Netflix resurrected rom-coms in 2018 by breathing new life into a fading genre during what it described as the ‘Summer of Love’.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the heads of the streamer’s film division revealed that they revived romantic comedies after spotting a huge gap in the market for their audience.
Now, there are tons of romantic comedy films on Netflix – from Young Adult (YA) adaptations and teen high school movies, to smart and satirical chick-flicks and upmarket romance films.
From The Kissing Booth and Isn’t It Romantic to Someone Great and To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, here’s our list of Netflix’s best romantic comedy films.
Want even more Netflix? Check out the best Netflix comedy films and what to watch on Netflix this month.
The Kissing Booth film series
In the 2018 YA adaptation The Kissing Booth, teenager Elle (Joey King) finds her life turned totally upside down when she decides to run a kissing booth and unexpectedly ends up locking lips with her secret crush.
In the film’s sequel The Kissing Booth 2 (released on Netflix July 24), Elle juggles a long-distance relationship with her dreamy boyfriend, university applications with her best friend, and a new friendship with a handsome classmate that could change everything…
Isn’t It Romantic
Isn’t It Romantic stars Rebel Wilson as New York City architect Natalie, who works hard to get noticed at her job but is more likely to be asked to deliver coffee and bagels than to design the city’s next skyscraper.
Natalie is a lifelong cynic when it comes to love, but after she has an encounter with a mugger that renders her unconscious, she wakes up to a world where everything around her plays out like a clichéd romantic comedy.
Liam Hemsworth, Adam Devine, and Priyanka Chopra also star.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before film series
The film adaption of the popular YA novel To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before stars Lana Condor as Lara Jean, a teenage girl whose secret love letters are exposed and wreak havoc on her love life.
In the film’s 2020 sequel, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, Lara Jean and Peter (Noah Centineo) have just taken their relationship from pretend to officially official when another recipient of one of her old love letters enters the picture…
Love Wedding Repeat
Featuring an ensemble cast, Love Wedding Repeat sees different versions of the same day unfold as Jack (Sam Claflin) juggles unbridled chaos at his sister’s Italian wedding.
While trying to make the wedding day go smoothly, Jack finds himself juggling an angry ex-girlfriend (Freida Pinto), an uninvited guest with a secret, a misplaced sleep sedative, and the girl that got away (Olivia Munn) in alternate versions of the wedding.
Someone Great
Someone Great is a hilarious and heartfelt story of friendship, love, and what it means to let go of your twenties and enter adulthood.
Aspiring music journalist Jenny (Gina Rodriguez) has just landed her dream job at an iconic magazine and is about to move to San Francisco, but her boyfriend of nine years decides to call it quits.
To nurse her broken heart, Jenny gathers up her two best friends Erin (DeWanda Wise) and Blair (Brittany Snow) for one outrageous last adventure in New York City.
Always Be My Maybe
Always Be My Maybe follows former childhood sweethearts Sasha (Ali Wong) and Marcus (Randall Park) who reconnect as adults.
Sasha’s now a celebrity chef opening a restaurant in San Francisco, while Marcus is a happily struggling musician still living at home working for his dad.
Everyone assumed they’d wind up together, and after 15 years, the two start to wonder if maybe they will…
The Perfect Date
Starring Camila Mendes (Riverdale) and Noah Centineo (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before), The Perfect Date follows a teenager who creates an app where anyone can pay him to play the perfect stand-in boyfriend for any occasion.
The 2019 high school film is based on the 2017 novel The Stand-In by Steve Bloom.
Set It Up
Written by Katie Silberman (Bafta-nominated screenwriter for Booksmart), Set It Up follows two overworked assistants who try to set up their demanding bosses on dates in New York City.
Harper (Zoey Deutch) and Charlie (Glen Powell) are used to going above and beyond for their high-powered and highly demanding bosses, Kristen (Lucy Liu) and Rick (Taye Diggs).
But now they’re teaming up for the biggest projects of their young careers – getting their bosses to fall in love!
Dumplin’
Coming-of-age film Dumplin’ features outspoken plus-sized teenager Willowdean (Danielle Macdonald), who’s known as Will to her friends and Dumplin’ to her mother (Jennifer Aniston) – a former beauty queen who now runs the local Miss Teen Blue Bonnet pageant.
In her small Texas town, Will confidently ignores comments about her weight and listens to Dolly Parton songs obsessively.
But, when she decides to enter her mother’s pageant in protest, her bold move encourages other contestants to follow in her footsteps, redefining the town’s traditions in the process.
Sierra Burgess Is a Loser
Shannon Purser (Barb from Stranger Things) leads a cast that includes Lea Thompson, Chrissy Metz and Noah Centineo in this Netflix teen rom-com.
In the film, a case of mistaken identity results in unexpected romance when the most popular girl in high school and the biggest loser must come together to win over their crushes.
The Lovebirds
The Lovebirds follows Leilani (Issa Rae) and Jibran (Kumail Nanjiani), a couple who goes on the run after witnessing a murder.
As their journey to clear their names takes them from one extreme – and hilarious – circumstance to the next, they must figure out how they, and their relationship, can survive the night.
Paul Sparks, Anna Camp, and Kyle Bornheimer also star in the film, which was originally scheduled for a full theatrical release by Paramount Pictures before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and the rights were sold to Netflix.
