The best rom-coms on Hulu right now

When the world is driving you crazy, sometimes there’s nothing better than a heartwarming romantic comedy to help center you. Sure, we may not be able to afford the many luxuries that rom-com characters tend to be graced with, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take a journey with all these idiosyncratic individuals as they stumble through the wild world of love. And guess what? One of the best places to stream rom-coms is Hulu.

Whether you’re a genre diehard or want a little blast of laughs now and then, we’ve put together this roundup of all the best rom-coms on Hulu to help you find a gem worth streaming tonight, tomorrow, or this weekend.

Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

78%

7.3/10

96m

Genre

Comedy, Drama, Romance

Stars

Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman

Directed by

Paul Thomas Anderson

Watch on Hulu

Post-Boogie Nights and Magnolia, writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson switched narrative gears for his fourth feature film, Punch-Drunk Love, a dazzling detour into all-new rom-com-adjacent terrain for the auteur. Adam Sandler stars as the unassuming protagonist Barry Egan. After a star-crossed encounter with one of his sister’s coworkers, Lena Leonard (Emily Watson), it seems Barry may have finally found love. But the vicious blackmailing of a hot-tempered mattress salesman, Dean Trumbell (Philip Seymour Hoffman), and his equally hot-headed cronies dares to stand in Barry’s way. Narratively defiant and visually kaleidoscopic, Anderson’s masterful casting of Sandler in a non-comedic role showed the world that the latter would be more than capable of leading the charge in heavy-hitting dramas like Uncut Gems nearly 20 years later.

Punch Drunk Love (2002) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

Spanglish (2004)

48%

6.4/10

pg-13

130m

Genre

Comedy

Stars

Adam Sandler, Téa Leoni, Paz Vega

Directed by

James L. Brooks

Watch on Hulu

Spanglish is another Adam Sandler rom-com that ignores the actor’s traditionally clownish roles in favor of some much more mature character work. Sandler and Téa Leoni star as John and Deborah Clasky, parents of a well-off family in need of housekeeping services. After onboarding a Mexican single mother named Flor (Paz Vega), the Clasky family is remiss to learn that they may have to let her go because the job is interfering with her parenting duties. This leads Deborah to do the next best thing she can think of: Invite Flor and her daughter to live in the Clasky home over the summer. An empathetic and often humorous story of what the word “family” means all over the globe, Spanglish is a warm-hearted film that is hard to pass up.

Spanglish (2004) Official Trailer 1 - Adam Sandler Movie

Fools Rush In (1997)

37%

6.1/10

pg-13

109m

Genre

Comedy, Drama, Romance

Stars

Matthew Perry, Salma Hayek, Jon Tenney

Directed by

Andy Tennant

Watch on Hulu

Sometimes we get a hankering for a solid ‘90s rom-com. And when the itch needs scratching, a great film to get the job done is 1997’s Fools Rush In, starring Friends alum Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek as Alex and Isabel, two once-lovers of a one-night stand. The last thing Alex is expecting to hear is the news that Isabel is pregnant. And even though Alex is a self-proclaimed bachelor, he and Isabel decide to marry, a decision that rocks the foundations of both of their lives. Fools Rush In is a lively culture-clash of epic proportions and the kind of fun-loving film that is hard to come by these days.

The Valet (2022)

pg-13

124m

Genre

Comedy, Romance

Stars

Eugenio Derbez, Samara Weaving, Max Greenfield

Directed by

Richard Wong

Watch on Hulu

The Valet stars Samara Weaving as Olivia, a Hollywood starlet basking in photogenic glitz and glamour. That is until Antonio (Eugenio Derbez) accidentally lands himself in a red-carpet photo of the actress and her boyfriend, Vincent (Max Greenfield). Not a big deal, right? Well, it turns out Vinnie is actually married, so in order to keep Olivia’s secret love under wraps, Hollywood’s PR powers hire Antonio to pose as Olivia’s new lover. On paper, The Valet presents a narrative that reads paper-thin. But thanks to an engaged and charismatic cast and a surprisingly deep take on the often-stereotypical exploits of culture clashes, the film manages to win us over in more ways than one.

The Valet | Official Trailer | Hulu

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

62%

6.6/10

95m

Genre

Comedy, Drama, Romance

Stars

Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Lainie Kazan

Directed by

Joel Zwick

Watch on Hulu

My Big Fat Greek Wedding is not the greatest rom-com ever made, and 20 years after its release, the film is certainly a bit dated, but we’d be lying if we said it wasn’t still effective at making us laugh, smile, and shed a tear or two. Nia Vardolos stars as Toula Portokalos, the only unwed woman in her multi-generation Greek family. Cupid fires off a solid shot when his arrow strikes the hearts of both Toula and Ian (John Corbett), a man she quickly falls for after he pays a visit to her travel agency. He’s everything she’s been looking for, and he’s crazy about her. But guess what? He’s not Greek. My BFG Wedding presents a rich tapestry of cultural threads that bind and weave in delightful rhythms, even if some of the comedy leans a bit too much on the “fish out of water” trope that many cookie-cutter rom-coms elect.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) Official Trailer #1 - Nia Vardalos Movie HD

The Hating Game (2021)

6.2/10

102m

Genre

Romance, Comedy

Stars

Lucy Hale, Austin Stowell, Yasha Jackson

Directed by

Peter Hutchings

Watch on Hulu

Success in the workplace is a virtue we all strive for, but what happens when one of the co-workers we’re competing against ends up developing into someone we love? Such is the case in director Peter Hutchings’ The Hating Game. Starring Lucy Hale and Austin Stowell as Lucy and John, the story’s quietly combative water-cooler rivals, Lucy’s climb up the company ladder is laced with steadfast ambition, but what will win out at the end of the day — a higher salary or a never-ending bonus check of love? Yes, it is indeed corny, but also fun and fueled by lively performances. This cinematic adaptation of the top-selling book of the same name gets a solid thumbs-up from us.

The Hating Game Trailer #1 (2021) | Movieclips Indie

We Broke Up (2021)

53%

4.4/10

82m

Genre

Comedy

Stars

Aya Cash, William Jackson Harper, Sarah Bolger

Directed by

Jeff Rosenberg

Watch on Hulu

Lori and Doug have been in a relationship for nearly a decade, one that comes crashing to a close when Doug’s proposal to his longtime girlfriend ends in rejection. The only trouble is that the pair experience this great disappointment on the eve of Lori’s sister’s wedding. Deciding to pretend they’re still together, the couple must confront their deep-seated emotions for each other while contending with could-be love interests — all under the shadow of matrimony. Powered by the charismatic lead performances of both Cash and Jackson Harper, We Broke Up employs the talents of its two stars wholeheartedly — an on-screen dynamic that provides much of the film’s gusto.

We Broke Up Trailer #1 (2021) | Movieclips Indie

Happiest Season (2020)

69%

6.6/10

pg-13

102m

Genre

Romance, Comedy

Stars

Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie

Directed by

Clea DuVall

Watch on Hulu

Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis) a lesbian couple, are planning on spending the holidays with Harper’s right-leaning parents. Embarking on their yuletide trip, Abby has a surprise up her own sleeve in the form of a marriage proposal to her longtime girlfriend. Terms of endearment are prematurely shelved, though, when Abby discovers that Harper hasn’t officially come out to her mother and father. A loving rom-com and a new holiday classic with a glossy sheen, Happiest Season isn’t breathtakingly original, but its sincere story and earnest performances from Stewart and Davis help to elevate the film above other rom-com streaming fodder.

Happiest Season - Trailer (Official) • A Hulu Original

Palm Springs (2020)

83%

7.4/10

90m

Genre

Comedy, Romance

Stars

Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons

Directed by

Max Barbakow

Watch on Hulu

It’s November 9th, and Nyles (Andy Samberg) is heading to the wedding of friends Tala and Abe — again and again and again. It turns out that after entering a strange vortex in a desert cave, Nyles is stuck in an unbreakable time loop. The situation becomes more complicated once Sarah (Cristin Milioti), the maid of honor and sister of the bride, enters the portal with him, thereby cursing herself to the same vacuum. Oh, and let’s not forget that Nyles is being hunted by a man named Roy (J.K. Simmons). Taking the rom-com genre by storm, Palm Springs dishes out violence and hearty humor in all the right doses. It’s one you don’t want to miss. And miss. And miss.

Palm Springs - Trailer (Official) • A Hulu Original Film

Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

Spanglish (2004)

Fools Rush In (1997)

The Valet (2022)

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

The Hating Game (2021)

We Broke Up (2021)

Happiest Season (2020)

Palm Springs (2020)

Editors’ Recommendations