A 2012 study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that when people repeat enjoyable experiences, including movies, they seek more than just nostalgia. They’re expressing their personal connection to the experience and looking for a way to grow or explore new possibilities. Feelings of love and intimacy featured in these films are universal feelings that our minds crave.
Romantic comedies have a unique way of capturing our hearts. So whether you’re a veteran of the genre or just dipping your toes in, here are six iconic films to stream from the comfort of your couch.
1. When Harry Met Sally
This is the romantic comedy to champion all romantic comedies. This Nora Ephron classic features Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan chronicling their journey from two young strangers sharing a road trip to New York City to navigating the complexities of adulthood. Plus, it attempts to answer the question, “Can men and women really just be friends?” It’s a masterclass proving that love is imperfect, friendship is complicated, and adulthood is hilariously messy. By the end, you’ll not only be quoting Billy Crystal’s unforgettable New Year’s Eve monologue but also Googling how to recreate Meg Ryan’s amazing ‘80s looks.
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2. 27 Dresses
This movie definitely sparked my excitement about being a bridesmaid. (If only I could go back and manage my expectations!) This modern classic brings Katherine Heigl and James Marsden into the whirlwind of the wedding industry. Heigl plays a hopeless romantic who’s always the bridesmaid but never the bride. Expect over-the-top themed weddings, plenty of laughs, and James Marsden as a charming journalist. Honestly, can we put him in more rom-coms?
3. You’ve Got Mail
The only movie that rivals When Harry Met Sally for making you dream of New York City in the fall is You’ve Got Mail. Tom Hanks’ character, Joe Fox, even says it best: “Don’t you just love New York in the fall? Makes me want to buy school supplies.” Same Joe, same. Set in the early days of the internet, this classic follows Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks as anonymous online pen pals who fall in love—unaware they’re actually professional nemeses offline. It’s the perfect enemies-to-lovers story.
4. Love Actually
Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Keira Knightly, Liam Neeson… the list goes on. Need I say more? If I had to include one Christmas movie on this list, it would have to be Love Actually, an ensemble movie that endures. Ensemble movies are some of my favorite comfort movies—you get small vignettes of many different relationships and characters, and then they all come together at the end. The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without at least one rewatch of this classic.
5. Notting Hill
Julia Roberts undeniably earns her place on the hypothetical Mount Rushmore of rom-com queens—case in point: Notting Hill. Julia Roberts, an effervescent Hollywood star, stumbles into Hugh Grant’s little London bookstore, setting the stage for an awkward yet irresistibly charming romance. Despite their opposite lives, sparks fly. In the spirit of the heartwarming flick: Here I am, just a journalist sitting in front of her laptop, asking you to watch Notting Hill ASAP.
6. Something’s Gotta Give
Nancy Meyers is known for gorgeous interiors, especially kitchens, and this 2003 classic certainly delivers. If you’re not watching for the romance, at least watch for the settings. Something’s Gotta Give has some grit that most romantic comedies don’t have when opposites collide in a picturesque New York setting. Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson remind you of the power of self-discovery and the beauty (as well as complexities) of love later in life.
