My favorite romantic comedy movies from the 80s to present day because we all need a little bit more love and laughter in our lives and in the world.
Note: This is not a ranking, it’s just a compilation of some of my favorite movies people can watch if they want to.
‘80s
“When Harry Met Sally” (1989)
Summary: In 1977, Harry Burns and Sally Albright meet when they drove together from Chicago to New York. During the trip, they debate whether men and women can ever just be strictly platonic friends. The movie follows both characters throughout years of their lives as they continue to cross paths and try to be friends.
Memorable moments or quotes: Deli scene, “I’ll have what she’s having” and the New Year’s Eve party scene.
Why I love the movie: The characters feel very realistic and I enjoy Meg Ryan’s acting in the role of Sally. There is a third reason why I love this movie, but it contains a spoiler for the ending so I’m not going to give it away.
‘90s
“While You Were Sleeping” (1995)
Summary: Train token-taker Lucy has a crush on Peter, a lawyer whom she’s never actually spoken to. After an accident at the train station leaves Peter in a temporary coma, a misunderstanding leads his family to believe that Lucy is Peter’s fiancee. Lucy is afraid to tell the family the truth and the situation gets more complicated when she meets and falls in love with Peter’s brother, Jack.
Memorable moments or quotes: Lucy’s passport, Florence, Italy, slipping on ice and “leaning.”
Why I love the movie: At many points in the movie, Lucy says that her late father told her that “life doesn’t always turn out the way you plan,” and I feel like this story perfectly represents that statement.
“10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)
Summary: Kat Statford is seen as abrasive and cold by her high school peers, while her younger sister Bianca is known to be pretty and popular. Their dad’s rule is that Bianca can’t have a boyfriend until Kat does.
When awkward and nerdy kid Cameron hears about the rule, he pays rebel Patrick to go out with Kat so that he can ask Bianca out
Memorable moments or quotes: “What is it, asshole day?,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” scene and the scene on the swings and Kat’s poem.
Why I love the movie: I relate to Kat’s character. I think this is a quintessential teen movie for a lot of girls and young women including myself.
“Notting Hill” (1999)
Summary: William is a travel bookstore owner in London who meets Anna, a famous American actress. A mishap involving orange juice leads to them kissing each other which then becomes something more. During this period of time, they are met with the intense media that comes along with Anna’s life in the spotlight.
Memorable moments or quotes: Horse & Hound, birthday dinner scene, park bench dedication and “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”
Why I love the movie: I think William is a hilariously awkward character and I love how the whole movie is very meta (an actress playing an actress, filming a movie within a movie).
2000s
“How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days” (2003)
Summary: Andie is the writer of a magazine advice column. Her next article is about how to get a guy to leave you in 10 days. Enter Ben, the unsuspecting participant in Andie’s experiment, who has made a bet with his bosses that he can get a woman to fall in love with him in 10 days. When Andie and Ben meet, their plans don’t work out the way they imagine.
Memorable moments or quotes: Love Fern scene, “frost yourself,” “You’re So Vain” and Bullshit (the card game).
Why I love the movie: I love how he loved her even when she was crazy, as seen in the bridge scene.
“Love Actually” (2003)
Summary: This movie tells the intertwining stories of many different people as they navigate love and life during the Christmas season.
Memorable moments or quotes: “It’s carol singers,” the dancing prime minister and grand gesture in Portuguese.
Why I love the movie: I would never claim that all of the relationships in this movie are healthy, I know they’re not but I love it anyway because it feels real. In real life, love is messy and weird and that’s exactly what this movie showcases.
“Mamma Mia!” (2008)
Summary: A few days before her wedding on a Greek Island, young bride Sophie invites three of her mother’s past lovers to the event in the hopes of meeting her father while her mother Donna plans the celebration.
Memorable moments or quotes: Bachelorette party scene and “We have time.”
Why I love the movie: An ABBA jukebox musical rom-com? Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie!, I aspire to be Donna Sheridan in 20 years.
2010’s
“The Last Song” (2010)
Summary: Ronnie is a troubled teen girl who is sent to live in a small beach town with her dad for the summer, where she meets Will.
Memorable moments or quotes: Stained glass, piano-playing scene and “When I Look at You.”
Why I love the movie: This movie is really sad but also very sweet because it’s not just a romantic love story, it’s also a story about family.
“Letters to Juliet” (2010)
Summary: While visiting Verona, Italy, Sophie finds a wall where women who are unlucky in love leave letters to Juliet Capulet. When she finds a letter from the 1950s, Sophie then decides to respond to it.
Memorable moments or quotes: The wall, hair brush scene and the ending.
Why I love the movie: This movie shows that there is no age limit to romance, anyone can fall in love at any time and any age.
2020s
“Look Both Ways” (2022)
Summary: College student Natalie’s life forms two parallel realities, one in which she becomes pregnant and moves back home to raise her kid, and another where the pregnancy test is negative and she graduates college to follow her dreams
Memorable moments or quotes: The test taking scenes, the birth scene and meeting Jake
Why I love the movie: I really love the format of this movie and how there are two story lines happening at the same time. I also enjoy the ending of this movie because it is unique.
“Love at First Sight” (2023)
Summary: Hadley and Oliver meet at the airport and get to know each other on their flight from New York to London. But they are separated when they land and have to find their way back to each other
Memorable moments or quotes: The “funeral” scene.
Why I love the movie: The entire time that I was watching this movie, I kept thinking that it felt like a classic rom-com, it didn’t feel too modern or cringy and I think it’s one of the only really great romantic movies that have come out recently.
Emma Joyce is a sophomore majoring in English writing and communications
