There are moments when you’ve had enough of surprise plot twists, dark dramas, and emotionally draining epics, yet you still long for a rom-com. A rational comparison of a romantic comedy to comfort food would reveal that these films contain all the characters and situations that anyone could expect and find comforting: chance meetings, clever repartee, and most importantly, the affirmation of love conquering all in the end. Certainly, we do not live in the golden era of rom-coms with huge budgets anymore, but the number of such pink comedies remains considerable; various streaming platforms have them scattered like hidden treasures waiting for you to discover and save them from a dull evening or a lonely Sunday.
Below is my countdown of 10 rom-coms to watch—a mix of classics, current favorites, and underrated gems that forgo narrative in favor of simply listing them from 10 down to the one that wears the crown of comfort.
10. Plus One
If you’re a fan of a good wedding film, Plus One is a light, airy pleasure. Two old pals decide to be each other’s plus-one for a summer full of weddings, and—you guessed it—things become complicated in the most adorable way. Jack Quaid and Maya Erskine are natural and hilarious together, making this a true feel-good “catching up with friends” experience that you can’t help but cheer for.
9. Crazy, Stupid, Love
Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Steve Carell, and Julianne Moore in one film is enough. Throw in witty dialogue, interconnected love stories, and that Dirty Dancing lift scene, and you’ve got a rom-com that’s both sweet and smart. It’s a film that brings you laughter, swooning, and perhaps faith in redemption arcs.
8. Warm Bodies
Romance with zombies? It somehow clicks. Warm Bodies turns the tables by presenting the tale from the zombie’s point of view, with Nicholas Hoult as a zombie romantic lead, whom you end up rooting for. Funny, eerily sentimental, and demonstrating love can be a lifesaver—during the apocalypse.
7. Two Weeks’ Notice
Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant doing their thing—that is all you need to know. She is an ethical lawyer, he is a wealthy mess, and their professional relationship unravels into something that neither of them anticipated. It is workplace romance at its best: warm, witty, and infinitely rewatchable.
6. Chalet Girl
Not all rom-coms have to reinvent the wheel—occasionally, you just want snow, snogging, and a fish-out-of-water romance. Chalet Girl delivers all three. Felicity Jones is lovely as Kim, a novice snowboarder who gets swept up in an alpine romance with Ed Westwick. Extra points for Bill Nighy being his typical scene-stealing self.
5. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Few movies get family mayhem and love better than this one. Nia Vardalos plays Toula, whose romance puts her boisterous, outspoken Greek-American family into a spin. It’s funny, warm, and impossible to watch without smiling.
4. The Edge of Seventeen
More coming-of-age than pure romance, but its genial, stilted heart earns it a spot here. Hailee Steinfeld is perfect as Nadine, a teen dealing with friendship angst, isolation, and first love. Woody Harrelson, her no-bullies teacher, is laugh gold.
3. Crazy Rich Asians
A shiny new fairy tale with gorgeous imagery and family drama galore. Constance Wu and Henry Golding’s chemist and the decadent Singapore backdrop are essentially supporting characters in an anthem. It’s an old-fashioned rom-com and a milestone of multicultural cinema.
2. Reality Bites
The ’90s version of “What am I doing with my life?” Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, and Ben Stiller star in this story of post-grad uncertainty and ill-fated love triangles, set to an iconic soundtrack. If you’ve ever been young, poor, and trying to get it all together, it’ll resonate.
1. Muriel’s Wedding
Witty, cringe-worthy, and surprisingly heart-wrenching, Muriel’s Wedding is not your typical rom-com—and that’s what makes it special. Toni Collette is absolute perfection as Muriel, an outsider with aspirations for the ultimate wedding and learning to love herself in the process. With ABBA playing in the background, it’s half and half happiness and sadness, making it the perfect comfort watch.
No matter whether you’re in the mood for slow-burning banter, crazy family shenanigans, or an oddball love affair, these ten movies bring the goods exactly as advertised: laughter, heart, and a guaranteed happy ending.