The 80s gave us Dirty dancing, sixteen candles It is When Harry Met Sally. The 90s blessed us with 10 things I hate about you, beautiful woman, Sleepless in Seattle It is Uninformed. In the 2000s we fell in love with How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, 27 Dresses, (500 days of summer, The wedding planner and many other swoon-worthy romantic comedies. In the 2010s, things got a little complicated, with romantic comedies leaning more towards the with aspect, even getting a little supernatural or science fiction at times. That’s not to say the 2010s didn’t have romantic comedy hits. We had the No conditions vs. Friends with benefits fiasco, the zombie crazy Warm bodies, a whole lineup of Ryan Gosling vehicles and too many Netflix originals to count (let alone watch). But four years into the 2020s, I feel confident enough to say that I feel like we’re approaching another romantic comedy heyday.
And no, I’m not just talking about the success of Sydney Sweeney’s Nobody but you. Looks like we’ve finally recovered from what Fifty Shades Trilogy I did it in the Valentine’s Day movies, and the romance is back, baby! We had Meg Ryan’s return to romantic comedies late last year, a new Gina Rodriguez Netflix film released this Valentine’s Day, Cole Sprouse remaining seen and not heard in the recently released Lisa Frankensteinand yet another Ryan Gosling vehicle hitting theaters later this year.
So to celebrate love, here’s a roundup of the 10 best romantic comedies of the 2020s (so far, and in my opinion).
Players (2024)
A New York-based sports writer spends her time helping all her best male friends win women using her “playbook.” But when she meets a man, she would like to do more than just punctuation com, your whole game has to change. Gina Rodriguez, Damon Wayans Jr. and Tom Ellis star alongside The Kissing Booth Joel Courtney, Liza Koshy and SNLs Ego Nwodim in Players, which arrives on Netflix this Valentine’s Day.
What happens next (2023)
Meg Ryan, the queen of the 90s romantic comedy, returns to her kingdom in What happens next. This quiet, reflective romantic comedy follows exes from two decades ago who end up stranded overnight in a small regional airport and spend their time unraveling their past – and present – feelings. David Duchovny stars alongside Ryan in What happens nextwhich you can rent on Amazon.
The lost city (2022)
If a simple, straightforward romantic comedy isn’t for you, try one that features a maniacal multimillionaire played by Daniel Radcliffe and some Indiana Jones vibrations. Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum star as a reclusive author and her cover model space fling, which ends in one of the adventures she details in her novels in The lost city, which you can currently stream on Paramount+.
Fire Island (2022)
One more way to watch Pride and Prejudice again… Things heat up on Fire Island when a group of queer friends’ annual summer trip takes an unexpected turn. Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang star alongside Conrad Ricamora, James Scully and Margaret Cho in Fire Islandnow streaming on Hulu.
I want you Back (2022)
When two strangers are dumped on the same day and bond over a breakup, they decide to team up to sabotage their exes’ new relationships. Charlie Day and Jenny Slate star alongside Gina Rodriguez, Scott Eastwood, Manny Jacinto, Clark Backo and Mason Gooding in this hilarious and touching comedy that includes a riveting rendition of “Suddenly Seymour” by Little Shop of Horrors. I want you Back is on Amazon Prime Video.
For all the boys trilogy (2018-21)
Although they technically started in 2018, the For all the boys The trilogy feels like the quintessential 2020s romantic comedy renaissance — and the rise of Jenny Han’s teen romance empire. Lara Jean has always felt safer in her sister’s shadow, writing secret love letters to her crushes (including her sister’s boyfriend) rather than acting on her sister’s feelings. But with her older sister heading off to college and her younger sister meddling in her love life, Lara Jean’s world is about to be turned upside down by dreamy Peter Kavinsky (Enter: Noah Centineo). You can watch all three films (and the spinoff, XO, Kitty) on Netflix.
Holiday (2020)
A happily single woman and a happily single man team up to be each other’s platonic dates every holiday, to get their families off their backs. Obviously, romance ensues. Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey star alongside Jake Manley, Jessica Capshaw, Andrew Bachelor, Frances Fisher, Manish Dayal and Kristin Chenoweth in Holidaycurrently streaming on Netflix.
The lovebirds (2020)
As he so adorably laid out in The big sick (2017), Kumail Nanjiani manages to fully carry a romantic comedy. And load The lovebirds (alongside the always stunning Issa Rae) he does. Like any classic romantic comedy, The lovebirds It has two leads with great chemistry, lots of swoon-worthy moments and… murder? When a couple finds themselves trapped at the scene of a crime they didn’t commit, it’s up to them to clear their own names and stick together along the way. You can stream The lovebirds on Netflix.
Emma. (2020)
Of course, you it could just watch Matthew Macfadyen do The Hand Thing again in Pride and Prejudice (2005), or you could give another Jane Austen adaptation a try. Anya Taylor-Joy stars as the titular heroine in the 2020 adaptation of Emma. Precocious and beautiful Emma navigates high society in Regency-era England, eventually finding love in the most unexpected places. Johnny Flynn, Mia Goth, Bill Nighy and Callum Turner complete the cast of Emma. which you can stream now on Peacock.
Palm Springs (2020)
Perhaps one of the most perfectly timed romantic comedies (in terms of release), Palm Springs It’s the 2020s groundhog day with a desert chic aesthetic, the irresistible candid eyes of Andy Samberg and the subtle complexities of Cristin Milioti. When two wedding guests become trapped in some kind of supernatural time loop, sparks – and existential thoughts – fly. But is love enough to sustain the couple through an infinite number of bridesmaid speeches? You can find out for yourself by streaming Palm Springs on Hulu.
Bonus: Set it up (2018)
While not technically Released in the 2020s, this 2018 film felt like a palette cleanser before the turn of the decade. Furthermore, I dare say, it was the romantic comedy that introduced Glen Powell to the genre he was born to star in. Set it up follows two burnt-out assistants to powerful New York professionals who handle everything for their bosses – even love. Powell stars alongside Zoey Deutch, Lucy Liu, Taye Diggs and Pete Davidson in Set it upcurrently streaming on Netflix.
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