particular order, although I did include a few classic rom-com touchstones to help guide your viewing taste.
Long Shot (2019)
When this Seth Rogen/Charlize Theron political rom-com debuted, it was dinged for being yet another “schlubby guy/hot girl” male wish fulfillment story. But not only does that severely underestimate Rogen’s charms, it also misses the fact that there’s plenty of female wish fulfillment to this story of a powerful woman who finds someone who wants to support her, not one-up with her. Anchored by two stellar lead performances and an ideal balance of romance and comedy, Long Shot is as wonderfully sweet as it is laugh-out-loud funny.
For fans of: Broadcast News, Notting Hill, The Philadelphia Story
Isn’t It Romantic (2019)
It’s easy enough to parody the rom-com genre, but it’s harder to do so while still celebrating what makes romantic comedies special. Thankfully, Isn’t It Romantic is up for the challenge. Starring Rebel Wilson as an everyday woman whose life suddenly becomes a glossy romantic comedy, Isn’t It Romantic balances meta fun with a thoughtful exploration of how the genre can be unexpectedly empowering in its own way. Plus it lets Wilson and Adam DeVine continue their great Pitch Perfect chemistry in an even more sincere way.
For fans of: Pitch Perfect, They Came Together
Plus One (2019)
Though Plus One starts with what sounds like a high-concept premise (two friends agree to team up as each other’s “plus one” during an overstuffed wedding season), what ultimately makes the movie work is how no-frills it is. A funny but thoughtful script digs into the realities of dating in your late twenties, while Jack Quaid and especially Maya Erskine provide heaps of chemistry in a way that would surely make Quaid’s mom Meg Ryan proud.
For fans of: (500) Days of Summer, Four Weddings and a Funeral
Set It Up (2018)
Glen Powell may have had his big breakout moment thanks to
For fans of: How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days, You’ve Got Mail
I Want You Back (2022)
The best romantic comedies mine their humor from the quirky specificity of their characters. So while
For fans of: My Best Friend’s Wedding, While You Were Sleeping
EMMA. (2020)
As one of the last theatrical releases before the pandemic hit,
For fans of: Emma (1996), Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022)
A welcome new auteur in the rom-com genre, Cooper Raiff followed up his sweet college romance
For fans of: The Wedding Singer, The Graduate
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Chalk this one up as yet another rom-com where the central romance isn’t necessarily the best thing about it. Instead, where
For fans of: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Audrey Hepburn’s Funny Face
Always be My Maybe (2019)
Reunited after 15 years, famous chef Sasha and hometown musician Marcus feel the old sparks of attraction but struggle to adapt to each other's worlds.
Someone Great (2019)
After a devastating break up on the eve of her cross-country move, Jenny enjoys one last NYC adventure with her two best pals. Someone Great is a romantic comedy about love, loss, growth and the everlasting bond of female friendship.
Obvious Child (2014)
Romantic comedies have long been a haven for complicated stories about lovable, flawed women. And that’s very much true for
For fans of: Annie Hall, Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Sleeping With Other People (2015)
Tons of rom-coms have aimed to recapture the magic of
For fans of: When Harry Met Sally, Much Ado About Nothing
The First Time (2012)
Teen rom-coms are a proud tradition in their own right, and this underrated 2012 gem succeeds by giving its teenage characters a welcome sense of emotional maturity. Though ostensibly a movie about two teens losing their virginities, stars Britt Robertson and Dylan O’Brien bring a breezy, low-key chemistry that makes the whole thing feel more like a grounded coming-of-age story than a raunchy sex comedy.
For fans of: Say Anything, Pretty In Pink
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
Still the crown jewel in the Netflix rom-com canon (sorry
For fans of: She’s All That, Easy A, Can't Buy Me Love
The Big Sick (2017)
One of the most acclaimed rom-coms of the 2010s, what makes
For fans of: My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Mississippi Masala, Keeping the Faith
Together Together (2021)
There’s a subset of movies that aren’t technically rom-coms, but feel like they’re part of the genre anyway. And that’s true of this sweet story about a single guy (Ed Helms) longing to be a father and the young woman (Patti Harrison) he hires as his surrogate. Though the relationship between the two is platonic, their dynamic has the emotional ups and downs you’d expect from a rom-com. And that makes
For fans of: The Object of My Affection, Juno
How To Be Single (2016)
A group of young adults navigate love and relationships in New York City.
For fans of: He’s Just Not That Into You; Definitely, Maybe
In case you missed it…
Rom-coms have evolved over the past decade, but their magic hasn’t gone anywhere, they’re still delivering joy, awkward kisses, and emotional breakthroughs when we need them most. Whether you’re into the friends-to-lovers slow burn, a chaotic wedding weekend, or a good old-fashioned meet-cute in a coffee shop, I hope this list helps you find your next favorite.
Thanks for being here and reading all the way to the end. Leave a comment with your favorite modern rom-com, or just hit that little heart ❤️ to let me know you’re reading. It truly means the world.
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