When you’re in the mood for a feel-good movie, few genres hit all the notes quite like a romantic comedy. The best rom-coms will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even teach you a life lesson or two about love. Whether you’re in a healthy relationship, happily single, plagued by the modern dating hellscape, or looking for something fun to watch on a night spent in with friends, you can count on tuning into a rom-com to catch you in some sort of feels.
The rom-com dates back to the dawn of cinema—some of the best Old Hollywood movies fall into the genre—and over the years, select titles have gone down in history as some of the best films of all time. Of course, there have been flops, and they’ve gone in and out of style, but the very best have charismatic leads with solid chemistry, a witty script, and a romance at the center that feels epic, even if it’s a slice-of-life story or touches on a classic trope.
