Rom-coms get a bit of a bad rep. Many critics despise the genre for its predictability, corniness, and copycat stories. However, that’s not entirely fair. Part of the charm of rom-coms is exactly these qualities. They’re a respite from the stresses of real life, whether it’s your job, relationship, friendships, kids, or a combination of all (or many) of the above. A good rom-com makes you laugh, cry, laugh some more, and breathe a big sigh of satisfaction.
Rom-coms are some of the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, from classics to modern takes on the same stories that have been told time and time again. There’s always a twist, however, that draws you in. With some rom-coms, it’s the cast or lead actor that keeps your eyes glued to the screen while you sit down a pint of Ben & Jerry’s or cuddle up with special someone. The best rom-coms on Amazon Prime Video right now include a nice mix, so there’s sure to be something you haven’t watched yet or want to watch again.
Amazon Prime Video isn’t short on titles, but it may not have what you’re looking for. Fortunately, we’ve also rounded up the best new movies to stream, the best romantic comedies on Netflix, and the best romantic comedies on Hulu.
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10 Years2012 -
The Rebound2009
10 Years (2012)
Sometimes, it’s the cast that truly makes a movie. That can be said for 10 Years, a 13-year-old rom-com with a star-studded cast that reads like a who’s who of young actors on the scene today. Think Channing Tatum, Kata Mara, Rosario Dawson, Oscar Isaac, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, and Anthony Mackie. They’re all young adults returning home for their 10-year high school reunion, where they wax poetic about the old days and share their challenges with adult life, including divorces and job losses. It’s a beautifully nostalgic look back that will have you recalling your own reunions or high school life while watching.
Of course, there’s a story of romance amid the comedy as old flames reignite a spark and second chances are to be had. Reinforcing the idea that 10 Years is one to watch for its cast, Reeling Reviews’ Robin Clifford calls the movie an “embarrassment of wealth in the young acting pool.” Amy Biancolli of San Francisco Chronicle writes “even the most exhausted, hackneyed, and innately annoying genre can yield a film of breezy charm and prickly dramatic consequence.”
The Rebound (2009)
The Rebound would probably be viewed more favorably today with its premise of an older woman with a much younger man. Premiering back in 2009, the romantic comedy stars Catherine Zeta-Jones as Sandy, a housewife and mother who is reeling from a recent divorce after learning that her husband cheated on her. While starting her new life with the kids in New York City, she meets and befriends a much younger barista named Aram (Justin Bartha). The aimless young man, dealing with his own former relationship woes and challenges in life, takes a job as her full-time nanny. Soon, Sandy and Aram’s relationship starts to become romantic.
The Rebound had a rough start, with its distributor shutting down operations before its release, which led to the movie going direct to DVD. It has its charms, with Jane Crowther of Total Film praising Zeta-Jones and Bartha’s chemistry. “It’s refreshing to see [Zeta-Jones],” she adds, “portray uncertainty with elements of frumpiness and doggedness.”
27 Dresses (2008)
One of those early 21st-century rom-coms that fans love to watch again and again, 27 Dresses stars Katherine Heigl as Jane, the personification of the saying “always a bridesmaid, never a bride.” She has walked alongside friends and family members a total of 27 (!) times, wearing a selection of stylish, sexy, cultural, and even heinous dresses to support her loved ones on their big day. But she’s always wondering when it might be her turn.
Then along comes Kevin (James Marsden), whom she meets by chance, but doesn’t exactly get along with. When the two end up crossing paths again, ironically at another friend’s wedding, they begin to warm to one another. But Kevin has a secret that could totally betray Jane’s trust in him, not to mention embarrass her. 27 Dresses follows typical tropes and rom-com formulas, but it’s fun and entertaining.
Under the Influencer (2023)
As modern as it comes, Under the Influencer follows Tori (Taylor Joree Scorse), a successful YouTuber who is hitting her dreaded mid-20s, which means she’s “aging out” of relevance for social media. Struggling to find her own identity outside of the persona she created for YouTube, Under the Influencer is a story of self-discovery and an awakening about what it means to be truly authentic.
As much about loving oneself as it is about finding outside romance, Under the Influencer is a refreshing wake-up call for a young generation that is laser-focused on constant validation to prove their self-worth. The film has achieved a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, with critics like Russ Simons of KKFI-FM praising Scorse’s performance. “Under the Influencer,” he writes, “is an observant social commentary with a solid central performance by Taylor Joree Scorse.”
The Idea of You (2024)
It’s no longer headline news when an older woman dates a younger man nowadays. But in The Idea of You, the situation is complicated further when the younger man also happens to be a mega pop star. Hayes (Red, White, & Royal Blue‘s Nicholas Galitzine) has adoring fans of all ages, including ladies his own age, who fawn over him. Solène (Anne Hathaway) is not only a single mom in her 40s but she also has a teenage daughter, further contributing to the awkward situation. None of that matters, however, because Hayes seemingly only has eyes for Solène, falling for her the moment he sets eyes on her.
The Idea of You is an aspirational rom-com. What single mom in her 40s, after all, wouldn’t want to be whisked away on a private jet to travel with a young beau that other women pay hundreds of dollars to go see perform on stage? Drift off into a state of wishful bliss, and the movie is rom-com gold. Hathaway is delightful, and the chemistry between she and Galitzine is electric. The Idea of You is exactly what you want from a rom-com. Even if it has a pie-in-the-sky premise, the movie is the personification of escapist thrills.
Música (2024)
Someone who has synesthesia can experience senses in unique ways. One such way is to hear sounds happening around you as though they are music. Rudy Mancuso, an internet personality who rose to fame making videos on YouTube and Vine, was diagnosed with synesthesia. He tells his story and what it’s like to live with synesthesia wrapped in a rom-com shell in Música. Mancuso plays a fictional version of himself, also named Rudy, who meets a young woman named Isabella (Camila Mendes) who strikes his fancy.
Música focuses heavily on Brazilian culture in New Jersey and the challenges of navigating the scene. Charming, colorful, and, not surprisingly, very musical, Música hits all the right notes. A great debut film for Mancuso, Washington City Paper’s Ella Feldman says that while the plot is predictable (as is typically the case with rom-coms), it’s an “exhilarating watch.”
Upgraded (2024)
Camila Mendes (Riverdale) shines as Ana in Upgraded. She’s a young woman who grabs the bull by the horns when circumstance leads to opportunity. Working as an intern for Claire (Marisa Tomei), a rigid art director (think The Devil Wears Prada’s Miranda Priestly, but for the art world), she impresses her by noticing a big mistake. Ana is given the chance to go to London to help Claire’s assistant (as second, or rather third, assistant). When the other assistants try to sabotage Ana by booking her on a late flight, an airport worker sees this and upgrades her to first class to teach them a lesson. There, Ana meets William (Shadow and Bone‘s Archie Renaux), a handsome young man from an affluent family. Rather than tell him the truth, she claims to be the art director herself, apparently the youngest ever in the business.
Now comes the drama as Ana must keep up the ruse while keeping her boss out of the loop, doing her job, and managing this potential newfound love. Yes, Upgraded is predictable, but aren’t so many rom-coms? That’s sort of the formula, and it works.
Congrats My Ex! (2023)
Imagine being a wedding planner with a business that’s struggling, only to get the potential huge job of a lifetime that could save your company. Now, imagine finding out that the clients are your ex and his stunning new wife-to-be. Talk about awkward! That’s the story in the Thai-Indian rom-com Congrats My Ex!, which has quickly become one of the most talked-about new rom-coms on Prime Video.
There was plenty of buzz surrounding Congrats My Ex! before the movie was released, so much so that it garnered 100 million searches on TikTok. Once released, the movie topped the charts for several months in several countries. The themes of dealing with letting go and moving on, and the chaos that ensues from the awkward situation, make the movie relatable, fun, and filled with excitement.
Red, White & Royal Blue (2023)
Based on the LGBTQ romance novel by Casey McQuiston, Red, White & Royal Blue is the story of Alex (Taylor Zakhar Perez), the son of the U.S. president, and his relationship with the British prince, Henry (Nicholas Galitzine). At first, it’s a tumultuous one, but the pair soon strike up a romance. This causes controversy for both families, resulting in secrets, scandals, and the age-old story of forbidden love.
Red, White & Royal Blue has been praised for its handling of inclusion and LGBTQ romance without resorting to stereotypical depictions. As one of Amazon’s top watched romantic comedies, the story is as fairy tale as they come, with a modern and inclusive twist that is sure to entertain anyone who watches it.
Somebody I Used to Know (2023)
Dave Franco co-wrote this rom-com alongside his wife Alison Brie, who stars as Ally, the showrunner of a reality TV show that is almost over its 15 minutes in the spotlight. With a cancellation brewing, Ally comes to the realization that her work has consumed her and she doesn’t have much of a social life outside of it. She decides to visit her mother in Washington where she runs into an ex-boyfriend who, she discovers, is about to get married.
Somebody I Used to Know isn’t your cliched rom-com: the movie is praised for its nuanced story and comedic moments. But it’s also an inspiring movie that takes you on a journey of self-discovery and that there’s so much you can learn about yourself not only from your successful relationships but the failed ones, too.
About Fate (2022)
Emma Roberts (Madame Web) and Thomas Mann star as a realtor and a lawyer, respectively, who live similar lives in different places. Through a chance encounter after eerily similar embarrassing experiences with their significant others, the pair meet. The rest, as they say in movie world, is history.
About Fate is a sweet film that serves as a remake of the 1975 Soviet TV movie The Irony of Fate. The premise shows that somewhere, somehow, someone else might be going through the same experiences you are. You’re not alone. And everyone can find love, sometimes in the strangest of places, especially when it’s meant to be.
My Fake Boyfriend (2022)
5/10His Girl Friday (1940)
7.8/10I Want You Back (2022)
61%
6.6/10The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (2021)
61%
6.8/10Brittany Runs a Marathon (2019)
72%
6.8/10The Big Sick (2017)
86%
7.5/10Life Itself (2018)
21%
