Plenty to choose from
Having given our picks of the best horrors, action movies, thrillers and more on the streaming service, we're looking at the best romantic comedies on Netflix this week.
After all, romantic comedies and Netflix kind of go together like cheese and crackers, right?
You want something funny and wistful and easy to watch no matter what time or day of the week it is.
Rom coms are just that, even when they offer the most unrealistic of narratives.
We warn you that there are quite a few schmaltzy flicks in our selection. But such is the nature of these types of movies.
So here they are, whether you feel like a re-watch or something new (and silly) - the best romantic comedies on Netflix right now.
Set It Up
Every so often, Netflix produces a great original film and 'Set It Up' is one of them. Reuniting 'Everybody Wants Some!!' stars Glen Powell and Zoey Deutsch, the two young actors play the respective PAs of Taye Diggs and Lucy Liu's characters. They hatch up a plan to set their bosses up with one another. That way they can finally get their own free time. Eating pizza drunk in the middle of the night has never seemed more romantic.
Always Be My Maybe
Starring Ali Wong (whose Netflix specials 'Baby Cobra' and 'Hard Knock Wife' should also be checked out on Netflix) and Randall Park (probably best-known for playing Asian Jim on 'The Office'), 'Always Be My Maybe' sees two childhood friends reconnect later in life. As adults, she is now a celebrity chef and he still works for his dad's plumbing business. The Keanu Reeves cameo alone makes this a must-see.
Easy A
Teen movie comedy classics span the likes of 'She's All That', '10 Things I ate About You', 'Bring It On', 'American Pie', 'Never Been Kissed', and 'The Breakfast Club' among many others. 'Easy A' is a much more recent example of the genre but thanks to a sharp, funny script and class lead performance from Emma Stone, it now ranks among the classics. Stone plays seventeen-year-old Olive Penderghast, whose lie about losing her virginity ends up spiralling out of control.
Clueless
Alicia Silverstone plays Cher, a spoilt, wealthy and popular but well-meaning high schooler from Beverly Hills who's something of a busybody. She has no interest in romance but takes it upon herself to set up those around her. Eventually Cher's true feelings start catching up to her. Many of us have revisited 'Clueless' over and over. And with good reason, because it's awesome.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days', which preceded the McConaissance, was added to Netflix just recently. Kate Hudson plays a writer for a women's magazine whose latest assignment is on repelling potential dates away. Matthew McConaughey makes a bet he can make any woman fall in love with him, and starts to date her. That's sure to create a mess. It's a shame because this is an example of one of those romantic comedies that's great up to the point where they actually fall in love.
Just Friends
'Just Friends' might be dismissed as just another rom-com in Ryan Reynolds' filmography. But there's just a teetering darkness underneath that makes the comedy all the more potent. Ryan Reynolds' character, from the very get-go, is shown as this pathetic creature who has to drop weight and become a hunk into order to feel good about himself and is so expectant of women's attention that it becomes toxic for him. Not only that, you've got Anna Faris in one of her finest comedic roles as the spoiled singer who's out to cause chaos.
Hitch
Will Smith, Eva Mendes and Kevin Hart lead this 2005 rom com. Hitch (Smith) is a "date doctor" for hire who advises men that are unlucky in love how to woo the women of their dreams. James plays his latest client, who though hopeless, Hitch might learn a thing or two from; while Mendes plays a gossip columnist he starts to fall for, not realising she is researching him. Silly, lovely stuff.
The Perfect Man
'The Perfect Man' is not one of the best rom coms ever and its status as one of the best romantic comedies on Netflix isn't totally dependable. In fact feel free to subconsciously sub in 'A Cinderella Story' (also on Netflix) here instead as your go-to Hillary Duff rom com. But something about this story following a teenager who wants her mom (Heather Locklear) to get the love she deserves, gets to us every time.
When Harry Met Sally
We couldn't exclude the most romantic comedy of all romantic comedies! Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan play the titular characters, two friends that can't seem to keep away from each other. Their relationship commences with a cross-country drive, after which they share twelve years of chance encounters in New York City. Over thirty years old, it still holds up spectacularly.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Given all the terrible teen rom com originals on Netflix (like 'The Kissing Booth' and 'The Perfect Date', to name just a couple), we're surprised ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ is as good as it is. Storywise, it's about a teenage girl whose secret love letters get distributed to her crushes. Lana Condor is perfection as the lead and Noah Centineo makes for a charming support. The movie is entertaining, insightful and fun. Audiences beyond the YA target market will find much to enjoy - and there's a sequel on Netflix now too.
Knocked Up
Katherine Heigl and Seth Rogen's characters have a one night stand after which the former becomes pregnant. The couple try to figure out their relationship over the nine months before their child arrives. As with 'The 40 Year Old Virgin', 'Knocked Up' comes from director-writer Judd Apatow in his prime. Some aspects have aged, but generally it holds up well.
Isn’t It Romantic
We’re aware not everyone feels the same way. But we’re sticking to our guns and arguing that ‘Isn’t It Romantic’ is great craic altogether and more to the point, it gives you exactly what you'd expect. Rebel Wilson is the best she has ever been as a cynical singleton who lands in her worst nightmare – a PG13 romantic comedy. It’s fun, sweet, snappy, chockablock with movie references (that aren’t limited to rom coms) and genuinely entertaining.
Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging
We've picked quite a number of cute teen rom coms within our selection of romantic comedies on Netflix. And they don't get much cuter than 'Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging'. Georgia Groome (who ended up having a baby with 'Harry Potter's Rupert Grint, would you believe) plays a 14 year old who is experiencing lots of things like kissing, love, and thongs, all for the first time. Aaron Taylor-Johnson co-stars in one of his first film roles.
The Holiday
The modern Christmas classic that is 'The Holiday' is a tad out of season, but some viewers enjoy these films year round. Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet star as two women unlucky in love who swap homes and lifestyles for the holidays. Jude Law and Jack Black are the film's leading men. Also in the cast are Rufus Sewell, Edward Burns and legendary western star Eli Wallach. If you like your rom coms and Christmas movies cheesy, funny and packed with feel-good factor, 'The Holiday' is essential viewing.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Based on Stephen Chbosky’s novel (who also wrote and directed the film), 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' depicts the experiences of junior high school student Charlie (Logan Lerman) and his friendship with two senior students named Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller). He ends up catching feelings for Sam, in spite starting to see someone else. The three leads give dazzling performances, and the story is engrossing.
Trainwreck
Judd Apatow - known for 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin' and 'Knocked Up' among others - directs Amy Schumer in her star-making movie. She plays a party girl who loves drinking and sleeping around but may just change her ways when she meets a sports doctor named Aaron Conners (Bill Hader). John Cena and LeBron James prove that they have comedic chops in this feature too.
13 Going on 30
For those of you in need of a refresher, the comedy follows a 13-year-old named Jenna who upon making a wish on her birthday flashes forward into her 30-year-old body. Which is Jennifer Garner - so who's complaining, really? The movie also stars Judy Greer and Mark Ruffalo in one of their earlier roles, and Andy Serkis plays Jenna's boss. '13 Going on 30' is a classic and up there alongside 'Big' as one of the best examples of body swap movies.
The 40 Year Old Virgin
A middle-aged shop worker reveals he has never been intimate with a woman, which prompts his shocked colleagues to set him up with a series of dates. When he falls for a single mother, his friends think he is right on course for a lusty liaison. But his new partner is not ready for a physical relationship. This is one of Judd Apatow's most beloved comedies and features great performances from Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen.
About a Boy
'About a Boy' follows the unlikely friendship that buds between Will (Hugh Grant) and a teenage boy named Marcus (a young Nicholas Hoult). While Marcus develops a crush in school having failed to set Will up with his mom (Toni Colette), Will starts to date a woman (Rachel Weisz) under the guise that Marcus is his son. In our opinion, we'd put this up with other British romantic comedy Christmas classics (quite a specific category, we know) like 'Love Actually' and 'Bridget Jones Diary' (also starring Grant).
50 First Dates
Look, say what you want about Adam Sandler. But when he's put on the screen with Drew Barrymore, something magic happens. '50 First dates' marks his first on-screen outing with the actress since the delightful 'The Wedding Singer'. Set in Hawaii, Barrymore plays a woman with anterograde amnesia. As her brain can't form new memories, she wakes up every morning thinking it's the same day. Sandler has quite a task ahead making her fall for him.
Long Shot
Like other examples of rom coms, 'Long Shot' is predictable with all those recognisable narrative beats essentially leading to an inevitable end. At the same time though, as we've said, that sense of familiarity is comforting and feel-good. Thus if you enjoy the genre and are looking for a relatively new and neglected example of it, this is worth seeking out. The film sees Charlize Theron play the US Secretary of State and Seth Rogen is a writer who she hires as her speech writer.