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The 75 Best Rom-Coms of All Time (for Real Though)

The 75 Best Rom-Coms of All Time (for Real Though)


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Get ready to yell KISS at your TV screen. Are you looking for a movie with a sweet love story, plenty of laughs, and maybe even a makeover scene or two (and you've already watched the best rom-coms of 2022)? Good news: You've come to the right place. Is there anything better than a romantic comedy to lighten your mood? I think not. You should watch one tonight!

Though there's a time and place for a good thriller or horror movie, but when you need a pick-me-up, romantic comedies are ~clearly~ the superior genre. Whether you're having a fun movie night or eating your feelings after a breakup or bad day at work, nothing heals all wounds quite like a rom-com—and these are some of the very best of all time.

Some are absolutely movies you rewatch over and over (hello, When Harry Met Sally). Some are lil gems with a sneaky romantic subplot you might not even have noticed the first time round (here's looking at you, Booksmart). Some are underrated. Some are overrated but we love them anyway. Some are movies that helped define the genre but might be a bit...of their time, let's say (The Wedding Singer, Pretty Woman, While You Were Sleeping: Dated, maybe, but we still love them). If you're watching an old classic for the first time, it's the perfect opp to watch with pals and laugh/groan/cry together. There's no better time to introduce yourself to a classic you missed or an underrated gem you haven't gotten around to watching. Let's get into it.

The Apartment

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This classic, black and white romantic comedy is also the perfect New Year's Eve movie. It's about a guy named C. C. Baxter who gets promotions at work by loaning his bachelor pad out to married men so they can have affairs without getting a hotel. Things get complicated, however, when his latest boss's mistress is his work crush Fran. (Yes, musical theatre nerds, this is also the plot of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.)

Fire Island

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Joel Kim Booster's modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is so perfect. Where has romantic leading man Conrad Ricamora been all my life? He was the best Darcy.

The Broken Hearts Gallery

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This underrated recent romantic comedy stars Dacre Montgomery, who you may remember from Stranger Things. But he's not playing a racist, abusive jerk in this like his Stranger Things character. He's a moody hotel owner who meets a jilted artist and has mastered the romantic comedy look. You know the one. The soft, yearning, heart-eyed look.

Ibiza

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Another recent-ish and totally underrated romantic comedy is this romp on Netflix. It's about a woman played by Gillian Jacobs whose friends encourage her to let loose on a work trip. When she does, she hits it off with a DJ played by none other than Richard Madden. Movies like this get so swept under the rug these days, and it's not fair!

It Happened One Night

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Romantic comedies don't get much more classic than this film from 1934. It's about a socialite who recently eloped against her father's wishes. She runs away from her father and right into the arms of a charming, rakish reporter who could turn his career around by telling her story. It's the ultimate road trip comedy and very sexy for something that's older than your grandparents.

Happiest Season

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Yes, obviously she should have dumped her girlfriend and dated Aubrey Plaza. But sometimes getting frustrated with the love lives of fictional strangers and knowing that you would do it better is what rom-coms are all about. Not always, but sometimes. It's aspirational.

The Half of It


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This moody little coming-of-age romantic comedy is a loose adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac. It's just as much about what it's like to realize you really love your friends as it is about unrequited crushes and first heartbreaks.

They Came Together

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This spoof of romantic comedy conventions might poke fun of our favorite genre, but it's in a loving way! It's also so funny and has all of your favorite comedy people, from Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd to Randall Park and Cobie Smulders.

Friends With Kids

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The two last single friends in the group decide to have a kid together. They can beat the system by co-parenting and seeing other people so they don't grow to resent one another. They're definitely not harboring secret feelings for one another. This is fine. Nothing will go wrong. Right?

Four Weddings and a Funeral

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Sure, Love Actually may be the quintessential rom-com with a frankly unbelievable ensemble cast of U.K. actors. But it's a Christmas movie. For a similar year-round experience, it doesn't get much better than this. Hugh Grant is at his bumbliest. Some of the choices these characters make are absolutely bonkers, but I wallow in their ups and downs nonetheless.

Runaway Bride

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Julia Roberts, a rom-com queen, plays a woman who's made multiple attempts at walking down the aisle but freaks out and runs away before she makes it to her groom. Will that change when a handsome journalist (Richard Gere) arrives in town? (You can guess where this is going.)

Love, Simon

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Simon, who's closeted, has fallen in love with an anonymous classmate online who is also gay. Romantical shenanigans ensue: Think mistaken identity, teenage drama, and close-mindedness alongside a heaping dose of supportive friends and family.

13 Going on 30

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Jennifer Garner plays a 13-year-old girl inside of a 30-year-old’s body (who actually wants to be 30? Jenna Rink, apparently) who has to navigate life as an adult for the first time...and realizes that she didn’t actually end up with her male BFF (played by Mark Ruffalo) in the future.

Always Be My Maybe

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Ali Wong wrote and stars in this Netflix original movie where she and her childhood best friend (Randall Park) meet up as adults and find out that they may actually have chemistry—but of course, it can never be that easy.

The Five-Year Engagement

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Emily Blunt and Jason Segel play a couple who gets engaged but keep running into mishaps as they try to reach their wedding day. Will they actually end up getting married, or break up thanks to all the stress?

The Wedding Singer

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Adam Sandler plays a wedding singer who ends up getting left at the altar and falls in love with a bride (Drew Barrymore) who hires him to perform at her wedding. Now he has to figure out how to get her to realize that he's a better pick than her fiancé.

27 Dresses

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In a world where someone actually has 27 friends as an adult, Katherine Heigl has always been the bridesmaid and never the bride. Things only get worse when she finds out her sister is engaged to her long-time crush, but a new love might be right around the corner (hey, James Marsden!).

Girls Trip

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Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Tiffany Haddish get together to road trip to the Essence Music Festival, and both hilarity and romance ensue. If you’re looking for more “com” than “rom,” let this be your choice.

Sweet Home Alabama

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Imagine a world where someone would choose their high school boyfriend over a rich dude played by Patrick Dempsey, and there you have the plot of Sweet Home Alabama, which is perfect in the same way all the movies with Reese Witherspoon (another queen of rom-coms) are perfect.

Miss Congeniality

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We’ve likely all seen this one, but it’s definitely worth another watch. Come on—Sandra Bullock playing an FBI agent who is forced to enter a beauty pageant as part of her investigation and has wild chemistry with her fellow agent? Doesn’t get better than that.

Mamma Mia!

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There are few movies out there (and even fewer movie musicals) that inspire a sequel that’s just as good, if not better, than the original, but Mamma Mia (and Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again) definitely makes the cut. There’s Meryl Streep, there’s Pierce Brosnan, there’s a whole soundtrack of catchy tunes—what’s not to love?

Booksmart

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Raise your hand if this sounds familiar: You spent all your time in high school studying instead of partying (raises hand). Such is the case for Amy and Molly, who decide to overcompensate with one epic night of partying. Romance sneaks up on both of them, including an amazing (surprise) queer hookup that ends hilariously badly.

500 Days of Summer

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Zooey Deschanel is the definition of the manic pixie dream girl in this rom-com. When Tom meets the quirky Summer at work, he quickly falls in love, but he imagines their love story (and his girlfriend) to be totally different than what they are in reality. FYI, this one isn't *always* a comedy, but it's still terrific.

Legally Blonde

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Add another Reese Witherspoon movie to the list—and this one might just be her most iconic yet. Watching Elle Woods crush it in law school and make Warner realize what he missed out on truly never gets old.

When Harry Met Sally

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Nora Ephron wrote a perfect screenplay—this is not up for debate—that at its heart asks, “Can men and women ever really be friends?” In the case of Harry and Sally, the answer is yes, they can be. Friends and soulmates.

Enough Said

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Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) starts dating Albert (James Gandolfini), and when she realizes one of her massage clients (Catherine Keener) is Albert’s ex-wife, she doesn’t tell either of them about the connection. Instead, she fishes around for information and hilarity (and a lil heartbreak) ensues.

Bring It On

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There are few things better than a good cheerleading movie, and this one—starring Kirsten Dunst, Gabrielle Union, and Jesse Bradford as a v cute love interest—might just be the best one of all time with the most memorable cheers.

Jerry Maguire

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“Show me the money.” “You had me at hello.” “Did you know the human head weighs 8 pounds?” It’s no coincidence everyone you know can quote at least one (and probably all three) of these Jerry Maguire lines. The Tom Cruise/Renée Zellweger/Cuba Gooding Jr. vehicle—about a sports agent who gets a conscience—is the kind of movie that worms its way into your brain and stay there for years.

Love & Basketball

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This is more of a sports-rom than a rom-com, but it’s a love story for the ages regardless (and there are a few chuckles in here). The movie follows Monica and Quincy as they go from ball-playing kids to ball-playing teens to ball-playing lovers to ball-playing exes to “Play me.” “For what?” “Your heart.” Epic.

Pretty Woman

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If you think about the plot for too long—sex worker falls in love with arrogant rich man—it can start to feel icky. So don’t do that! Just enjoy it for what it is: an iconic movie that showcases the uncanny charm of one Julia Roberts.

Someone Great

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Admittedly, this is another one that’s a little bit light on the “com,” but when music journalist Jenny gets the perfect job that requires her to move across the country, she and her boyfriend break up on the eve of her move. Her friends decide she needs one last crazy night out in New York City, and their shenanigans do not disappoint. (Also, the side characters do get some fun romantic entanglements, so be on the lookout.)

My Best Friend’s Wedding

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Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney play best friends who made a pact to marry each other if they didn’t find the love by 28 (lol, yes, 28). With her birthday fast approaching, he announces an unexpected engagement—and she realizes she is in love with him and must sabotage the wedding. Spoiler-ish alert: It doesn’t end they way you think it will.

Sleepless in Seattle

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Another Nora Ephron classic (cowritten and directed by her). The story follows a widower named Sam (Tom Hanks) who calls into a radio show to discuss his heartbreak and attracts the attention of countless female listeners. Among them is a woman named Annie (Meg Ryan), who is engaged to be married but feels like something is missing in her relationship. With a little scheming by Sam’s son...you see where this is going.

Bridget Jones's Diary

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We’ve all been Bridget Jones at one point in our life: single, fretting over men, and utterly disgusted by the thought of working out. Renée Zellweger brings the character to life perfectly, and Hugh Grant and Colin Firth as her love interests are not too shabby themselves.

Obvious Child

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The premise of this movie doesn’t sound comedic—young woman has an abortion after a one-night stand leaves her pregnant—but writer-director Gillian Robespierre’s hilarious script is light. It helps that Jenny Slate is perfect as Donna, a hapless comedian/bookstore clerk who has some very relatable thoughts on what women’s underwear looks like at the end of the day. What also helps? Jake Lacy as her love interest.

Before Sunrise

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Richard Linklater’s iconic tale of Jesse and Celine isn’t *technically* a comedy, but it certainly delivers in the romance department (and the dialogue will make you grin). After meeting on a train in Europe, Jesse and Celine spend all night walking and talking in Vienna. They part ways at the end of the movie, but fear not—their story continues in the sequels Before Sunrise and Before Midnight.

About Last Night

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Take two couples, one whose relationship is just starting and another whose is very much about to end, and put them together in one movie. That’s basically the plot of About Last Night, and the contradictions between the two pairs make it absolutely hilarious.

10 Things I Hate About You

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There have been countless movie adaptations of Shakespeare over the years, but this 1999 classic remains the platonic ideal of Shakespeare adaptations. This one has everything—a fantastic cast (Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Gabrielle Union, Joseph Gordon-Levitt), an amazingly ’90s soundtrack (Letters to Cleo, Save Ferris, the Cardigans), and what must be the only successful attempt in cinematic history to make paintball look romantic.

Knocked Up

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Like Obvious Child, Knocked Up tells the story of a woman who finds herself pregnant after a one-night stand—only in this one, she decides to keep the baby. At first Alison (Katherine Heigl) and Ben (Seth Rogen) don’t seem to work, but by the end of the movie, you’ll be sold.

Clueless

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Clueless isn’t the first movie the comes to mind when you think of “classic rom-coms,” but there’s no question that it has deep roots in the genre. Jane Austen, author of Emma (on which the movie is based), was the original rom-com queen. Even if you feel a little odd about the fact Cher—spoiler alert—ends up with her ex-stepbrother Josh, you can’t deny that young Paul Rudd is a treasure.

A Lot Like Love

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In this underrated gem, Oliver (Ashton Kutcher) and Emily (Amanda Peet) go from friends with occasional benefits to just friends to lovers over the course of several years. These kinds of relationships rarely work out in real life, which is one reason they’re so fun to watch onscreen.

Nobody's Fool

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This list wouldn’t be complete without yet another Tiffany Haddish movie. She plays Tanya, a woman who just got out of jail and discovers her sister is definitely, one hundred percent being catfished.

Just Friends

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Most people don’t carry flames for their high school classmates for 10 years, but most people don’t look like Ryan Reynolds and Amy Smart. Ryan plays Chris, a former nerd who returns to his hometown to find himself still struggling with feelings for Jamie (Amy Smart), the woman who didn’t return his sentiments in his younger days. Also recommended if you’re still pining for Chris Klein’s glory days—he plays the other guy competing for Jamie’s affection.

Away We Go

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When Verona (Maya Rudolph) and Burt (John Krasinski) find out that they’re expecting a child, they can’t decide where to raise it. Their solution? Visit friends and family all over the country to see what might suit their new family. Come for Verona and Burt’s quirky and sweet relationship, stay for an incredible supporting cast that includes Allison Janney, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Carmen Ejogo, and Catherine O’Hara.

You’ve Got Mail

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That “you’ve got mail” voice may have gone the way of the 56K modem, but this second Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks team-up remains eternal. She wanted it to be him! She wanted it to be him so badly!

Waiting to Exhale

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Based on the novel of the same name by Terry McMillan, Waiting to Exhale was lauded for featuring an all-African-American cast led by Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, and the great Loretta Devine. When their lives are rocked by the men in them, the four women realize the power of their friendship (and the power of fire, which is nice if you want to burn your soon-to-be-ex’s things). Fun fact: Waiting to Exhale was directed by Forest Whitaker, who also directed Whitney in the “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” music video.

The Cutting Edge

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What happens when you pair a recently retired hockey player with a figure skating star who’s spoiled AF? A dream team that actually might have a shot at gold at the 1992 Winter Olympics. No, really.

Look Who’s Talking

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What’s cuter than a talking baby voiced by Bruce Willis? Watching Kirstie Alley and John Travolta figure out how to take care of said baby in a sweet, sweet film from Amy Heckerling in her pre-Clueless days. The sequel, Look Who’s Talking Too (directed by Heckerling) is also great fun—even if the premise starts wild and gets wilder as the movies go on.

Moonstruck

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Nicolas Cage has a prosthetic hand and Cher has great hair in this over-the-top but delicious film about an Italian American woman falling for her fiancé’s younger brother while the fiancé visits his dying mother in Sicily. The movie also popularized Dean Martin’s version of “That’s Amore,” which will now be playing in your head for the rest of the week.

Trainwreck

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With Amy Schumer writing and Judd Apatow directing, this film perfectly captures the butterflies and dangers of taking things to the next level, i.e., beyond the morning walk of shame. Bill Hader plays the guy Amy seriously falls for, even though her instincts tell her otherwise. LeBron James, Brie Larson, Vanessa Bayer, Tilda Swinton, Daniel Radcliffe, John Cena, and a slew of other famous people are in this.

Silver Linings Playbook

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Pat and Tiffany’s worlds collide all for the better after he’s released from a mental institution and she deals with the fresh death of her husband. They become friends, rehearse for a dance competition, and for some reason, Bradley Cooper can’t stop wearing a garbage bag.

The Wedding Planner

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For a chunk of the 2000s, Matthew McConaughey couldn’t stop making romantic comedies, and it was a blessing. In The Wedding Planner, Matthew plays an engaged man who falls for his…WEDDING PLANNER, played by J.Lo, who can’t seem to find “the one” despite her profession. Watch for brilliant performances from the always underrated Bridgette Wilson, Judy Greer, and a bb Justin Chambers, who would star on Grey’s Anatomy four years later.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

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Would you ever buy a magazine called Composure? Doesn’t matter. Kate Hudson’s Andie Anderson writes for Composure and while she’d much rather tackle ~real~ topics like politics and poverty, her editor wants something juicy, giving birth to the movie’s silly, silly title. The guy she tries to lose (for journalism) is rom-com king Matthew McConaughey, who also has a scheme of his own when he bets he can make any woman fall for him. Look, it’s not hard IRL either, Matthew.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

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Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) has a habit of writing love letters to her crushes in order to get over them. When the letters get sent out by accident, all (good) hell breaks loose. Enter: Noah Centineo’s Peter Kavinsky. Based on Jenny Han’s YA novel of the same name, TATBILB has some decent sequels, too.

Crazy Rich Asians

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Girl meets guy. Guy turns out to be secretly rich. Like, crazy rich. Girl finds out while en route to meet guy’s seriously loaded family in Singapore, complete with the gossipy relatives and one mother who thinks she knows best for her son. Henry Golding, Constance Wu, Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina, and a cast of incredibly talented people star in this groundbreaking film based on Kevin Kwan’s bestselling novel of the same name.

Set It Up

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Lucy Liu plays a big-time editor who gets set up with a venture capitalist (Taye Diggs) who works in the same building. Such is the work of Harper and Charlie (Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell, respectively), two assistants who hatch a plan to make their bosses fall in love so they can have a social life that begins at a respectable time.

Friends With Benefits

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Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake are—you guessed it—friends with benefits, aka they hook up and vow to not fall in love while doing so. Which backfires, obviously, but that’s where the romance comes in. Oh, and there are several flash mobs, which, let’s be honest, make the movie.

The Proposal

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Sandra Bullock plays a Canadian book editor facing deportation—that is, until she devises the ultimate scam of claiming to be engaged to her hot-AF assistant played by Ryan Reynolds. Which only leaves us wondering: Can I almost be deported if I get to end up with Ryan Reynolds? LMK.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

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Jason Segel gets dumped by his up-and-coming actor girlfriend (Kristen Bell) who starts immediately dating Russell Brand. All three (plus Segel’s love interest, played by Mila Kunis) end up in Hawaii together…at the same resort. Chaos ensues. New love follows. And there’s a Paul Rudd cameo. Ahh, romance.

Palm Springs

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This rom-com gives a clever and hilarious twist to the time loop movie formula. Andy Samberg plays carefree wedding guest Nyles who finds himself reliving the same day over and over again. Somehow, maid of honor Sarah finds herself stuck in the same situation, and things get complicated.

Crazy, Stupid, Love

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Cal Weaver's (Steve Carell) life feels like it's falling apart when he finds out his wife Emily (Julianne Moore) cheated on him. Now, they're going through a divorce and Cal is trying to navigate the world of dating with the help of a younger mentor, a player named Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling). Surprise romances ensues for both of them.

Serendipity

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Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara (Kate Beckinsale) meet on one magical night in New York City and leave it up to fate whether they're meant to be together, should they see each other again. Ten years pass, and fate brings them together in the same city again.

Must Love Dogs

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Ah, yes. Throwback to the early aughts, simpler times when online dating seemed a lot more wholesome. In this movie, recent divorcée Sarah (Diane Lane) is reluctant to date, but her sister makes her an online dating profile that says that any man worth her time "must love dogs." Through the website, she meets boat craftsman Jake (John Cusack) who has also recently gone through a divorce.

The Big Sick

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Kumail Nanjiani plays himself in this semi-autobiographical romantic comedy loosely based on his IRL love story with his wife Emily Gordon. The Pakistani comic tells the story of how he met and fell for a grad student named Emily. As their relationship continues to blossom, he begins to worry about their cultural differences. But the couple has even bigger problems when Emily suddenly comes down with an illness that leaves her in a coma.

How Stella Got Her Groove Back

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Stockbroker Stella (Angela Bassett) decides to fly off to Jamaica with her friend Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg) for some much-needed R&R. And there, she meets Winston (Taye Diggs), a handsome 20-something man. They have a whirlwind of a fling, and when she gets back to California she realizes that she's developed feelings for him. But with their distance from each other and their age difference, she wonders if their romance stands a chance.

The Holiday

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California movie trailer producer Amanda (Cameron Diaz) and English writer Iris (Kate Winslet) both find themselves feeling lonely during the holidays. To take a break from their ordinary lives, they decide to switch homes for a little vacation. Soon, they both find looooove.

Bridesmaids

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Lovelorn and practically penniless Annie (Kristen Wiig) learns that her best friend (Maya Rudolph) is engaged, and it seems like she has no choice but to serve as her maid of honor. Still, she's determined to make everything perfect and refuses to pass the role up. Along the way, she and the bridal party go on hilariously wild adventures. And she even finds love!

Two Weeks Notice

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Environmental lawyer Lucy Kelson (Sandra Bullock) agrees to work for billionaire George Wade (Hugh Grant) as part of a deal to preserve a community center. But Lucy gets tired of George's dependence on her beyond legal matters. She decides to give her two weeks notice, but George realizes that life's just not the same without her.

Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging

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Georgia (Georgia Groome) feels like she's ready to come into her own as a young woman. And now she wants to experience love like she never has before. With her best friends and her cat Angus by her side, the teen plots to nab the man of her dreams.

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

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Nick (Michael Cera) and Norah (Kat Dennings) first meet when she asks him to be her fake boyfriend for five minutes at a bar. And then a wild night of trouble, drunken debauchery, dancing, and music ensues.

Long Shot

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A writer reconnects with his childhood crush and former babysitter as she runs for president. And though her team advises against it, she decides to hire him as her speechwriter.

While You Were Sleeping

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Transit worker Lucy (Sandra Bullock) saves her crush (Peter Gallagher) from the path of an oncoming train. He winds up in a coma, and because of a misunderstanding, his family assumes that she's his fiancée. She plays along, but things get complicated when she winds up falling for his brother Jack (Bill Pullman). Don't think too much about the *wild* premise and just go with it.

Flipped

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Ever since the second grade, Juli Baker (Madeline Carroll) has been in love with Bryce Loski (Callan McAuliffe). But Bryce has never felt the same way, constantly doing things to avoid even being seen with her or having anything to do with her. But six years later, just as Juli begins to think she was wrong about him being the love of her life, Bryce begins to rethink things, too.

A Little Thing Called Love

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This movie has turned into a beloved classic Asian romantic comedy. Nam (Baifern Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul) is an ordinary 14-year-old girl who sees herself as an ugly duckling. Still, she can't help but crush on the cutest boy at school, Shone (Mario Maurer). And as she tries to muster up the courage to tell him how she feels throughout the years, they find a special connection.

A Cinderella Story

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Hilary Duff plays Sam, a teen who works as a janitor, dishwasher, and waitress at her stepmother's diner. After a cellphone mix-up, she begins anonymously texting and e-mailing a boy who just seems to get her. They agree to meet at the school dance. But getting to have her Cinderella moment is proving more complicated. IYKYK—and if you don't, go watch this immediately.

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