25 Best Romantic Comedies
The Greatest Romcoms of All Time
The best romantic comedies have a rare mix of comedy, chemistry and tension. There has been some amazing on screen chemistry over the years, such as the chemistry between Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn, William Powell and Myrna Loy and more recently Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan.
Romantic comedies can take many different forms. In some of my favorite romcoms, our heroes are thrown together by chance such as in films like Four Weddings and a Funeral and It Happened One Night. In others, one of the lovers, or an outsider, schemes to get the pair together such as in Bringing up Baby and The Philadelphia Story. And of course one of the age-old romantic comedy formulas has lifelong friends figuring out that they are really meant for each other as lovers, such as the film When Harry met Sally.
Whichever formula is used, the best romcoms will have us crying one moment and laughing the next. They endure in our memories long after we leave the theater and they give us a model for the relationships we seek to build in our own lives.
This list of the top romantic comedies is based on the blended average ranking of movie bloggers and other fans at Rankography. While you will likely discover a few that you have not heard of here, you can discover many more lesser known romcoms by browsing the full list of the best romantic comedies on the site.
If you still have not satiated your desires for romcoms, there are some other good sources for great Romcoms including the RomCom Facebook Page, our other lens on the Greatest Chick Flicks of all time and and a more recent lens we published on the Best Julia Roberts Movies.
If you want to find other great romantic movies, you might also want to check out this ranking of Romance Movies.
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Numbers 11 through 25 Best Romantic Comedies
And Now the Ten Best Romantic Comedy Movies
10. It Happened One Night (1934)
Gable and Colbert find Romance on the Open Road
Colbert plays Ellie, a pampered socialite who marries a man without her father's blessing. Her father has the wedding annulled and drags Ellie back home against her will. When she escapes, Ellie meets up with Peter Warne (Gable), a newspaperman, who agrees to help her cross the country back to her husband in exchange for a story. However along the way, Ellie and Peter develop a passion of their own ultimately falling in love.
This is a classic film and truly one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time.
Buy this framed Limited Edition poster
If you liked It Happened One Night...
You might also like the classic comedy, His Girl Friday
His Girl Friday
A classic romantic comedy featuring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. One of many great Cary Grant comedies.
9. Roman Holiday (1953)
Audrey Hepburn is Delightful as Princess Ann
Few women, if any, had the charming screen presence of Audrey Hepburn. You may not think of Gregory Peck for comedic roles but he does quite admirably in this romantic comedy. The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won 3, including the well deserved Best Actress Oscar for Hepburn. The film has been quite influential and you will see shade of it in many of the romcoms that followed.
This is one of the best romantic comedies of all time and an absolutely must see movie for the whole family.
Buy this replica movie poster
If you liked Roman Holiday...
You might also like Breakfast at Tiffany's
Breakfast At Tiffany's (Centennial Collection)
The incomparable Audrey Hepburn in her signature film, Breakfast at Tiffany's. A must own for any true Hepburn fan.
Roman Holiday (Special Collector's Edition)
Audrey Hepburn's second best movie of all time. These two films together are wonderful examples of Hepburn's charm.
Original Movie Trailer for Roman Holiday
Check out the movie preview for this delightful romantic comedy
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8. You've Got Mail (1998)
Hank and Ryan Together Again in this Romcom
Joe Fox (Hanks) runs a bookstore chain that is on the rampage driving small "mom & pop" bookstores out of business. He meets Kathleen Kelly (Ryan) online and they fall for each other. Of course, at the time he does not realize that Kelly is the owner of a small bookstore squarely in his destructive path. The name is a reference to the alert sound that people received when getting email as an America Online (AOL) customer. The film came out at the height of online dating services and before AOL's long, drawn-out demise.
However, what is most ironic about this film is that the ultimate enemy of bookstores was not the bookstore chains, rather both large and small bookstores have been driven nearly into extinction by internet-based services (Amazon and ebooks) -- the same place that these two lovers supposedly meet.
It is a charming romantic film and Hanks and Ryan are once again wonderful together.
Buy an Original movie poster from this great romantic comedy.
If you like You've Got Mail...
You may also like the its precursor, Sleepless in Seattle
Sleepless in Seattle (10th Anniversary Edition)
Two people separated by 3,000 miles come together and fall in love over the phone. Hanks and Ryan are magical together.
7. Roxanne (1987)
One of Martin's Best Comedy Films
While Martin historically had been best known for slapstick humor, he brought a sophistication to this role that endures as one of the best examples of the romantic comedy genre. Martin is able to convey both a happy-go-luck spirit while also demonstrating the anguish of unrequited love. Martin's role in Roxanne really demonstrated his comedic ability and led to a string of sophisticated comedy movie blockbusters.
Check out this autographed Steve Martin photo.
Movie poster image courtesy of Moviposter.com, you can buy an original movie poster here.
If you like Roxanne...
You might also like the romantic comedy classic, The Apartment
The Apartment (Collector's Edition)
Another classic romantic comedy in which a guy loves a girl that he can't have, so he simply remains a friend. Outstanding cast including Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine and Fred MacMurray.
6. (500) Days of Summer (2009)
He Gets the Girl, then Loses Her, then...
This romantic comedy uses a non-linear narrative that adds mystery to the storyline and Deschanel convincingly portrays a "free spirit" as she has in several other romantic comedies. The film also boasts an excellent soundtrack with an eclectic mix of old and new music.
You can buy a movie poster from the film at Allposters.com
If you liked 500 Days of Summer...
You might also like Yes Man with Zooey and Jim Carrey
Yes Man (Single-Disc Edition)
A nutty romantic comedy that is perfectly suited for both JIm Carrey and Zooey Deschanel's goofy humor.
(500) Days of Summer
One of the best romantic comedys of the past 10 years, everyone should own 500 Days of Summer
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5. Bringing up Baby (1938)
A Classic for the Ages
David Huxley (Grant) is an engaged paleontologist who meets Susan Vance (Hepburn) "by chance" on a golf course. Vance gets Huxley into a series of screwball travails. Grant plays the straight man to Hepburn's crazy persona, with a very unique sense of logic, and the interplay between them is hilarious. Surprisingly the film was a box-office failure, but endures today as a one of the best romantic comedys on many critics' all time favorite lists.
Photo courtesy of Allposters.com, you can buy it here.
If you liked Bringing Up Baby...
You should definitely check out The Philadelphia Story.
The Philadelphia Story (Two-Disc Special Edition)
My favorite Cary Grant comedy, The Philadelphia story is a witty sophisticated romantic comedy movie that also stars Katherine Hepburn and JImmy Stewart. Definitely a must see.
Original Movie Preview of Bringing up Baby
Watch the trailer from one of the most best romantic comedies ever
4. Pretty Woman (1990)
Julia Roberts Establishes herself as the Queen of Romantic Comedy
It is the story of Edward Lewis (Gere), a successful corporate raider, who hires prostitute Vivian Ward (Roberts), to be his escort for for the week while he attends several important business and social events. Immediately, Lewis is intrigued by Vivian's personality and wit. She continually surprises him and as he puts it "people rarely surprise me anymore". Their professional relationship ultimately leads to romance and then love as he two get to know one another.
One of the unsung heroes of the film is the hotel manager, Barney Thompson (Hector Elizondo), who acts as a father figure in assisting Vivian in her Eliza Doolittle-esque transformation from prostitute to society gal. This is a difficult transition in believability and Hector provides the perfect blend of understanding and guidance to help us make this transition. Much like is role in the popular Princess Diaries movies, Hector creates a warm likable character that helps us better understand Vivian.
Popularity is sometimes a barometer of greatness and given its lasting earning power, Pretty Woman has to be considered one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time.
Get an autographed Julia Roberts photo
If you liked Pretty Woman...
You should check out JR in Mystic Pizza
Mystic Pizza
Definitely my favorite Julia Roberts romantic comedy film. It is one of her earliest films and she is charming.
Pretty Woman (15th Anniversary Special Edition)
Own one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time.
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3. High Fidelity (2000)
A Romantic Comedy for the Boys
What makes this movie special is the brilliant verbal exchanges between the three male leads, Rob Gordon (John Cusack), Barry (Jack Black) and Dick (Todd Luiso) in Rob's record story. This movie launched Jack Black onto his comedic rise and is arguably his best film role. He is hilarious throughout and ends the movie with a big soulful singing performance. I can't remember how many times I have seen this film but there is always room for another viewing.
Buy a signed John Cusack photo from High Fidelity
Buy a framed High Fidelity movie poster
If you like High Fidelity...
You may also like John Cusack's Say Anything
Say Anything
Much more of a traditional romantic comedy than High Fidelity, many feel Say Anything is Cusack's best film.
2. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Crystal and Ryan Make Beautiful Music Together
It was a superb team led by Director, Rob Reiner, Billy Crystal as the boy and Meg Ryan as the girl. Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby also add excellent supporting roles. This film is the quintessential romantic comedy and a must see film.
Get a framed photo of Billy Crystal
or buy this Original limited edition movie poster from one of the greatest romantic comedies ever.
If you liked When Harry Met Sally...
You might also like Four Weddings and a Funeral
Four Weddings and a Funeral
This charming and witty romantic comedy follows the lives of two strangers who keep meeting up with one another but keep missing slightly on love.
Get Downtown Abbey Season 1 on DVD
And find out what all the hubbub is about
Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey Season 1 (Original UK Edition)
Set in an Edwardian country house in 1912, "Downton Abbey" portrays the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who work for them. Downton is the home of the Crawleys, who have been the earls of Grantham since 1772. In the drawing rooms, library and beautiful bedrooms, with their tall windows looking across the park, lives the family, but below stairs are other residents - the servants, as fiercely possessive of their ranks as anyone above. Some of them are loyal to the family and are committed to Downton as a way of life, while others are on the lookout for new opportunities, love or just adventure.
1. Annie Hall (1977)
Allen and Keaton Start a Long String of Romantic Comedies Together
Ultimately, the pair agree meet on good terms and remain friends but the story behind the film is the give and take required to make any relationship work.
or buy this Original limited edition movie poster from one of the best romantic comedy movies
If you like Annie Hall...
You might also like Woody Allen's Manhattan
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Photo courtesy of Allposters.com from Pretty Woman, you can buy it here.
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I have seen all of the Romantic Comedies except 500 days and High fidelity. I will have to watch them. great lens! :D -
This is a nice list and you should update this from time to time :) -
I thought I saw just about every romantic comedy that Netflix has. Now I have some more excellent romantic comedies to watch! Thank you. -
Every time I think of Bringing Up Baby , I can't help but laugh. -
Thumbs up for John Cusack in HIgh Fidelity . . . one of my favorite movies ever. - Load More
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