Whether they concern enemies becoming lovers or complicated love triangles, you'll fall head over heels for these romcom films currently streaming. The 20 best

Whether they concern enemies becoming lovers or complicated love triangles, you'll fall head over heels for these rom-com films currently streaming.

The 20 best romantic comedy movies on Netflix

Whether they concern enemies becoming lovers or complicated love triangles, you'll fall head over heels for these rom-com films currently streaming.

By Kevin Jacobsen and Angela Andaloro

on October 14, 2025 11:56 a.m. ET

Leah Lewis as Ellie Chu and Daniel Diemer as Paul Munsky in 'The Half of It'; Emma Stone as Mia Dolan and Ryan Gosling as Sebastian Wilder in 'La La Land'; Noah Centineo as Peter Kavinsky and Lana Condor as Lara Jean Song-Covey in 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before'. Credit:

KC Bailey/Netflix; Dale Robinette/Lionsgate; Netflix

There are so many different ways you can fall in love, and romantic comedies serve to remind us of that. Maybe you're dreaming of an unexpected romance, like in *Hit Man*. You could also be looking for a plot with strong female leads, such as *The Incredible Jessica James* or *Someone Great*. Whatever kind of love story you're in the mood for, you'll find your perfect match on our list of the best romantic comedies currently streaming on Netflix, as of October 2025.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Heath Ledger as Patrick Verona and Julia Stiles as Katarina 'Kat' Stratford in '10 Things I Hate About You'.

Buena Vista/Getty

Oh, what a tangled web we weave. William Shakespeare's *The Taming of the Shrew* receives a modern-day makeover in this beloved teen rom-com, set in a Seattle high school. The film begins with new student Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) falling for sophomore Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), but there's only one problem: Her father won't allow her to date until her independent older sister, Kat (Julia Stiles), finds a beau. He does some matchmaking that leads to bad boy Patrick (Heath Ledger) trying to woo Kat, but this proves more difficult than expected.

EW's critic was highly positive on *10 Things I Hate About You* upon its release, praising how it "casts an amusingly jaundiced eye on the unholy status games of contemporary teen culture." —*Kevin Jacobsen***

Where to watch *10 Things I Hate About You*: Netflix

**Director:** Gil Junger

**Cast:** Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik

Alex Strangelove (2018)

Daniel Doheny as Alex Truelove and Antonio Marziale as Elliot in 'Alex Strangelove'. Netflix

A coming-of-age rom-com that sees a popular teen wrestle with his sexuality may sound like a familiar narrative, but *Alex Strangelove* adds its own spin. Alex Truelove (Daniel Doheny) lives in an especially progressive and supportive environment for a high school tale, nearly void of the common prejudices against queerness. Still, Alex doesn't know what — or who — he wants, and he has to learn about himself before he can know for sure.

Many LGBTQ+ rom-coms tend to focus on protagonists that are working against societal biases, but *Alex Strangelove* offers a more joyful take on the queer experience. EW's critic praises the film's underlying theme beneath its (occasionally cringey) twist and turns, writing, "It's hard to fault the bigger message here: that we all deserve the right to be true to who we are, even if it takes a few hard turns — and some collateral emotional damage — to get there." —*Angela Andaloro*

Where to watch *Alex Strangelove*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director:** Craig Johnson

**Cast: **Daniel Doheny, Antonio Marziale, Madeline Weinstein, Joanna Adler, William Ragsdale, Daniel Zolghadri

Along for the Ride (2022)

Belmont Cameli as Eli and Emma Pasarow as Auden in 'Along for the Ride'. Emily V. Aragones/Netflix

Based on the novel by Sarah Dessen, night owl Auden (Emma Pasarow) displeases her type-A mom (Andie MacDowell) by going to stay with her absentee dad (Dermot Mulroney), his wife (Kate Bosworth), and their newborn over the summer before college. Now on a mission to taste all the teenage experiences she's missed out on, Auden soon makes her first real group of girlfriends and roams the beach town in the wee hours of the morning. Doing so brings her to meet another night-type, Eli (Belmont Cameli), who has a repressed past of his own.

Sofia Alvarez is no stranger to teen rom-coms, given that she adapted *To All the Boys I've Loved Before* into the hit Netflix film franchise. Now, she's made her feature-length directorial debut with* Along for the Ride*, having collaborated with Dessen, queen of the beach read, on this quintessential summer romance film. "I have always really loved those nostalgic summertime movies that I grew up watching, and I think I immediately saw the potential for this movie to be one of those," Alvarez told EW. "I really wanted it to be the kind of summer movie where you smell the sunscreen through the screen...or it has a soundtrack that everyone is singing in their cars this summer when they're driving to the beach." Spoiler alert: This movie (and its soundtrack by Beach House) achieves all of that and more. —*A.A.*

Where to watch *Along for the Ride*: Netflix

**Director: **Sofia Alvarez

**Cast: **Emma Pasarow, Belmont Cameli, Kate Bosworth, Dermot Mulroney, Andie MacDowell

Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Ali Wong as Sasha Tran and Randall Park as Marcus Kim in 'Always Be My Maybe'. Ed Araquel/Netflix

Who says you can't go home again? Ali Wong shines in this romantic comedy about childhood best friends who cross paths as adults after an awkward teenage romance ended badly. Fast forward 16 years, and life has taken celebrity chef Sasha Tran (Wong) and unsuccessful musician Marcus Kim (Randall Park) to some very different places. Much has changed, but their chemistry sure hasn't as the two come face-to-face with their many differences on the road to reconciliation.

Costars Wong and Park are also co-writers for the film, and, given the hilarity of Wong's Netflix stand-up specials, it's no wonder *Always Be My Maybe* was an instant hit. The central lovebirds have a lot of healing to do from their complicated youths before they can live happily ever after, but the laughter makes it that much sweeter. Throw in a disastrous double date featuring Keanu Reeves playing, well, Keanu Reeves, and you've got yourself a chaotic love triangle unlike any you've seen before. EW's critic highlights the film's graceful lack of tokenism as well: "*Always Be My Maybe *… joins a burgeoning if still too small club of mainstream movies centered without any special pomp or circumstance on Asian American characters." Seriously, what's not to love? —*A.A.*

Where to watch *Always Be My Maybe*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Nahnatchka Khan

**Cast: **Ali Wong, Randall Park, James Saito, Michelle Buteau, Vivian Bang, Daniel Dae Kim, Keanu Reeves

Anyone but You (2023)

Glen Powell as Ben and Sydney Sweeney as Bea Messina in 'Anyone but You'.

Courtesy Sony Pictures Entertainment

Like the beloved '90s rom-coms that transplanted classic stories to modern-day high school, *Anyone but You* is a modern spin on Shakespeare's *Much Ado About Nothing*. The charming flick centers on Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell), a pair of attractive singles whose first date ends poorly. Six months later, they're shocked and dismayed to be in each other's lives again at a destination wedding, and their bickering leads those in the wedding party to try getting them together. A sleeper box office hit, *Anyone But You *is an earnest throwback where most of the plot is predictable, but you don't mind — largely because of its compelling leads. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Anyone but You*: Netflix through Oct. 19

**Director: **Will Gluck

**Cast: **Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Alexandra Shipp, GaTa, Hadley Robinson, Michelle Hurd, Dermot Mulroney, Darren Barnet, Rachel Griffiths

Groundhog Day (1993)

Bill Murray as Phil Connors in 'Groundhog Day'. Everett Collection

Groundhog Day has become virtually synonymous with this romantic time loop comedy as much as Punxsutawney Phil himself. Popularizing the concept of an endless repeated day for numerous films to come, *Groundhog Day* centers on jaded TV weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray), who finds himself trapped in Punxsutawney, Pa., waking up over and over again on Feb. 2. Only Phil is aware of the time loop, causing him to behave in a variety of ways, from taking advantage of his circumstances to get what he wants to falling into existential despair. Time has been kind to *Groundhog Day* since its 1993 release, especially in how it blends laughs with moments of philosophical insight. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Groundhog Day*: Netflix

**Director:** Harold Ramis

**Cast:** Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott, Stephen Tobolowsky, Les Podewell

The Half of It (2020)

Leah Lewis as Ellie Chu and Alexxis Lemire as Aster Flores in 'The Half of It'. KC Bailey/Netflix

In a modern retelling of the classic French play *Cyrano de Bergerac*, Ellie (Leah Lewis) starts ghostwriting love letters for a jock, Paul (Daniel Diemer), in exchange for some much-needed cash. But as she continues to correspond with Paul's dream girl, Aster (Alexxis Lemire), Ellie finds they have a lot in common and wonders if she's actually her better half. Though the romantic tension between the unknowing Aster and the unfortunate Ellie pushes the film forward, the true heart of this story is the blossoming friendship between Ellie and Paul. He may not be able to write to save his life, but Paul speaks up where it counts, causing an intimate and (somewhat) overlapping love triangle between teens who are just trying to learn what life is all about.

The characters' bond is rooted in Lewis and Diemer's genuine affection, too. "Daniel is like my brother now," Lewis told EW. "His belief in me as Daniel definitely translated onscreen where Ellie finds the courage to perform because of Paul's belief in [her]." —*A.A.*

Where to watch *The Half of It*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Alice Wu

**Cast: **Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire, Enrique Murciano, Wolfgang Novogratz, Catherine Curtin, Becky Ann Baker, Collin Chou

Hit Man (2024)

Adria Arjona as Madison Figueroa Masters and Glen Powell as Gary Johnson in 'Hit Man'.

Brian Roedel/Netflix

Talk about an unconventional meet-cute. Glen Powell co-wrote and stars in this darkly comedic romantic thriller as Gary Johnson, a mild-mannered college professor who also works with the police posing as a hitman to bust murder-for-hire clients. He proves adept at his undercover job, but, after a woman named Madison (Adria Arjona) hires Gary to kill her husband, he soon finds himself developing feelings, which complicates matters. Powell delivers his best performance to date as the chameleonic faux-assassin, and his chemistry with Arjona is off-the-charts charming. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Hit Man*: Netflix

**Director:** Richard Linklater

**Cast:** Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Retta

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The Incredible Jessica James (2017)

Chris O'Dowd as Boone and Jessica Williams as Jessica James in 'The Incredible Jessica James'. Netflix

Jessica Williams (*2 Dope Queens*, *Shrinking*) is a relatable force to be reckoned with in her debut lead role. As the uber-confident Jessica James, she's trying to find out what's next in both her work life and her love life, with New York City as the backdrop. However, a blind date throws a wrench in all her plans as she finds herself unexpectedly falling for Boone (Chris O'Dowd) though she's still not quite over her ex, Damon (LaKeith Stanfield).

While the love story at the center of *The Incredible Jessica James* may seem a little trope-y and basic at times, the protagonist is anything but that. Jessica is a joyful, empowered character who faces her mistakes head-on without beating herself up about them. EW's critic celebrates the rom-com for its not-so-delicate balance, writing, "Even when the film falls into indie clichés, Williams keeps things moving with her cleverness and charisma, whether she's chastising man-spreaders on the subway or introducing an as-yet-unborn baby to the fight to dismantle the patriarchy." —*A.A.*

Where to watch *The Incredible Jessica James*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director:** James C. Strouse

**Cast: **Jessica Williams, Chris O'Dowd, Noël Wells, LaKeith Stanfield, Megan Ketch, Zabryna Guevara

Kicking and Screaming (1995)

Olivia d'Abo as Jane and Josh Hamilton as Grover Cary in 'Kicking and Screaming'.

Trimark Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

After graduating from college, a group of friends move in together, hoping to delay the start of the rest of their lives. One of them is Grover (Josh Hamilton), who passes on his girlfriend's offer to study abroad with her. Like many of his future works, Noah Baumbach's directorial debut is a meditation on adults trying to figure out what they want in life. Grover and his friends are far from perfect, as they deal with romance and dashed dreams within their limbo period between college and the real world. "What distinguishes Baumbach," EW's critic observes, "is that his cleverness conceals a ruefully romantic temperament." —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Kicking and Screaming*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director:** Noah Baumbach

**Cast: **Josh Hamilton, Olivia d'Abo, Chris Eigeman, Parker Posey, Jason Wiles, Cara Buono, Carlos Jacott, Elliott Gould, Eric Stoltz

Knocked Up (2007)

Katherine Heigl as Allison Scott and Seth Rogen as Ben Stone in 'Knocked Up'. Suzanne Hanover/Universal

Judd Apatow perfected the gross-out rom-com with *Knocked Up*. Eight weeks after a one-night stand, driven reporter Alison (Katherine Heigl) realizes she's pregnant with slacker Ben's (Seth Rogen) baby. Despite having little in common, the pair tries to commit to a relationship with each other, but this proves far more difficult than expected. While the overarching plot plays on classic odd-couple tropes, much of the best humor in the film can be found in the eccentric observations from Ben and his roommates. EW's critic writes, "*Knocked Up* is the very opposite of a storybook romance, and also the very model of a great comedy for our values-driven time." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Knocked Up*: Netflix

**EW grade:** A

**Director:** Judd Apatow

**Cast:** Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Martin Starr**

La La Land (2016)

Emma Stone as Mia Dolan and Ryan Gosling as Sebastian Wilder in 'La La Land'. Dale Robinette/Black Label Media/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

Few modern musicals have shined so brightly as Damien Chazelle's vibrant comedy-drama about an actress and a jazz musician who fall in love against the backdrop of Los Angeles. Played with exuberance by Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, the pair attempt to achieve their dreams while maintaining their relationship, even if this balancing act proves difficult. Packed with dazzling and wistful musical sequences, *La La Land*'s strength lies in embracing old-school entertainment without necessarily being old-fashioned. Stone won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance, while the film famously *almost* won Best Picture. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *La La Land*: Netflix through Oct. 31

**EW grade:** A

**Director:** Damien Chazelle

**Cast:** Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, John Legend

Long Shot (2019)

Seth Rogen as Fred Flarsky and June Diane Raphael as Maggie Millikin in 'Long Shot'.

Philippe Bossé/Lionsgate

Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron may not seem like the most logical cinematic pairing, but any doubts you may have will be long forgotten after viewing this raunchy but sweet romantic comedy. Theron plays Charlotte Field, the U.S. Secretary of State who is getting ready to launch her presidential campaign when she reunites with the man she used to babysit, Fred (Rogen), now a political journalist. Charlotte convinces Fred to help punch up her speeches and go with her on the road, where a romantic connection is formed. EW's critic praises *Long Shot* as "spiked with enough timely media/politics jabs to make it more than just another disposable beauty-and-the-beast gross-out rom-com." —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Long Shot*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Director:** Jonathan Levine

**Cast:** Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Andy Serkis, June Diane Raphael, Bob Odenkirk, Alexander Skarsgård

The Lovebirds (2020)

Issa Rae as Leilani Brooks and Kumail Nanjiani as Jibran in 'The Lovebirds'. Skip Bolen/Netflix

The relationship between Leilani (Issa Rae) and Jibran (Kumail Nanjiani) is on its last legs and fading fast when the struggling couple is invited to a dinner party. On their way there, a chance encounter with a criminal changes the course of their night — and their separation. If they want to make it out alive and clear their names, the two will have to work together, but not without throwing a few passive-aggressive jabs at each other in the process.

*The Lovebirds* gives viewers a different kind of second-chance romance. It's light on the romance and heavy on the antics, making it an honest portrayal of all that can make or break a relationship — romantic or not. Still, the chemistry between Rae and Nanjiani eliminates any question of their potential as a couple. They bicker in that comfortable, weathered way that shows strain, but that edge may be just what they need to see their situation to the other side. And confronting it all is just as challenging as solving the murder they witnessed. EW's critic notes, "What feels freshest, maybe, is the mere fact of two leads of color taking on all the tropes of the genre and making it feel as modern as they do." —*A.A.*

Where to watch *The Lovebirds*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Michael Showalter

**Cast: **Kumail Nanjiani, Issa Rae, Paul Sparks, Anna Camp, Kyle Bornheimer

Mamma Mia! (2008)

Christine Baranski as Tanya Chesham-Leigh, Meryl Streep as Donna Sheridan, and Julie Walters as Rosie Mulligan in 'Mamma Mia!'.

Peter Mountain/Universal

As the ABBA classic goes, "You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life," and this lovably silly musical rom-com embraces that sentiment wholeheartedly. Adapted from the smash-hit Broadway musical, *Mamma Mia!* centers on a young woman named Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) who invites her three possible fathers to a lush Greek island. Unaware of who her real biological dad is, Sophie hopes to solve the mystery before her upcoming wedding, while her mother, Donna (Meryl Streep), is forced to confront her past. Boosted by Streep's marvelous performance and the shimmering soundtrack of ABBA, *Mamma Mia!* remains a campy delight. —*K.J.***

Where to watch *Mamma Mia!*: Netflix

**Director:** Phyllida Lloyd

**Cast:** Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters, Dominic Cooper, Christine Baranski**

Set It Up (2018)

Zoey Deutch as Harper Moore and Glen Powell as Charlie Young in 'Set It Up'. Netflix

Overworked assistants Charlie (Glen Powell) and Harper (Zoey Deutch) have a corporate meet-cute in their shared office building when they bond over their demanding, miserable bosses: venture capitalist Rick Otis (Taye Diggs) and sports media maven Kirsten Stevens (Lucy Liu). Desperate to make their jobs (and lives) easier, Charlie and Harper hatch a plan to merge their superiors into a happy power couple. But playing matchmaker might be way above their pay grade.

A romantic comedy in the same vein as *The Devil Wears Prada* (2006), this film has its fair share of gaslighting, but the twist is its good intentions. Charlie and Harper feel genuine admiration for their successful bosses, and though their motives are self-serving, it's all in the name of love, right? What follows is a satisfying take on the feel-good genre, complete with meditations on work lives, love lives, and everything in between. EW's critic hails *Set It Up* as the "gold standard for the frothy summer rom-com," and she was right on the money. —*A.A.*

Where to watch *Set It Up*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Claire Scanlon

**Cast: **Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu

She's All That (1999)

Rachael Leigh Cook as Laney Boggs and Freddie Prinze Jr. as Zack Siler in 'She's All That'.

Miramax/Courtesy Everett Collection

Few films in the teen rom-com genre are tied so thoroughly to a specific place and time as 1999's *She's All That*. A modern-day retelling of the classic *Pygmalion* story, the film centers on Zack (Freddie Prinze Jr.), a popular high schooler who is jilted by his now-ex-girlfriend and proceeds to accept a challenge to find an awkward girl to turn into a prom queen in six weeks. He chooses Laney (Rachael Leigh Cook), an unpopular art student who is initially uninterested before gradually softening to him. Naturally, the ruse is eventually found out, which throws their relationship into turmoil.

Featuring a charming breakout performance from Cook and a great teen idol turn from Prinze, *She's All That* is a reliable nostalgia hit for millennials longing for that period when Hollywood couldn't get enough of classic literature in the skin of frothy teen romantic comedies. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *She's All That*: Netflix through Oct. 31

**Director:** Robert Iscove

**Cast:** Freddie Prinze Jr., Rachael Leigh Cook, Matthew Lillard, Paul Walker, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, Kevin Pollak, Kieran Culkin**

She's Gotta Have It (1986)

(From left to right): John Canada Terrell as Greer Childs, Spike Lee as Mars Blackmon, and Tommy Redmond Hicks as Jamie Overstreet in 'She's Gotta Have It'.

Island Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Spike Lee exploded onto the scene with his 1986 directorial debut. Made for only $175,000, *She's Gotta Have It* tells the story of Nola (Tracy Camilla Johns), a graphic artist in Brooklyn who juggles relationships with three men, each with their own distinct personality. The situation becomes complicated after the men meet and figure out what's happening. Meanwhile, Nola comes to realize the value of her freedom as a sexually liberated person. Lauded for its depiction of a confident Black woman at a time when Hollywood rarely centered such characters, *She's Gotta Have It* proved to be predictive of the kinds of groundbreaking stories Lee would tell in the decades to come. The Oscar-winning filmmaker also adapted the film into a Netflix series in 2017. —*K.J.***** Where to watch *She's Gotta Have It*: Netflix******Director:** Spike Lee******Cast:** Tracy Camilla Johns, Tommy Redmond Hicks, John Canada Terrell, Spike Lee, Raye Dowell**

Someone Great (2019)

DeWanda Wise as Erin Kennedy, Gina Rodriguez as Jenny Young, and Brittany Snow as Blair Helms in 'Someone Great'. Netflix

This charming directorial debut by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson proves that break-up movies can make for great rom-coms. Jenny (Gina Rodriguez) lands her dream job at *Rolling Stone*, but it costs her her longtime boyfriend (LaKeith Stanfield). Desperate for a last hurrah in New York City before her big move, the new bachelorette rallies friends Blair (Brittany Snow) and Erin (DeWanda Wise) to help send her off, though it proves to be anything but a clean break.

The misadventures of their big night out inspire each woman to reflect on whether they've been choosing their relationships over themselves. The result is an empowering, modern spin on what's expected from the genre, placing sisterhood and self-love at the center stage. Ever the rom-com expert, EW's critic heralds *Something Great* as "... a newer breed of movie: the scrappy female-POV in which the love story at the center is as much about friendship or the face in the mirror as it is about any one man." —*A.A.*

Where to watch *Someone Great*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B+

**Director: **Jennifer Kaytin Robinson

**Cast: **Gina Rodriguez, Brittany Snow, DeWanda Wise, LaKeith Stanfield, Peter Vack

To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)

Noah Centineo as Peter Kavinsky and Lana Condor as Lara Jean Song-Covey in 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before'. Netflix

One of the better teen rom-coms for the modern age, *To All the Boys I've Loved Before* was a smashing success for Netflix upon its 2018 release. Lana Condor plays Lara Jean Covey, a high schooler who secretly pens love letters to crushes but never sends them. Her younger sister finds them stashed away and decides to mail them herself, leading to a fair share of awkward situations. To prevent her current crush from initiating yet another cringey confrontation, she impulsively kisses one of her former crushes (Noah Centineo), which proves to be the catalyst for an ever-evolving relationship.

*To All the Boys I've Loved Before* was very well-received, with EW's critic calling it "breezy and charming." Netflix released two sequels to the film: *To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You* in 2020 and *To All the Boys: Always and Forever* in 2021, though the original remains the series' best entry. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *To All the Boys I've Loved Before*: Netflix

**EW grade: **B

**Director: **Susan Johnson

**Cast: **Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, Anna Cathcart, Andrew Bachelor, Trezzo Mahoro, Madeleine Arthur, Emilija Baranac, Israel Broussard, John Corbett

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