The best romantic comedies on Netflix right now

The start of a new year is exciting, but the heart of winter is still a generally glum time. If you need a little pick-me-up, the best romantic comedies on Netflix right now have you covered, with a host of high-quality originals and some classics from other studios. In fact, this month, a triad of heavyweights join the platform.

Every month, we search through Netflix’s collection to find the best rom-coms available, and for the past few months, it has been slim pickings among the new additions. This January, fortunately, that changes. Read on for the best romantic comedies on Netflix right now.

We’ve also curated posts highlighting the best rom-coms on Amazon Prime Video and the best rom-coms on Hulu, just in case Netflix doesn’t have what you’re looking for. If you need more choices, check out our guide for the best new movies to stream this week and the best movies on Netflix.

Notting Hill (1999)

68%

7.2/10

pg-13

124m

Genre

Romance, Comedy

Stars

Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant, Gina McKee

Directed by

Roger Michell

Watch on Netflix

This classic romantic comedy plays out a fantasy we’ve all had at one time or another: What would it be like to date a celebrity? In Notting Hill, Julia Roberts plays Anna Scott, the world’s most famous movie star.

When Anna stumbles into a bookstore owned by William Thacker (Hugh Grant), she’s charmed by this man’s earnest interest in her, not the movie star persona. But as the two grow close, their wildly different lifestyles threaten to pull them apart.

13 Going on 30 (2004)

57%

pg-13

98m

Genre

Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

Stars

Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer

Directed by

Gary Winick

Watch on Netflix

The movie that took Jennifer Garner from network TV star to household name, 13 Going on 30, is still a beloved fairy tale rom-com. Thirteen-year-old Jenna Brink is so over junior high. She can’t wait to grow up, find a boyfriend, and be a well-adjusted adult.

When Jenna wishes to become just that, she’s transformed overnight into a 30-year-old (Garner). Unfortunately, Jenna still has her teenage brain and finds that adulthood is not all it’s cracked up to be, especially when you’re a 13-year-old in a 30-year-old body.

Love Actually (2003)

55%

7.6/10

r

135m

Genre

Comedy, Romance, Drama

Stars

Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson

Directed by

Richard Curtis

Watch on Netflix

Even with Christmas in the rearview mirror, that doesn’t mean you can’t watch arguably the best Christmas rom-com ever made. Love Actually is a vignette movie that slowly brings its characters together through a common conceit: They’re all trying to navigate love.

Following eight London couples, Love Actually is all about relationships in the Christmas season and the many shapes they take. The elite cast includes Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Bill Nighy, Laura Linney, and even a couple of smaller appearances by future stars Andrew Scott, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Freeman, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster.

Our Little Secret (2024)

42%

pg-13

99m

Genre

Romance, Comedy, Drama

Stars

Lindsay Lohan, Ian Harding, Kristin Chenoweth

Directed by

Stephen Herek

Watch on Netflix

Lindsay Lohan is back in the saddle and starring in Netflix rom-coms! Avery (Lohan) and Logan (Ian Harding) were once an item, but things fizzled out in their relationship.

When Avery and Logan show up at Christmas and discover that their new significant others are siblings, they decide to play it cool and pretend they don’t know each other. Keeping their romantic history secret, however, proves difficult as each is more resentful about the breakup than they previously realized.

Maid in Manhattan (2002)

45%

pg-13

105m

Genre

Comedy, Drama, Romance

Stars

Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson

Directed by

Wayne Wang

Watch on Netflix

Perhaps the greatest indicator that Jennifer Lopez was the biggest movie star in the world for a brief period in the early aughts is that she got Ralph Fiennes to do a romantic comedy. In Maid in Manhattan, Lopez plays Marisa Ventura, a struggling single mom who works as a maid at a high-end Manhattan hotel.

When hotel guest and senatorial candidate Christopher Marshall (Fiennes) mistakes Marisa for a wealthy socialite, the two spend a magical evening together. As you might expect, a meet-cute leads to a dramatic reveal. Marisa and Christopher must decide if they can overcome their extraordinary differences to find their happily ever after.

Lonely Planet (2024)

r

94m

Genre

Romance, Drama

Stars

Laura Dern, Liam Hemsworth, Diana Silvers

Directed by

Susannah Grant

Watch on Netflix

Laura Dern (Big Little Lies, Jurassic Park) and Liam Hemsworth star in this Netflix original rom-com as an intergenerational pair who can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. When a reclusive novelist (Dern) arrives at a prestigious writer’s retreat in Morocco, she hopes the remote setting will help her shake writer’s block. When she befriends a young man (Hemsworth), she soon gets far more than she bargained for in the form of inspiration and a life-altering affair.

Anyone But You (2023)

52%

r

103m

Genre

Romance, Comedy

Stars

Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Mia Artemis

Directed by

Will Gluck

Watch on Netflix

Two of the biggest young stars in Hollywood team up in this rom-com about the seemingly perfect couple who actually kind of hate each other. Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Twisters star Glen Powell) have a fiery first date, but that initial attraction quickly turns to icy friction. Unfortunately, when they find themselves at the same destination wedding in Australia, single and under the microscope, they decide to behave like rational adults and pretend to be dating. What starts as a ruse turns into something more, but will Bea and Ben realize their attraction to each other is real before it’s too late?

Wedding Season (2022)

57%

pg-13

99m

Genre

Romance, Comedy

Stars

Pallavi Sharda, Suraj Sharma, Arianna Afsar

Directed by

Tom Dey

Watch on Netflix

This Netflix original went a little under the radar, but it’s an entertaining watch for anyone who has dealt with the issue of parental pressure to get married. Asha (Pallavi Sharda) and Ravi (Suraj Sharma) are under constant pressure from their parents to find spouses, so during a summer full of weddings, they decide to pretend to be in item. As these things tend to go, however, they soon find themselves falling for one another for real.

Hit Man (2024)

82%

r

116m

Genre

Crime, Comedy, Romance

Stars

Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio

Directed by

Richard Linklater

Watch on Netflix

Slightly grittier than the average romantic comedy, Richard Linklater’s Hit Man is at its heart a rom-com. Based on the life of Gary Johnson, a fake hit man employed by the New Orleans Police Department to catch people looking to arrange murders, Hit Man is about what happens when a fake hit man catches feelings. Glen Powell stars as Gary, a guy who really leans into his role until he meets Madison (Adria Arjona), a woman who wants to hire someone to kill her abusive husband. When Gary is overcome by her beauty and genuine understanding and sympathy, he intentionally blows the sting, beginning a chain of events that he can’t slow down.

Plus One (2019)

65%

98m

Genre

Romance, Comedy, Drama

Stars

Maya Erskine, Jack Quaid, Beck Bennett

Directed by

Jeff Chan, Andrew Rhymer

Watch on Netflix

When that annoying late 20-something year comes along when seemingly everyone they know is getting married, long-time single friends Alice (Mr. and Mrs. Smith star Maya Erskine) and Ben (Jack Quaid) decide to be each other’s plus ones to soften the blow of nosy friends and family members asking about their love lives. But while they expect the arrangement to remain a platonic one, they soon find the inklings of a romantic connection as they spend more time together.

No Hard Feelings (2023)

59%

r

104m

Genre

Comedy, Romance

Stars

Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Laura Benanti

Directed by

Gene Stupnitsky

Watch on Netflix

No Hard Feelings is perhaps a little light on the romance, but it is heavy on the comedy, so it makes this list. After her car is impounded, Uber driver Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) is desperate to find a car to get back to work and make up the property taxes on her Montauk home before she loses that, too. Lo and behold, an opportunity arises as rich parents offer a car to a woman to “date” their awkward, sheltered 18-year-old son, Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman), to help him escape his shell before college. Maddie, however, is 32, unhinged, and dealing with more emotional baggage than Percy. She struggles to seal the deal and suppress what slowly blossoms into a very real friendship.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016)

37%

pg-13

94m

Genre

Romance, Comedy

Stars

Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Elena Kampouris

Directed by

Kirk Jones

Watch on Netflix

Fourteen years after the smash-hit original, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 brings Toula (Nia Vardalos) and Ian (Sex and the City‘s John Corbett) back to another Portokalos family wedding. This time, however, there’s trouble in paradise as Toula and Ian are dealing with their troubled teenage daughter and a marriage that is beginning to strain.

Your Place or Mine (2023)

49%

pg-13

109m

Genre

Romance, Comedy

Stars

Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher, Jesse Williams

Directed by

Aline Brosh McKenna

Watch on Netflix

Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher team up in this Netflix Original rom-com! Debbie (Witherspoon) and Peter (Kutcher) are best friends, but complete opposites — living diametrically opposed lives in LA and New York, respectively. But when they decide to swap houses and lives for a week, they find that each is lacking something that the other provides, coming to the realization that there’s more to their relationship than just friendship.

The Kissing Booth (2018)

Play

5.9/10

pg-13

105m

Genre

Romance, Comedy

Stars

Joey King, Joel Courtney, Jacob Elordi

Directed by

Vince Marcello

Watch on Netflix

A list of the best romantic comedies would never be complete without at least one teen rom-com on the list, and The Kissing Booth is a good fit. Joey King stars as Elle, a teenager who finds herself in a pickle when she begins a romance with her best friend’s popular, bad boy older brother, played by Priscilla’s Jacob Elordi. Spawning two sequels, it’s a heavily clichéd story, but that’s precisely what makes The Kissing Booth the perfectly predictable movie to watch when you’re in the mood, provided you go into it with the right expectations.

The Kissing Booth | Official Trailer | Netflix

Long Story Short (2021)

Play

6.5/10

r

90m

Genre

Romance, Comedy, Fantasy

Stars

Rafe Spall, Zahra Newman, Ronny Chieng

Directed by

Josh Lawson

Watch on Netflix

Long Story Short hails from Australia, and it tells the story of Teddy (Rafe Spall), a man who wakes up after his wedding to discover that time is moving at a rapid pace: A year has already passed, and every minute, another year goes by. Confused and shocked, he discovers that time isn’t moving as fast for anyone else he interacts with. While Teddy and his best friend concoct a plan to ensure he has a “perfect day” to try and break the curse, Teddy learns of growing troubles in his marriage down the road that make this difficult to accomplish. Long Story Short is predictable and repetitive, but the clever premise and moral lessons about focusing on what matters make for a fun watch.

LONG STORY SHORT | Official Trailer | Paramount Movies

To All the Boys: Always and Forever (2021)

Play

65%

6.3/10

pg-13

115m

Genre

Romance, Comedy, Drama

Stars

Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish

Directed by

Michael Fimognari

Watch on Netflix

The third and final entry in Netflix’s hit To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy is a bit more grown-up than the first two. It makes sense, considering the characters are growing up, about to leave high school, and making the first truly major decisions of their lives. Lara Jean (Lana Condor) is back from a family trip to Korea that has inspired her to think a bit more broadly about her future. That means making college plans — with or without beau Peter (Noah Centineo).

To All The Boys: Always and Forever | Official Trailer | Netflix

The Incredible Jessica James (2017)

Play

72%

6.5/10

r

83m

Genre

Romance, Comedy

Stars

Jessica Williams, Chris O'Dowd, Noël Wells

Directed by

Jim Strouse

Watch on Netflix

The Daily Show veteran Jessica Williams has a star-making turn as the title character in The Incredible Jessica James. Fresh off of a breakup with her boyfriend, Damon (Lakeith Stanfield), Jessica unexpectedly hits it off with a recently divorced man named Boone (Chris O’Dowd). The pair bond over stalking their exes via social media, and they decide to make some changes in their lives for their mutual benefit. However, Damon still lingers on Jessica’s mind, and Boone’s ex isn’t as out of the picture as Jessica is led to believe.

The Incredible Jessica James | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

The Perfect Date (2019)

Play

5.8/10

tv-14

Genre

Romance, Comedy

Stars

Noah Centineo, Camila Mendes, Laura Marano

Watch on Netflix

Noah Centineo is certainly making his name as Netflix’s go-to romantic foil in To All the Boys I’ve Ever Loved and Sierra Burgess Is a Loser. But Centineo takes the leading role in The Perfect Date as Brooks Rattigan, a high school student who is desperate to get into Yale. With the help of his friends, Murph (Odiseas Georgiadis) and Celia Lieberman (Laura Marano), Brooks launches an app that lets him hire himself out as the perfect plus-one to any female companion. He also pursues Celia’s rich cousin, Shelby Pace (Camila Mendes), while crossing some moral lines that ultimately force him to question who he is becoming.

The Perfect Date | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

I Am Not an Easy Man (2018)

Play

6.3/10

tv-ma

Genre

Comedy

Stars

Vincent Elbaz, Moon Dailly Monira, Marie-Sophie Ferdane

Watch on Netflix

We would not be surprised if there is an eventual English language remake of the French comedy, I Am Not an Easy Man. In the meantime, this is an ideal example of why subtitles were invented. Vincent Elbaz stars in the film as Damien, an unapologetic womanizer. However, a head injury lands Damien in a world that he barely recognizes. In this apparent alternate universe, women have all of the power, and Damien is routinely mocked and sexually harassed by the opposite sex. The lone bright spot is a novelist named Alexandra (Marie-Sophie Ferdane), because she and Damien may be kindred spirits.

I Am Not An Easy Man | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

The Half of It (2020)

Play

74%

6.9/10

pg-13

104m

Genre

Comedy, Romance

Stars

Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemire

Directed by

Alice Wu

Watch on Netflix

The Half of It takes a bit of inspiration from Cyrano de Bergerac and makes the formula its own. In this case, Leah Lewis (Ellie Chu) plays the Cyrano role, as she reluctantly agrees to help Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) pursue the girl of his dreams, Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire). The problem is that Aster is already the girl of Leah’s dreams. But to make ends meet, Leah agrees to coach Paul so he can get closer to Aster. Of course, Paul and Leah get close as well. But the film never loses sight of who Leah really wants to be with, or what she wants out of life. Leah can’t get everything she desires, but she does have a transformative experience that allows her to grow and become the person she was always meant to be.

The Half of It | Official Trailer | Netflix

The Lovebirds (2021)

Play

59%

6.1/10

r

87m

Genre

Comedy, Action, Romance

Stars

Issa Rae, Kumail Nanjiani, Paul Sparks

Directed by

Michael Showalter

Watch on Netflix

Getting decent reviews since it was released in late May, this film stars Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani as a couple on the brink of breakup. After they witness a murder, they decide to go on the run to avoid being blamed for something they didn’t do. Forced to stay together under such unexpected circumstances, they begin to reconnect in new ways. The two stars are lauded for their performances and chemistry. As a follow-up to The Big Sick, which got rave reviews, this isn’t director Michael Showalter’s best project (he did, after all, co-create the Wet Hot American Summer franchise). But it’s a worthy watch for a fresh and modern take on the typical rom-com.

The Lovebirds (2020) - Official Trailer

Someone Great (2019)

Play

63%

6.2/10

r

92m

Genre

Comedy, Romance

Stars

Gina Rodriguez, Brittany Snow, DeWanda Wise

Directed by

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson

Watch on Netflix

Someone Great isn’t a typical romantic comedy, and that’s one of the reasons the film’s primary romance ends early. On the verge of a cross-country move, Jenny Young (Gina Rodriguez) is blindsided when her longtime boyfriend, Nate Davis (Lakeith Stanfield) breaks up with her. Distraught, Jenny turns to her best gal pals, Blair Helms (Brittany Snow) and Erin Kennedy (DeWanda Wise); both of whom have troubled romantic entanglements of their own. To complicate matters, Jenny can’t seem to escape Nate’s shadow. Jenny has to determine if she even wants Nate back. But it’s the friendship between the three women that really turns this film into an uplifting story.

Someone Great | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

Set It Up (2018)

Play

62%

6.5/10

tv-14

Genre

Romance, Comedy

Stars

Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Lucy Liu

Watch on Netflix

Sometimes, even characters in romantic comedies know the rules of engagement. In Set It Up, assistants Harper Moore (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie Young (Top Gun: Maverick‘s Glen Powell) realize that their respective bosses, Kirsten Stevens (Lucy Liu) and Rick Otis (Taye Diggs) need a little love in their lives. However, arranging a romance between Kirsten and Rick is easier said than done. Meanwhile, Harper and Charlie’s relationships start to hit the skids just as they slowly realize they might be right for each other too. It’s a sweet story, and one of the best Netflix original romances.

Set It Up | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Play

64%

6.8/10

pg-13

101m

Genre

Romance, Comedy

Stars

Ali Wong, Randall Park, James Saito

Directed by

Nahnatchka Khan

Watch on Netflix

Comedian Ali Wong (Beef) both wrote and stars in this 2019 film as Sasha, a woman who reunites with Marcus (Fresh Off The Boat‘s Randall Park), a childhood friend and one-time fling, when she returns to her hometown of San Francisco. There’s a clear chemistry between them but Sasha has a demanding career and the timing is always off, especially when Marcus discovers Sasha’s new celebrity love interest: Keanu Reeves (yes, he’s in the movie!) Will they finally realize they’re meant for one another? The film has been almost universally liked, and praised for its ability to layer typical rom-com tropes with “smart social commentary.”

Always Be My Maybe | Trailer | Netflix

Ali's Wedding (2017)

Play

64%

6.9/10

tv-ma

Genre

Comedy, Drama, Romance

Stars

Osamah Sami, Don Hany, Helana Sawires

Watch on Netflix

This Australian film from 2017 is one of the, if not the first, Muslim rom-coms. The story follows Ali, a musically inclined young Muslim man struggling with his desire to be with one woman when he has been promised to another by his family. The film touches upon universal ideas about relationships that anyone can relate to despite the very specific and cultural setting.

Ali's Wedding - Official Trailer

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