7 Rom Coms Your Boyfriend Will Love This Valentine’s Day
It’s Valentine’s Day and your boyfriend has finally agreed to sit down and watch one of your favorite romantic comedies.
This is a big moment. Until now, he’s insisted on watching goofball comedies, action thrillers, and horror classics that drive you into his arms. But he has yet to cry at a love story bigger than dreams and this is finally the chance to get him to admit that yes, he too loves a good rom-com.
So which film to watch with your boyfriend is a big decision. Rom-coms range from the sob-inducing to laugh-out-loud funny, spanning decades of filmmaking as one of the earliest film genres. Laughter and love go hand in hand, and even when men try to deny their love of cheesy romance, there are some rom-coms that even the most macho men can’t help but fall for. So here are seven rom-coms your boyfriend will love.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Starring the musically comedic Jason Segel as Peter, Forgetting Sarah Marshall has everything a rom-com for men needs. With a male protagonist and brilliant comedy writing, some men even like Forgetting Sarah Marshall more than women do. But don’t worry—you will be reaching for the tissues by the end. As Peter tries to get over his breakup from Sarah (Kristen Bell), he meets the adventurous and non-judgmental Rachel (Mila Kunis) … but they’re all at the same resort. With appearances from Paul Rudd and Jonah Hill, plus a perfectly cringeworthy performance from Russell Brand, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is easily one of the best rom-coms from the past 20 years and a must-watch with your boyfriend.
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Almost 20 years before Forgetting Sarah Marshall, one of the most classic Nora Ephron rom-coms changed the genre forever. The late ‘80s were full of comedically philosophical films following the Woody Allen era, showing characters who actually talk to one another instead of building up love based solely on big romantic gestures. When Harry Met Sally follows the friendship between Harry and Sally from their first meeting through multiple relationships as they weave in and out of answering the age-old question: Can men and women just be friends? We can guess the answer, but between its autumnal New York City setting, classic Katz’s Deli orgasm scene, and witty writing, it’s beloved by people of all genders.
Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
One of the keys to the perfect boyfriend rom-com seems to be a male lead, and Crazy, Stupid, Love has two of them. With Steve Carrell as lovable schlub Cal at the helm and Ryan Gosling as charming loverboy Jacob close behind, most men are already bought in. Every guy knows a Cal and every guy knows a Jacob, so it’s easily one of the most relatable rom-coms for men. Beyond that, however, it’s a genuinely funny film with quotable moments, awkward coming-of-age crushes everyone can relate to, and an ending that ties itself up neater than a perfectly wrapped gift.
The Wedding Singer (1998)
The film that Adam Sandler credits with making him a romantic lead, The Wedding Singer began a trilogy of rom-coms starring Adam and Drew Barrymore. While any Adam Sandler rom-com could easily make this list—50 First Dates, Mr. Deeds, Just Go With It, etc.—The Wedding Singer trumps them all as the most classic, inventive, and hilarious. Adam plays Robbie Hart, a wedding singer who just got dumped as he helps his new colleague plan her wedding to a grade-A jerk who admits to Robbie that he cheats on her regularly. Any decent guy who watches The Wedding Guy can see themselves in Robbie, who saves the day with an admirable romantic gesture that includes a cameo from Billy Idol. Plus, if your boyfriend is a fan of midwest emo or pop-punk music, Adam Sandler basically invented it with his hilarious break-up song, making it a top-tier rom-com for any music lover.
(500) Days of Summer (2009)
The unique aspect of (500) Days of Summer that makes it almost more beloved by men than women is how it dives into the male perspective of falling in and out of love. Romantic films are often about how women feel more strongly than men, even if the man is at the film’s center. But in (500) Days of Summer, we see how Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character, Tom, romanticizes Summer (Zooey Deschanel), turning her into his ideal woman rather than seeing her for who she is. It chronicles a full journey of courting to breakup while avoiding many of the romantic comedy pitfalls and archetypes that often make men cringe.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
While we consider the love between adults stronger and more mature, there’s nothing more powerful than a teenage romance. 10 Things I Hate About You is an easy favorite for men with a young Heath Ledger as the love interest and Julia Stiles as the main protagonist. But unlike most female-led rom-coms, Julia’s character has no interest in love. She isolates herself from boys her age, focusing on her own personal growth and her love of “angry girl music of the indie rock persuasion” instead. Both characters have a rebellious streak and neither is interested in falling in love, so it’s this anti-love throughline that can win over even the most stubborn boyfriend.
Palm Springs (2020)
A loose remake of Groundhog Day (which isn’t quite a rom-com), Palm Springs combines romance, comedy, and science fiction to put Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti in a perpetual loop of repetition. Because of its unforgettable comedic cast paired with a dystopian premise, as well as being created by the guys behind The Lonely Island, it has a male-friendly sensibility. At the same time, because the two leads are in it together, they grow closer and feed into their potential romance. A more underrated watch not often classified as a traditional romantic comedy, Palm Springs is the perfect film to get your boyfriend into the rom-com genre.
