Some of my favorite movies in the whole world are romantic comedies, or rom-coms. Rom-coms are movies that contain romantic plotlines, but those that are generally light-hearted and humorous. These films are often overlooked in the film world, as they are seen as “chick flicks,” movies that women typically enjoy that men don’t see value in. However, I think that many chick flicks can be valuable to the viewer. Aside from many being genuinely good movies, they are light-hearted and fun and can take your mind off of the bad things happening in the world. Rom-coms are a form of escapism for many of us, including myself. 

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I present to you my list of the top 10 rom-coms of all time. You may disagree with me, but all of these movies are funny, cute and overall feel-good. 

10. “Love at First Sight” (2023)

“Love at First Sight” stars Haley Lu Richardson and Ben Hardy as two strangers that meet in an airport due to unforeseen circumstances. After a lot of fateful events, the two get to talking and develop feelings for each other. The newest movie on this list, “Love at First Sight” took me by surprise by its quality and heart.

9. “Palm Springs” (2020)

“Palm Springs” features one of my favorite actors, Andy Samberg, along with Cristin Milioti as two wedding guests who experience a “Groundhog Day” loop. The movie has some unexpected emotion and makes a great Valentine’s Day watch.

8. “Sweet Home Alabama” (2002)

Starring Reese Witherspoon, Patrick Dempsey and Josh Lucas, “Sweet Home Alabama” is a story about love, divorce and the sweet, sweet South. I am not sure what else I can say without truly spoiling the movie, but despite its flaws, “Sweet Home Alabama” is worth a watch.

7. “Notting Hill” (1999)

One of the most iconic rom-coms, “Notting Hill” stars Julia Roberts as a famous actress and Hugh Grant as a bookstore owner. Their meet-cute begins when she enters his shop and continues when they bump into each other again. The story of “Notting Hill” is truly heartwarming and definitely a romantic pick.

6. “50 First Dates” (2004)

“50 First Dates” stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore as Henry and Lucy, who both live on Oahu. They meet in a diner and hit it off right away. However, when Henry approaches her the next day, she has no idea who he is. Henry figures out that Lucy has short term memory loss. He continues to pursue her, making for a really sweet love story.

5. “Set It Up” (2018)

Zoey Deutch and Glenn Powell star in “Set It Up” as two assistants who are trying to get their hellish bosses laid in order to take some weight off of their shoulders. There is a lot of mischief and plotting, and it makes for one of the best rom-coms of recent years.

4. “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)

Starring Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, “10 Things I Hate About You” is a film adapted from Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” The movie revolves around two sisters, the popular Bianca and the rebellious Kat. Bianca can only date if Kat does, so a plan is hatched to find a boyfriend for Kat. Cameron, a new student, falls for Bianca and teams up with a mysterious boy named Patrick to woo Kat.

3. “When Harry Met Sally” (1989)

A Nora Ephron classic, “When Harry Met Sally” stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as two friends that must answer the question “Can a man and a woman be friends, without sex getting in the way?” The oldest movie on this list, “When Harry Met Sally” is a staple of the rom-com genre.

2. “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” (2003)

“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” stars Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, two professionals that both have a goal: Kate’s character Andie wants to make Benjamin break up with her, while Benjamin wants to make Andie fall in love with him. “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” has an unmatched level of charm and comedy to it, making it number two on my list of the top rom-coms of all time. 

1. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (2008)

When I was making this list, I had trouble sorting what movies would be higher up on the list. However, I had no trouble deciding what my number one was going to be. “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I think it absolutely deserves to be number one on this list. The movie features a star-studded cast: Kristen Bell, Jason Segel, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Paul Rudd and Bill Hader. The plot goes as follows: Heartbroken Peter (Jason Segel) takes a Hawaiian vacation to cope with the recent break-up with his TV star girlfriend, Sarah (Kristen Bell). Little does he know, Sarah is traveling to the same resort and she is bringing along her new boyfriend (Russell Brand). The film has a perfect balance of comedy, heart and drama. If you are going to watch one movie this Valentine’s Day, please make it “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”

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