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Romcoms & Epic Drama: Our Top 30 Chick Flicks

The 30 best chick flicks of all time: from romcoms to teary dramas, this list has everything!
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Whether they’re full of witty one-liners or romantic mishaps, chick flicks are some of the most rewatchable movies of all time. They come in a whole range of genres and they’re definitely not just ‘girls night movies’ – boys can definitely enjoy them too!

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So what makes a movie a chick flick, and which ones are a must-watch for everyone? Keep reading to check out our list of chick flicks that are crucial for any good movie weekend!

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What Is A Chick Flick?

Simply put, a chick flick is really just any movie that has a girl or a woman as a lead character. This character can be put in any kind of situation, whether it’s a funny one or a tearjerker, and the whole film is spent trying to resolve a certain problem. Chick flicks are characterised not just by the strength of the female characters in them, but by the fact that they mostly appeal to teen girls and women. Lately, so-called chick flicks have been bucking that trend, and getting the thumbs-up from a wider audience!

There are some chick flicks that focus on friendship and family relationships, and others that are romantic and full of drama. Here are 30 that we think are some of the best of all time! There’s definitely a movie on this list for everyone.

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The 30 Best Chick Flicks Of All Time

30. The Hot Chick (2002)

Break Out The Popcorn For This Funny Body-Swap Film

The most popular girl in school gets cursed to switch bodies with a crook in this hilarious comedy, starring Rachel McAdams and Rob Schnieder. It has quite a few cute lessons about friendship and shallowness, and while some of the jokes can feel a bit crude to some audiences, there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments!

29. Pitch Perfect (2012)

A Killer Soundtrack Makes This Girl-Power Movie Even Better!

Join the Barden Bellas in their quest to become the top collegiate acapella group in America, with Anna Kendrick as the protagonist Beca. As Beca tries to find herself and get along with her teammates, she also finds true love in Skylar Astin’s Jesse, a budding composer.

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28. Mamma Mia (2008)

Romance, Friendship And Family In Sunny Greece

ABBA’s hit songs provide the perfect soundtrack to this romcom musical. Starring Amanda Seyfried as the girl in search of her father before her wedding, and Meryl Streep as her carefree mum who’s reluctant to revisit the past, this is a chick flick that you can sing along to!

27. Never Been Kissed (1999)

She Was An Outsider In Her Teens, So Can She Finally Be Cool?

Josie Geller has to pretend to be a student at her old high school for a piece on teen culture. Drew Barrymore is absolutely charming as the awkward, funny Josie. With her brother’s help, she starts fitting in with the cool crowd. But things get complicated when she falls in love with the English teacher!

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26. Bride Wars (2009)

Hands Up If You’ve Ever Related To Sheer Wedding Panic!

Best friends Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Liv (Kate Hudson) have been planning their weddings since they were little. When they accidentally choose to have their weddings at the same place on the same day, their friendship is put to the test. The competitive situations and over-the-top bridezilla moments are guaranteed to have you laughing till you cry!

25. Grease (1978)

The Good Girl Gets A Badass Makeover In This Seventies Hit

Olivia Newton-John plays wholesome Sandy, an exchange student who falls in love with leather-jacketed Danny Zuko (John Travolta). Cliques collide in this seventies film, alongside some of the most memorable musical numbers from this era!

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24. You’ve Got Mail (1998)

Online Romance Is Just Around The Corner

Bookseller Kathleen (Meg Ryan) and chain store owner Joe (Tom Hanks) are fierce business rivals. Little do they know that the anonymous romances they began online happen to be with each other. It’s endearing how they struggle to reconcile Internet love with their real-life clashes!

23. Pretty Woman (1990)

Cinderella Got An Update In This Classic Romcom

An unlikely romance begins when a businessman (Richard Gere) picks up a hooker with a heart of gold. Though they come from completely different social circles and classes, they can’t help but be drawn to each other. They have to overcome a lot of struggles before they reach their happy ending, but you can’t help but root for them as they get closer.

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22. Miss Congeniality (2000)

A Comedy That Shows It’s Ok To Embrace Your Feminine Side

With a terrorist threat in the middle of the Miss United States pageant, FBI agent Gracie is sent undercover to hunt down the criminal. Gracie (Sandra Bullock) is awkward and boyish, but she soon discovers that there’s nothing wrong with being a girly girl.

21. Ever After (1998)

A Dueling Heroine Who Can Hold Her Own

Cinderella is fiercely independent in this Drew Barrymore film. A breathtaking costume? Check. The damsel who saves herself and knows how to swordfight? Double check. We hear there’s going to be a remake, but the original is simply unmissable.

20. Two Weeks Notice (2002)

When The Sensible Girl Reforms The Bad Boy

Sandra Bullock portrays a no-nonsense lawyer who is tired of dealing with millionaire George’s (Hugh Grant) antics. Tired of helping him make up his mind on issues, she gives notice that she’ll be resigning in two weeks. However, in those two weeks, she starts falling in love with George and wonders if she should stay. You can guess what happens next!

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19. Love Actually (2003)

Stories Of Love And Family Over The Holidays

This anthology film has a star-studded cast featuring Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, and Kiera Knightley. There are several stories in this film: an ageing musician and his beleaguered manager, a young boy’s first crush, and a writer who can’t figure out how to confess his love. Not all the endings are happy, but they definitely give a powerful insight into modern relationships.

18. A Walk To Remember (2002)

He Couldn’t Help But Fall For Her…But Is It Meant To Be?

Break out the tissues for this one: bad boy Shane West and good girl Mandy Moore can’t help but fall in love in this early ‘00s smash. Sadly for them, she has a secret illness that will break his heart and change his life forever. Even those who aren’t fans of the Nicolas Sparks book will be bawling after this movie!

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17. The Proposal (2009)

Neither Of Them Was Looking For Love, But It Just Fell Into Place

Editor Margaret (Sandra Bullock) is Canadian, and to stay in the United States, she claims she’s engaged to her bumbling assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds). At first they’re just keeping up appearances for the immigrations lawyers, but slowly their fake romance becomes real.

16. Pretty In Pink (1986)

This Teen Romance Is Still Painfully Relatable

This film is considered one of the classic 80s chick flicks, with Molly Ringwald navigating high school life and the pressures of cliques. Molly stars as Andie, who’s caught in a love triangle between her best friend and one of the most popular guys in school. 

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15. 13 Going On 30 (2004)

Be Careful What You Wish For!

Jenna is a teenager who dreams of growing up and away from the social pains of junior high. When she wakes up as an adult self with a hot boyfriend, cool job, and an incredible apartment, it seems that grown-up Jenna’s (Jennifer Garner) dreams came true. Little does she know that being an adult has its own problems!

14. Juno (2007)

A Quirky Cast And Hilarious Script In This Coming-Of-Age Film

Starring Ellen Page as the titular Juno, this is a funny, heartwarming tale of a teen trying to deal with an unplanned pregnancy, all while trying to navigate the journey to adulthood. Juno finds a couple to adopt her unborn child, but the adoption starts getting complicated when she has to untangle her own romantic feelings.

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13. My Fair Lady (1964)

Learning How To Let Your Partners Be Themselves

Phonetics professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) tries to transform Cockney commoner Eliza (Audrey Hepburn) into an upper-crust socialite. Perhaps he does too good a job, as she suddenly catches the eye of an aristocrat. Though this film was made in the Sixties, the connection between Henry and Eliza is so charming that you’ll find yourself watching this again and again.

12. Clueless (1995)

This Modern-Day Emma Is Still A Must-Watch Today!

Alicia Silverstone plays Cher Horowitz, a popular and well-meaning teen who just wants to help her friends find true love. The question is, can she find it for herself too? It’s a sweet story that’s worth multiple watches, but the romance is nowhere near as amazing as Cher’s love for her friends and family.

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11. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Life Lessons In Pursuit Of Pleasing A Scary Boss

Anne Hathaway plays Andy, a college grad who becomes the infamous Miranda Priestly’s (Meryl Streep) assistant at a prestigious fashion magazine. Her real job? To survive Miranda’s demands and escape uncriticized. There’s a romantic subplot, but what we really love about this film is the excellent fashion!

10. The Notebook (2004)

One Of The Best Romantic Films Ever Made

Set in the 1940s, blue-collar worker Noah (Ryan Gosling) and rich girl Allie (Rachel) fall in love, but her parents disapprove and he goes away to fight in World War II. While he’s gone, she becomes engaged to someone else. Though her family fights hard to keep them apart, Noah and Allie fight even harder to find their way back into each other’s arms.

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9. Notting Hill (1999)

A Star-Crossed Romance That Asks You What You’ll Compromise For Love

London bookstore owner William (Hugh Grant) finds his orderly life thrown into chaos when American movie star Anna (Julia Roberts) walks into his store. Their accidental meeting soon becomes undeniable love, but they’re from two completely different worlds.

8. Heathers (1988)

A Dark Comedy That Paved The Way For Many Teen Hits

Winona Ryder is Veronica Sawyer, a girl who gets sucked into the orbit of the popular group in this black comedy about growing pains and peer pressure. While this film starts off innocently enough, soon enough things get pretty deadly.

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7. Pride And Prejudice (2005)

Jane Austen’s Victorian Romance Is Absolutely Timeless

Will any other romantic film come close to the romantic tension between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy? With Kiera Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen cast as the sparring couple, Darcy only wants the best for his friend, who’s smitten with Elizabeth’s sister. And Elizabeth, who feels judged by the seemingly-snobbish Darcy, is simultaneously attracted and annoyed by him.

6. Easy A (2010)

The Scarlet Letter Gets A Funny, Sexy Update

Olive (Emma Stone) lies about losing her virginity when her best friend asks about her weekend. When the school gossip spreads the news and makes Olive notorious, she starts to revel in the attention. But soon she starts to get more unwanted attention, and finds even wilder rumours are making her life spiral out of control. Sharp and witty, this is not your ordinary teen flick!

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5. Sixteen Candles (1984)

Angst And Crushes In This Coming-Of-Age Film

Samantha (Molly Ringwald) finds herself caught in a love triangle as she faces her sixteenth birthday with a heavy heart. She’s into the popular guy, Jake, but he seems too cool for her – what she doesn’t realise is that he’s head over heels for her too!

4. My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)

The Unexpected Twist Makes This Such A Refreshing Chick Flick

Julianne (Julia Roberts) and Michael (Dermot Mulroney) are childhood friends who agree that if they’re still single by 28, they’ll get married to each other. When Michael announces just days before the big deadline that he’s getting married, Julianne realises that she’s in love with him. Hilarity ensues as she tries to stop the wedding at all costs!

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3. When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Can Men And Women Ever Just Be Friends?

Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) are two college grads who argue whether men and women can have a platonic relationship. They meet a decade later, and try to keep the friendship strictly where it is without giving into their clear sexual tension. The dialogue in this movie is really what propels the romance between the two, producing some of the most hilarious and romantic scenes of any romantic comedy.

2. Mean Girls (2004)

A Darkly Witty Film That’s A Commentary On Women And Society

The perils of Girl World are navigated through the eyes of Lindsay Lohan’s Cady Heron in this classic chick flick. Starring Rachel McAdams and Tina Fey, this film gives a lot of insight into complicated friendships, and the kind of expectations that the world has for young women.

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1. Legally Blonde (2001)

The Ultimate Chick Flick Shows You Can Pursue Your Dreams Without Changing Yourself

Reese Witherspoon stars as Elle Woods, a sorority girl who works her way to law school to win her ex back. Instead of pursuing an engagement, she ends up loving her new career path, and learns that staying true to herself is more important.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for a touching love story or a friends-forever movie for the weekend, these 30 films are perfect for bonding over a lazy Netflix weekend!

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