Feeling the love this summer? Whether you’re in a relationship and want to show your partner some new tricks of the trade, or you’re single and looking to host a movie marathon with all your other single friends, romantic comedies are the way to go. They’ve got the love, they’ve got the romance, and the stellar ones will always give you goosebumps. But when faced with Netflix’s massive catalog of movies, you might struggle with what to choose. Streaming paralysis is the worst, by I can help. These are the best rom-coms on Netflix this month.
Classic Rom-Coms and Old Favorites
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
It’s the rom-com that all others have been compared against, creating a decades-long legacy. Has it actually aged well? I mean, it’s about a woman who stalks a stranger across the country, so you tell me. Even with the questionable premise, it’s still the kind of classic you have to see at least once.
Groundhog Day (1993)
There are people who have crunched the numbers and found that it took decades or even hundreds of years for Bill Murray to finally get Andie MacDowell to fall in love with him in this classic. While the romance that destroys his “living Groundhog Day over and over again” curse, it’s the journey he takes to get there that makes this a must-watch classic.
A Knight’s Tale (2001)
A medieval tale where a peasant tries to win the heart of a maiden by pretending to be a knight? With modern music mixed in? And it stars the late Heath Ledger as the titular wannabe knight? And Paul Bettany and Alan Tudyk for memorable comic relief? Sign us up. Be warned: This one leaves Netflix at the end of the month.
Bridesmaids (2011)
In addition to being an incredibly funny film about the relationship between two platonic soulmates as one prepares for her wedding, there’s also the romance between Kristen Wiig and Chris O’Dowd. She’s at her low point and he’s a hot Irish cop. It shows that we can find our person even when we’re a total trainwreck.
Friends With Benefits (2011)
Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis are just friends who get it on. They’re not in love with each other. This isn’t a relationship. No, sir. Love doesn’t have to get in the way if they’re on the same page, right? If you’re confusing this with the Ashton Kutcher/Natalie Portman movie from the same year, No Strings Attached (2011), Netflix has that, too.
Hidden Gems
Warm Bodies (2013)
You wouldn’t think a movie about a woman falling in love with a zombie during a zombie apocalypse would be good, but I’m happy to say you’d be wrong. R is going about his zombie life the same as he always has, then he has a run-in with human Julie and now he’s starting to have feelings. Trust me, this one’s worth the watch.
The Sweetest Thing (2002)
Despite surprisingly hilarious performances from Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate, and Selma Blair, this 2002 rom-com has largely been forgotten. Diaz met a guy at a bar and now she’s set to follow him all the way to a wedding where he’s going to be a groomsman. The humor is just a bit raunchier than you’re used to, but in such a freshly feminine way. It’s criminal that more people haven’t seen this gem.
The Incredible Jessica James (2017)
Going through a bit of a life crisis after a bad breakup, playwright Jessica James (played by the wonderful Jessica Williams) ends up falling for an unlikely blind date in Chris O’Dowd (his second appearance on this list.) While this is a Netlix original, I put this in the ‘Hidden Gems’ category because it doesn’t get the respect it deserves.
Netflix Originals
Always Be My Maybe (2019)
Sasha (Ali Wong) and Marcus (Randall Park) were friends since they were kids, but the former next door neighbors lost touch after a questionable night in the backseat of Marcus’s car. Now that they’re adults, Sasha’s back in town and the two can’t help but gravitate toward each other. This is triple-A-level quality with a solid cast and a memorable cameo that I really don’t want to spoil for you.
Happiness for Beginners (2023)
A brand new one from Netflix, Ellie Kemper is freshly divorced and decides to go on a month-long hiking adventure to reignite her life. But when she finds that her younger brother’s best friend has signed up for the same hike, she’s no longer sure she’ll get what she wants out of the trip. This one was surprisingly good with a stellar cast that’ll make you want to watch it again and again.
Someone Great (2019)
Gina Rodriguez is moving away for her career when her long-term boyfriend breaks up with her. She enlists her best friends to help her through her day of mourning. While it sounds sad–and it certainly has its moments–it’s also hilarious and filled with a hopeless optimism. Because even the relationships that end still have an impact.
The Half of It (2020)
The school jock, Paul, asks for Ellie’s help to write his crush a love letter. It means a growing friendship with Paul and confusing feelings that continue to grow between Ellie and Paul’s crush, Aster. This is the perfect pick for when you want to watch a sweet romance featuring a heartwarming coming-of-age queer plotline.
Set It Up (2018)
Harper and Charlie share both an office building and a unique problems: They’re executive assistants who are run ragged by their type-A bosses. They hatch a plan to set their bosses up with each other to give themselves a break, but how will they feel teaming up and spending so much time together. It’s a classic rom-com plot that manages to stay fun and vibrant.
