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The 10 best romantic comedies ever

These are a must-watch! - by Natasha Price
  • 28 Aug 2018
The 10 best romantic comedies ever
Paramount Pictures

Romantic comedies are the ultimate go-to, light hearted movies that you can watch time and time again and they will always make you laugh, cry or just feel good. So get the chocolate and wine out, because here's a list of the top 10 best rom coms of all time to watch:

10. How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

Starring: Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey

Release date: 24 April 2003

Director: Donald Petrie

Box office: 177.4 million USD

Synopsis: Andie Anderson (Hudson) is assigned to write a story for the women's mag she works for about how to get a guy to leave her in just 10 days. That guy ends up being advertising executive Benjamin Barry (McConaughey) who, at the same time, had made a bet that he can make any woman fall in love with him in just 10 days. Starring two Hollywood heavyweights, it's a must see.

best rom coms

Andie (Hudson) and Benjamin (McConaughey)

Paramount Pictures

Memorable moment: When Andie and Ben get their frustrations out by singing Carly Simon's 'You're So Vain' on stage. 

RELATED: The Holiday Calendar is the christmas rom com you never knew you needed

Kate Hudson Mathew Mcconaughey GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

9. Sweet Home Alabama

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Patrick Dempsey and Josh Lucas

Release date: 19 December 2002

Director: Andy Tennant

Box office: $180.6 million USD

Synopsis: Fashion designer Melanie Carmichael (Witherspoon) has reinvented herself after moving from her small hometown to New York City. But after her boyfriend Andrew (Dempsey) proposed, Melanie has to go back home after years away to finally divorce her husband and first love, Jake (Lucas). So good.

sweet home alabama

Andrew (Dempsey), Melanie (Witherspoon) and Jake (Lucas)

Touchstone Pictures

Memorable moment: When the movie flashes back to a young Melanie who asks young Jake why he would want to marry her, and he responds: "So I can kiss you anytime I want". Nawww!

Childhood Movies GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

8. Notting Hill

Starring: Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts

Release date: 10 June 1999

Director: Roger Michell

Box office: 364 million USD

Synopsis: Book store owner William Thacker's (Grant) life turns upside down when the world's most famous actress Anna Scott (Roberts) walks into his shop. 

best rom coms

Anna (Roberts) and William (Grant)

Working Title Films

Memorable moment: In what has to be everyone's favourite scene from Notting Hill, William's sister (the late actress Emma Chambers) blurts out "holy f**k" when she bumps into Anna in William's home, before going into a complete fan-girl rant. Watch the full scene below.

Notting Hill (5/10) Movie CLIP - Best Friends Already (1999) HD

7. Suddenly 30

Starring: Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo

Release date: 23 April 2004

Director: Gary Winick

Box office: 96.5 million USD

Synopsis: On her 13th birthday, Jenna Rink (Jennifer Garner) makes a wish to wake up as a 30-year-old, and that's exactly what happens. Jenna finds herself living in her dream apartment with a dream job, but it isn't exactly what she thought it would be, so she tries to reconnect with her childhood best friend Matt (Mark Ruffalo).

rom coms

Jennifer Garner as Jenna Rink

Memorable moment: There are so many funny and sweet moments in Suddenly 30, but the one where Jenna finds out that Matty still has the dollhouse he made her for her 13th birthday has to be our favourite.

Mark Ruffalo GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

6. Love Actually

Starring: Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman

Release date: 26 December 2003

Director: Richard Curtis 

Box office: $246.9 million USD

Synopsis: It's Christmas time in London and Love Actually interweaves the love stories of very different couples. With its amazing cast and touching storylines, Love Actually has to be one of the best rom coms of all time.

rom coms

Memorable moment: If we have to choose just one, it's the moment Mark (Andrew Lincoln) confessed his love to Juliet (Keira Knightley). Yes, we know Mark is best friends with Juliet's husband, but you can't deny how romantic the gesture was.

Love Actually GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

5. Bridget Jones's Diary

Starring: Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant

Release date: 26 July 2001

Director: Sharon Maguire

Box office: $281.9 million USD

Synopsis: She has just turned 32 and a forever-single Bridget Jones (Zellweger) decides to keep a diary, lose weight, stop smoking and find a decent man. The first film has spawned two sequels, and together they are three of the best rom com movies yet.

bridget jones diary

Memorable moment: There are so many great scenes in this rom com, especially when you put all three films together. But one of our favourites is when the loveable Bridget attends a party dressed as a playboy bunny before finding out that the "prostitutes and priests" theme had been cancelled. Oh, Bridge. 

Bridget Jones's Diary (3/12) Movie CLIP - Tarts and Vicars Party (2001) HD

4. The Big Sick

Starring: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Ray Romano

Release date: 3 August 2017

Director: Michael Showalter

Box office: $56.4 million USD

Synopsis: One of the most recent romcom movies on our list, The Big Sick follows Pakistani-born comedian Kumail who meets and begins to fall in love with Emily, but worries what his family will think of their relationship. When Emily contracts a serious illness which leaves her in a coma, Kumail forms a bond with her parents (Dad is played by Ray Romano) and must decide if he can choose his girlfriend over his family.

the big sick rom com

The Big Sick

Memorable moment: The best part about the whole Oscar-nominated film is that it's based on the true love story of Kumail and his real-life wife Emily V. Gordon who he wrote the screenplay with. The recent rom com is also a great example of the growing diversity in Hollywood.

The Big Sick Trailer #1 (2017) | Movieclips Trailers

3. The Holiday

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Jude Law

Release date: 26 December 2006

Director: Nancy Meyers

Box office: $205.1 million USD

Synopsis: Unlucky in love Iris (Winslet) swaps her English cottage with newly single Amanda's (diaz) California mansion. In different countries for the holidays, the two women meet men who might just be their happily ever after. A good romantic comedy to watch anytime of the year, but we recommend cosying up and watching it during Christmas. 

rom coms

Jude Law and Cameron Diaz ooze chemistry in 'The Holiday'

Memorable moment: When Iris and Miles (Black) bond for the first time over their unrequited loves, Iris gives a very relatable speech about heartbreak.

"What I am trying to say is I understand feeling as small and as insignificant as humanly possible. And how it can actually ache in places that you didn’t know you had inside you.

"And it doesn’t matter how many new hair cuts you get, or gyms you join, or how many glasses of Chardonnay you drink with your girlfriends. You still go to bed every night going over every detail and wonder what you did wrong or how you could have misunderstood."

We told you it was relatable. Watch the full thing below!

Quotes from The Holiday : Movie - Iris

2. 10 Things I Hate About You

Starring: Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik

Release date: 24 June 1999

Director: Gil Junger

Box office: $53.5 million USD

Synopsis: Popular high school girl Bianca (Oleynik) can't date boys until her older sister Kat (Stiles) does. So when new student Cameron (Gordon-Levitt) wants to date Bianca, he pays Patrick (Ledger) to get closer with Kat. The rom com is adapted from William Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew.

10 things i hate about you

Memorable moment: One of the best scenes is when Patrick sings Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons' 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You' to Kate on the high school sporting field. Ever since we've wanted a boy to do the same. We miss you, Heath.

10 Things I Hate About You: Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Heath Ledger)

1. Crazy, Stupid, Love

Starring: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone

Release date: 12 September 2011

Director: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

Box office: $142.9 million USD

Synopsis: Parents Cal (Carell) and Emily (Moore) seem to have a picture perfect life, until Emily asks for a divorce and Cal's world completely changes. The middle-aged dad seeks the help of Jacob (Gosling) to get his life back on track.

rom coms

An all-star Hollywood cast for one of the best romantic comedies

Memorable moment: A shirtless Ryan Gosling doing the Dirty Dancing lift. Enough said.

ryan gosling

Three words: Ryan. Gosling. Shirtless.

Natasha Price
Natasha Price
When she's not at work writing about the latest celebrity news, binge-worthy TV show or royal events, Natasha can be found planning her next holiday and scrolling Instagram for a new café to check out. You can find her 'gramming @natashavprice or Tweeting @natashaprice

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