A two-hour journey that will
restore your faith in love again? Sounds too good to be true, right? Despite their sappiness, and sometimes completely unrealistic scenarios, rom-coms really have a way of giving us the slightest glimmer of hope that true love does exist. So grab your popcorn and your favorite cozy blanket and settle in for a full-on love fest with these 10 rom-coms.
1. Clueless (1995)
Falling in love with your former step-brother may sound gross, but
Clueless is somehow able to make it totally acceptable. Spoiled socialite Cher (Alicia Silverstone) starts off only caring about clothes and being the most popular girl at her Beverly Hills high school. After a few failed dates and a successful attempt at setting up two of her teachers, she suddenly finds love in the most unexpected place. But will it last? If you think we’re going to tell you- as if! You’ll have to watch to find out.
2. Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
Imagine getting engaged to your dream man, only to discover you’re still married to your annoying ex-husband because he never signed the divorce papers. That’s exactly the predicament Melanie (
Reese Witherspoon) finds herself in just months before her wedding. She’s forced to return to her roots in this heartwarming story about a second chance at love and having to choose between the past and the present in order to have the best future.
3. My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
Realizing you’re in love with your best friend right before his wedding seems like quite the dilemma- but it makes for some awesome laughs in this rom-com starring the exquisite
Julia Roberts as Julianne. As she tries to sabotage the pending nuptials, she discovers that the soon-to-be bride is actually pretty amazing and struggles with whether or not to tell her best friend how she feels. What will she decide to do on the big day? The anticipation is killing us!
4. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
You’ll find plenty of teenage angst in this humorous story about the most unexpected high school romance. Tomboy Kat has absolutely no time for hearts and flowers- especially not with her arch nemesis at school, Patrick (played by the late Heath Ledger). As Patrick starts chipping away at Kat’s hardened heart, will she discover what true love actually is, or will she stay bitter forever and miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime romance?
5. 27 Dresses (2007)
Always a
bridesmaid, never a bride. That’s a saying that’s held true for Jane (Katherine Heigl)- until now. As she begins to process the news that her little sister is getting married to her boss (whom she’s had a crush on for years), Jane realizes that she’s tired of always being the bridesmaid. She wants her chance at everlasting love. Enter Kevin- a reporter covering her sister’s wedding who knows exactly what buttons to push to drive Jane crazy. As Kevin interviews her for the story, he starts falling for his subject. But will Jane fall too? You’ll have to watch til the end to find out.
6. Sixteen Candles (1984)
Jake Ryan! Need we say more? Awkward teen Samantha (Molly Ringwald) thinks turning 16 will be the best day of her life. Turns out it’s anything but. Her family forgets her birthday and her crush stands her up at the school dance. There are plenty of cringe-worthy moments in this story that lead up to perhaps one of the sweetest moments in all of rom-com history. Will Samantha finally win Jake’s heart? The romantic in us desperately hopes so!
7. 50 First Dates (2004)
Imagine finding a man who makes you fall in love with him all over again, each and every day. That’s exactly what happens in this super sweet rom-com starring Drew Barrymore as Lucy and Adam Sandler as Henry. Lucy suffers from short-term memory loss, which means she can’t remember that she’s in a relationship. That doesn’t stop Henry from wanting to be with her, though. In fact, it only makes him more determined to win over the girl of his dreams.
8. The Proposal (2009)
Sandra Bullock is the queen of rom-coms, and this movie is no exception. She plays Margaret, an overbearing book editor who forces her handsome assistant Andrew (played by the lovable Ryan Reynolds) to marry her so she won’t get deported back to her native Canada. Most of Andrew’s family in Alaska are supportive of his upcoming nuptials (including his adorable grandmother, played by the phenomenal Betty White), but as the wedding day nears, Margaret starts having second thoughts. Will they end up getting married, or will Margaret head back to Canada and leave Andrew free to find the love of his life?
9. 13 Going on 30 (2004)
Jennifer Garner has never been more endearing than in this heartwarming story about falling in love with your childhood best friend. Garner plays Jenna, a 13-year old who makes a wish on her birthday to be “thirty, flirty, and thriving”. When she opens her eyes, her wish has come true, but being 30 isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. She runs across her childhood best friend Matt (played by Mark Ruffalo) and suddenly all she wants is to go back in time so she can redo the last 17 years. Is it possible to undo her wish? Watch to find out!
10. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
You can’t have a rom-com list without including a Matthew McConaughey film. He stars opposite the always-funny
Kate Hudson, who plays Andie- a writer trying to nab the job of a lifetime. In order to land that dream job, she has to write a feel-good piece about how to lose a guy in 10 days, but there’s just one problem. She ends up falling in love with the subject of her story. Will she choose love over her career, or is there a way she can have both? We promise the ending will give you ALL THE FEELS.
Does true love exist? These rom-coms sure make us believe it does, even if only for a few fleeting moments.
About The Author
Lindsay is a writer and single mom whose mission is to remind other women going through a divorce or breakup that they are strong, beautiful, and worthy of all the good things life has to offer. You can find more of her writing on her blog or follow her on Instagram.
