The 10 Best Rom-Coms of the Decade

Described as “When Harry Met Sally… for assholes” by writer/director Leslye Headland, this fresh riff on a traditional rom-com formula gifts us with the raw chemistry of Alison Brie and Jason Sudeikis, who star as friends-and-maybe-more-than-that Lainey and Jake. The two reunite years after a college one-night stand and find that they’re still drawn to each other, despite their respective objections to the entire notion of romance. Try as they might to keep things casual and avoid catching feelings, these two lovable jerks can’t resist each other – and neither can we. Sharp, sexy, and worth rooting for, Sleeping with Other People deserves to be remembered as one of the decade’s most daring rom-coms.

Where to Stream Sleeping with Other People

Love, Simon may be more coming-of-age story than rom-com, but its ability to melt even the most cynical hearts to mush makes it one of our favorite teen love stories of the decade. This tale of a closeted teen who begins an online correspondence with classmate who has recently come out anonymously manages to be heartfelt, charming, and often funny, perfectly capturing all the classic themes of high school flicks while delivering a poignant commentary on the genre as a whole. The influence of the films of John Hughes and other beloved rom-coms makes the film all the more effective, and the moving revelation that kids like Simon deserve to be the stars of these kinds of stories – and the tenderness with which this story is told – places Love, Simon among the best in the genre.

Where to Stream Love, Simon

A criminally-overlooked story of unlikely lovers starring Simon Pegg and Lake Bell, Man Up pushes together a perfectly pessimistic pair via a blind date gone wrong and wins our hearts in the process. The British flick follows single sad sack Nancy (Bell), who recent divorcé Jack (Pegg) mistakes for his blind date Jessica at a train station. Unable to bring herself to tell him the truth about who she is, the two embark on what appears to be a perfect date – until “Jessica” is forced to fess up and the duo’s true colors come shining through. The film may check the boxes of every single trusty rom-com trope you can think of, but the twists, turns, and total devotion to showcasing its romantic leads set this one apart from the rest. Driven by Pegg and Bell’s divine chemistry and combined comedic chops, Man Up hits all the right notes and ends with the grand romantic gesture every rom-com lover dreams of.

Where to Stream Man Up

Richard Curtis has told his fair share of legendary love stories, but there’s something particularly special about About Time. In the slightly sci-fi love story of Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) and Mary (Rachel McAdams), the love story of a boy and his father shares just as much importance – and that’s what makes it so memorable. We’ve certainly seen time-travel love stories before (especially ones starring Rachel McAdams), but About Time doesn’t get too caught up in this element; instead, we’re gifted with a sweet, occasionally silly romance, one with flaws but so genuinely sentimental that it’s easy to forgive the plot holes and occasionally iffy morals at play. Gleeson and McAdams make for an insanely dreamy duo – Gleeson gives off serious Hugh Grant vibes here, stealing hearts with his adorably bumbling persona – and with a supporting cast featuring Bill Nighy, Margot Robbie, Tom Hollander, and more, it’s easy to see why so many of us have been so charmed by this extraordinary, ordinary film.

Where to Stream About Time

Perhaps the best that 2019 has to offer, Long Shot follows the beloved gorgeous-lady-falling-for-average-dude rom-com tradition but is so self-aware that it’s difficult to hold this against it. Starring Charlize Theron as U.S. Secretary of State Charlotte Field and Seth Rogen as Brooklyn journalist Fred Flarsky, Long Shot delivers us a pair of unlikely leads who make it work – and then some. Concerned about Rogen playing it too straight as rom-com leading man? Don’t worry; the film is rife with belly-laugh inducing slapstick comedy and the kind of performance we’ve come to know and love from the funnyman, with a little extra heart to boot. Even more thrilling? Theron is totally in her element here, somehow managing to steal scenes from even her funniest co-stars. A unique, endearing flick, Long Shot sizzles with each progressively ridiculous scene thanks to the oddball chemistry of its two leads and surprisingly sharp commentary.

Where to Stream Long Shot

Featuring one of the last performances of the late, great James Gandolfini, rom-dramedy Enough Said follows middle-aged divorcee Eva (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a masseuse who falls for divorced dad Albert (Gandolfini) – who also happens to be the ex-husband of her newest client and friend Marianne (Catherine Keener). Even with all of the ensuing hijinks, Nicole Holofcener’s film remains grounded in a warm, occasionally melancholy humanity, the kind of heart that brings us back to her work over and over again. Enough Said is a rarer movie than it should be – we could use more stories about people with baggage, folks who are already living in the future many of our starry-eyed young rom-com leads pine for.

Where to Stream Enough Said

Marking a long overdue cultural moment and featuring one of the most star-studded casts any rom-com has seen for quite some time, Crazy Rich Asians is the top-grossing romantic comedy of the decade for a reason. Based on the first book of Kevin Kwan’s trilogy, Crazy Rich Asian takes “meeting the parents” to a whole new level. Part fish-out-of-water story and part-show-stopping romance, the film is led with charm and grace by Hustlers star Constance Wu and total dreamboat Henry Golding, who shine even brighter with the help of a glittering ensemble featuring Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Ken Jeong, and more. If the grand romance and family drama of Crazy Rich Asians aren’t enough for you, the breathtaking production design and costumes will surely win you over.

Where to Stream Crazy Rich Asians

One of only a handful of flicks to ever receive Oscar nominations in every acting category, David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook feels like a little miracle of a movie. Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper star as Tiffany Maxwell and Pat Solitano, two mentally ill folks looking for their match in a messed up world. The film’s final message about mental illness may not totally hold up to scrutiny, but it undeniably means well, offering a realistic portrayal of many moments other films might shy away from. The supporting cast – including Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, and Shea Whigham, to name a few – only further add to the movie’s totally mesmerizing nature, painting a full, beautiful picture of this world. Lawrence and Cooper are electric together on screen, from their very first awkward dinner encounter to the dance that seals the deal. Silver Linings Playbook is a stunning medley of heart and humor, memorable in ways most rom-coms can’t touch.

Where to Stream Silver Linings Playbook

Obvious Child does not check every obvious rom-com box, but that’s what makes it so wonderful. Directed by Gillian Robespierre and starring Jenny Slate at her absolute best, this modern spin on the genre sees our leading lady get an abortion after a one-night stand pregnancy. While many films have taken this tale and turned it into something overly dramatic or earth-shattering, Obvious Child turns it into just another day. Slate is a marvel opposite Jake Lacy and the two are a match made in everyday life, the kind of couple we know and maybe even have been. It’s difficult to strike a balance between excessively sentimental and sweet, but Obvious Child pulls it off; with each development, it remains unfailingly honest (and feminist!), strikingly funny, and endearingly romantic. A rom-com for the ages.

Where to Stream Obvious Child

The Big Sick made more than a few waves upon its 2017 release, and it’s not hard to see why. The true story of Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon’s unconventional romance ditches a traditional rom-com formula in favor of more depth and candor, seamlessly integrating a cross-cultural love story fit for the screen with moments that ring undeniably true. Nanjiani stars as himself opposite Zoe Kazan, who beautifully fills the shoes of his real-life wife Emily. It’s a heartfelt examination of the complications that arise when you fall in love, of intercultural conflict, of what it takes to make things work when you know it’s worth it. I’ve written before about how hard the film hits home when someone you love has been in a coma, but beyond that, The Big Sick is relentlessly warm and funny (has anyone ever done a better 9/11 joke?) and romantic, damn near impossible not to fall in love with. Easily one of the best rom-coms – and just plain comedies – of the last 10 years, if not the last 20.

Where to Stream The Big Sick