My Top 55 Favorite Romantic Comedies

840   6.8   6.6 

I don't care what anybody says.
On this site, I'm sure that it's cool for a dude to admit to liking this movie.
Right guys?



uhmnn...

....guys....?

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

2008   7.5   7.5 

I always thought that Scott Pilgrim was a weird choice to make as full-length near-end summer flick. Trying to depict this series on screen, it seems to come off as a bit awkward, in it's story, pacing, editing, & just overall, as a concept. Especially to mainstream audiences.
And even though it's hipster alternative plotline feels alot more like this should've be done as an independent movie instead of a wide release feature film,
I was still glad that I got a chance to see it with the kind of budget that the average mainstream movie usually gets.
Definitely the type of cinema not for everyone,
but a change of pace for those seeking escapism of the alternative nature.

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

162   5.8   6.2 

Bill Murray in a role that would usually be expected from Robert Deniro, Robert Deniro in a role that looks like it might suited more towards Bill Murray, and Uma Thurman in the middle of it all in a role for a woman who was in the middle of it all.

1156   5.8   6.5 

One time, when I was a conversation about fave romantic comedies, someone mentioned this one.
So then, I began to think to myself, is it worthy enought to be on my list of personal faves?
But the more I thought about it, I came to see that the only part that I can remember from this flick is Linda Kozlowski in a thong!
And then, upon further inflection, I realized that this memory was all I needed to like this movie enough to include it as an entry.
And if that seems like an insubtantial reason for inclusion of this Australian neo-classic, then all i can say is,
fail free to cri'size me if ya will, moyt, ...oy can toik it (fough ya' buncha boy-Sheilas moight risk bringin' a tear ah two t' me oiyes).

462   6   6.7 

The President of the United States is a widower & eventually finds himself out in the field. The dating field as well as the political field.
Now the Commander-In-Chief must find a way to mix the two fields together without having the two world's collide.
A story of modern romance in the White House that does not involve an intern.
Ah,
only in the movies, I guess.

1498   6.6   7.2 

For me, I found the story of Forgetting Sarah Marshall was stronger than an earlier Apatow film from this year, The Pineapple Express, but, IMO, the laughs weren't as constant or consistant. However, even though this wasn't not in the range of Super-Bad, Knocked Up or especially 40 Year Old Virgin,
if Apatow was able to keep his moves over-all at this level, I'd still go see 'em.

1974   7.7   8.1 

A fairytale love story that features a Zorroesque protaganist, Andre The Giant, Billy Crystal as an old Jewish magician, an ambidextrous fencing master named Inigo Montoya of who's killer of his father must prepare to die, and a Sicillian criminial genius who just finds the whole thing "inconthievable".
And, oh yeah, there's also a beautiful in there somewhere, too.
All told by Columbo as a bedtime story to the kid from the Wonder Years.

56   6.8   7.2 

Before there was the Time Traveler's Wife, Donnie Darko, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time or Kate & Leopold,
there was Happy Accidents.
A time-traveling love story about timeless love transcending the timelessness that is time.
Or is it a loving time-traveling story about the transcendence through infinity which is true love....?
Either way, in short, it's a straight-on chick-flick theme with just a twist of wormholed logic.

1003   6.2   6.5 

So after watching this particular rom-com, I guess I can describe the basic movie premise like this: it's about falling in love with a woman like Sandra Bullock while you sleep.



Well, I just wanna say that this doesn't just happen in the movies.
I do this all the time.
But then, to my dismay,
I always end up waking up.

792   7.2   7.3 

If anybody out there reading this has ever had a strong disliking towards the popular preppy girls in high school,
then this is the film for you.

Christian Slater does his best "Jack Nicholson" slant in an effort to put some dark comedy into the romantic comedy.
And back before Winona was stealing clothing accessories from major department stores,
she was stealing our hearts on the big screen as one of the major 'it" girls of 80's cinema.

Heathers is a film with a touch of romance, a touch of dark comedy, a touch of satire, and a whole lot of death for girls named Heather.

236   7   7.1 

A "what-if-John-Hughes-was-suicidal" type of off-beat romantic-comedy
that will either touch your heart or make you reach into your pocket with the hope that you'll have at least two dollars in there.



To be totally honest, the primary reason this movie is on this list is because, personally, I think that Diane Franklin in this film looks just about as cute as any woman could possibly be.

377   6.2   6.6 

Working Girl proves that when it comes to career ascension, office politics, straight or crooked, affect the female side as much as the male. More so if the female is wearing a skirt, since it's usually best not to reveal one's unmentionable secrets when climbing the corporate ladder.
Today's ambition-driven woman would look smart in something more along the lines of a nice conservative pant suit.

3011   6.4   6.7 

Yeah I know that this is a straight-up chick-flick. But still, as a guy, I really felt that, more than about romance, this move was really more about the road of self-discovery that Bridget goes thru via the reflective entries in her diary, as she writes about her ideas of relationships & whatnot.
Or maybe it is mainly just a romance film.
It's a friggin' chick flick & I'm a guy, so, what da hell do I know....

2084   5.5   5.7 

Pitch for this movie:
Pitcher: "Okay, dig if you will the picture of a romantic comedy where the entire film is seen through the POV of,
are you ready for this?
....from the POv an infant baby."
Movie producer:"uhmnn...whatchu talking 'bout, Bruce Willis?
Pitcher: "Exactly."

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

166   7.4   7.3 

While I know everyone else likes to compare this film to Holiday Inn & proclaim it as it's superior,
for me, I like this White Christmas better. Not only b'cuz this one focuses more on Christmas than HI (Inn's theme is more about all the holidays than it is about Xmas) about but also, I always had a soft spot for Rosemary Clooney, particularly back when she was at the height of her stardom.
I would've loved to have seen her in more films, but I'll settle for how great she looks in this one.



Besides, what's a romantic comedy list without at least one old-fashioned cornball Christmas flick in it....?

1366   7   7.6 

I once had a fish for a pet. But it wasn't named Wanda. I called it Abe Vigoda.
And unless you grew up watching 70's television, that "joke" probably doesn't make too much sense.
But if you do get that joke, then you're probably witty enough to get the ones in this movie.

2124   6.6   7.1 

For those of you who haven't seen this movie, you can probably figure out what the plot is about just by the title.
Actually, when you think about it, the title of the flick sorta defeats the whole purpose of these description boxes.
Anyways,
besides being about a boy, there's also enough of the uber-gorgeous Rachel Weisz as the romantic interest in the story to help qualify it as an entry for this list.

767   8.1   8 

Earlier in this list, I described Better Off Dead as off-beat. Compared to this flick, that movie is about as down the middle of the road as white lane lines on a highway.
Harold And Maude is a unique & sharp comedic tale of a May-December romance.
Or more specifically,
a May-December romance in which the two months used to describe the relationship are separated by about sixty years.
This is the kind of coupling that inspires plenty of comedic elements, not to mention a few mental pictures that will most likely make you go "ew".

1110   6   6.2 

A light & airy love tale starring the ever adorable Meg Ryan, & featuring not only the concept of time travel, but also, the two guys who, in a later film, would portray two mutants characters from the X-Men, Wolverine & Sabretooth. Which I guess is enough to make a comicbook nerd such as myself to be cool with this movie (though the fact that is pretty decently written could be another reason of why it's on this list).

319   6.6   7 

Cher in an Oscar-winning role in which she slaps Nicolas Cage hard & then tells him to snap outta of it.
And if that's not enough to make you fall in love with this movie,
then, to be honest,
I just don't know what you're looking for in a romantic comedy.

1175   6.9   7.3 

A comicbook nerd/artist actually scores with a chick.
And not with just a "regular" chick, mind you, but more specifically,
he scores with a chick who is a lesbian.
And this comicbook nerd/artist not only scores with a lesbian,
but he scores enough with her to the point where she decides to switch teams.

Yeah.....
rright.

139   6.4   6.8 

Not only can heaven wait,
but in my particular case,
hell can wait even longer.

1133   5.7   6.2 

Opie directs Forrest Gump in a movie about a young Elle Driver, back when the California Mountain Snake was just but a wee innocent mermaid.

1746   8.1   8.2 

Though I respect Woody Allen & his achievements, I've never really been all that able to connect with most of his works.
However, I'd heard how Annie Hall is one of his most highly regarded works, so I decided to give it a chance.
Because this is considered the first of the style of filmmaking that he has become famous for, for me, there is a freshness herein his melding of witty humor, intelligence, pockets of seriousness & improvisational dialogue. Enough so that, this movie does comes off enegetic in it's sublime performances & wry script, even for someone like me who usually doesn't get into Woody's standard method of storytelling.
A brain-specific comedy in the usually not-so-brain-specific realm of romance films.

168   6.2   6.6 

An L. A. story ( duh-uh.....!) about how life is constantly is showing us signals about the directions of our lives, if only we pay attention.
Particularly when those signals are coming from a huge traffic conditions sign that appears off the side of freeway.

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

317   6.5   7 

Speaking as a guy, we all know why this movie makes such a connection with the male species. We all wish we could play ball with Susan Sarandon back during her seductive prime.

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

447   6.1   6.7 

What if the President of these here United States was in actuality, a down-to-Earth nice guy who truly loved the First Lady & really had the interest of the people at heart?
Ah,
only in the movies, I guess.

229   6.9   6.8 

Uhmnnn....
on this site, it's cool to admit to liking a John Hughes movie, right?
If it isn't, then I'm hoping I guessed right when I figured that by puttin' up a buncha "my favorite movies" lists here on Listal, with so many favorite lists by other members up already, no one would really read mine, & therefore, I can feel completely safe with expressing some of these guilty pleasures without fear of being pointed & then laffed at.
And if by the rare chance, someone out there IS reading this, pleease don't tell me.
Cuz, I would literally die of embarrassment.
Or at least, suffer a massive corony of embarrassment.
And even though I do have one of the made-for-the home emergency mini difibulator kits in the house, I can't find the instructions anywhere.
It came with the kit, but I just don't know what I did with it.

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

407   7   6.9 

Audrey Hepburn falls in love with a man old enough to be her dad.

.... again.

990   7.2   7.4 

After I watched this movie, the lyrics to John Mellencamp's song "Small Town" came to me....
".....Used to daydream in that small town
Another born romantic that's me.
But I've seen it all in a small town
Had myself a ball in a small town
Married an L.A. doll and brought her to this small town
Now she's small town just like me".

I guess this flick is a lil' bit like that.
In a twisted yet touching small town way.

2671   5.9   6.4 

Ahh, I just can't help myself. When it comes to romantic comedies,
I'm just a sucker for love triangles.

839   6.4   6.9 

An excellent update that effectively captures the style that gave the original series of Maverick it's distinctive feel that separated it from other western series at the time.
Mel Gibson does a capable job of modernizing the lead character,
while Jodie Foster shows that for someone who has developed a reputation as a serious award winning actress, she can also fit comfortably into a light comedy roll as a sultry Southern Belle whose ability to nick is equals in her power to allure.

4048   7.3   7.6 

I know that alot of people found this movie to be too overly witty, particularly for it's premise,
but for me, I think that it didn't affect it the quality of a story that does an effective job of depicting how teenagers would deal with a first time pregnancy, love & just the idea of how in in health class they were talking about how pregnancy can often lead to...y'know.... an infant.

2301   6.7   7.2 

In this movie, Tom Hanks isn't really big.
He just plays someone who is.
At least, big enough to kiss a girl without getting any cooties.

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

3147   6.8   7.1 

After watching this stage to silverscreen adaptation of 50's style highschool romance, I couldn't help but notice that many of the actors tended to look a tad bit more mature than the teenage students that they are supposed to be portraying. Maybe that's because older actors take the presseure, and they throw away conventionality, belongs to yesterday.

1066   7.5   7.8 

A stage-based film & one of the few musicals of this genre that I like. For my tastes, this is a production that is enhanced by the presence of the Lady Hepburn, in a role that has her speaking funny, dubbly singing & wearing pygmalionly large hats.

1237   6.4   6.7 

Bruce Willis maximizes his smirking tough-guy persona as Matthew Perry demonstrates his talent for aptly portraying the bumblin' guy next door with a heart of gold. A modern "Martin-Lewis" duo that is paired up with Natasha Henstridge looking as beauteous as ever & Amanda Peet walking around naked in all her comedic glory.
The end result is a funny "hit" film that had me laughing alot more than I expected.

157   7.4   7.6 

Before there were special effects, CGI graphics & matrix-style action sequences in film, there was human physical talent.
In these black & white dances classics,
the awe is a result of the complex, stylish dance steps of Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers.
I can only imagine the wonder & amazement that 1930's movie audiences must have felt back when they first witnessed the fancy footwork of the chemistric choreogrphy from this couple, alongside the camera work, classy costumes & shimmering back sets used to enhance the routines.

1642   6.5   7 

A roundtable of british actors make another almost typical romantic comedy, but one who's formula is easily disguised by it's fun script, it's group chemistry of friendship & it's smart depiction of each character's shared common longing for romance.
Plus, it's a got a kissing scene in the rainfall scene.
Which, on a first date, will always help to increase your chances of getting laid, no matter what side of the pond you're on.

920   6.8   7.4 

Outside of When Harry Met Sally, this movie ranks as one that could easily represent the epitomy of the modern romantic comedy.
A good script, with each of the central actors approaching their roles with quality efforts, despite the lightness of the subject matter. This movie has the heart, laughs, chemistry & even a touch of satiric social commetary that matches the rest of the film's themes in the same way that a nice pair of high heels would match an elegant dress-gown.
Tootsie's end-result is that it satisfies in the manner which was always meant to be of the rom-com when the genre was first conceived.

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

604   8.2   8.2 

A Cinderella tale told in reverse fashion,
a buddy film,
a road trip movie
and a screwball love story before the genre of romantic comedies got put under the constricting label of "chick flick".
And it all happened one night.
(Actually, this story spans more that over several nights,
so why the producers of this film decided to call it "It Happened One Night", I really don't know...)

4474   8.1   8.5 

A French film of such a picturesque quality, both in it's scenery as in it's colorful storyline, that one can't help but walk away from this movie with a smile that may contain a certain je ne sais quoi.

213   6.6   7.1 

A funny and smart inside-out look into the dynamics of stilted relationships within the modern (well, modern for it's time) workplace of the media.
A love triangle consisting of three career-minded personalities in the fast-paced & often frenetic atmosphere of a newsroom, trying to walk a tightrope between love & ladder-climbing.

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

219   7.7   7.7 

I remember when I made the decision to watch the early dance classics of Swing Time & Top Hat just to see if the all the dancing lived up to all the hype that I had heard about for years.
And while it did, along with Fred Astaire's ability, not only as a dancer, but also as a lead, not to mention the way that all the sets & costumes seemed to shimmer with the black & white quality of the film,
what was a complete surprise for me was Ginger Rogers.
Sure, her dance moves kept up with Fred's every step,
but wow. I didn't realize how the combination of her beauty, personality & charisma would just light up the whole picture. When Top Hat was over, I was left literally stunned by this woman.

823   7.6   7.7 

When it comes to romance films, the name that tends to come more than any other on my limited list, is that of Audrey Hepburn.
For me, no one else can seem to ever capture that glass slipper quality that she has that can help me to suspend my belief far enough to enter the unbelievability of most romance films for me.
Sabrina is a "modern" Cinderella story that, IMO, on paper can seem as very typical in terms of it's plot, yet rises above that level mostly through the strength & presence of it's actors.
Sabrina is an entertaining & engaging escapist film about beautiful people having beautiful people problems.
A colorful tale told in vivid black & white.

2799   7.4   8.1 

Bill Murray in a love story that involves a groundhog.



No,
not in that way,
you sick bastards.

198   6.6   6.7 

On my very first date ever, this was the movie I took the girl that i was with at the time to go see.
Afterwards, she let me feel her up. Right between the moon & New York City.
And for me,
that is all I need to like this flick.

The Mighty Celestial's rating:

2313   7.1   7.7 

I've never really been into romance flicks all that much. The few that I do enjoy usually tend to have a sort of a sharp or jagged edge to 'em. And this one definitely does thru Jack's portrayal of a writer with "redrum" on his mind. At least, he does with the little dog during the opening sequence.
Nicholson eases thru the role of a crusty curmudgeon with psychologically-based anti-social issues (Is it just me or does it seem that the majority of Jack's most memorable roles always have something seriously askew upstairs? Or am I just being crazy?), & he does so with the insane-like smoothness of an actor who can do this stuff blindfolded.
Add the fact that, at the same time, he still manages to allow himself to genuinely deliver the kind of lines that make the ladies go "awwww...", therefore substantially increasing the chances of me "gettin' some" with my date on the night I saw this film, & it becomes easy to see why this is a romantic comedy that provides an end-result that can be pleasing to both males & females alike.

2347   6.4   7.2 

Judd Apatow scored big with 40 Year Old Virgin, a comedy that explores the ups & downs of trying to get laid. He follows up with what is in my opinion, his 2nd. best film, Knocked Up, a film that explored the ups & downs that can come after getting laid.

1470   8.2   8.4 

Being a movie from the late 50's, with it's screwball comedy centering on the now-over-used theme of cross dressing men, you'd think that Some Like It Hot would've gone cold by now.
And yet, in large part due to Billy Wilder's sharp-edged yet still slapstick script, it hasn't.
And let's not forget that adding fuel to fire, as always, is Marilyn Monroe. Even through modern eyes, the way she seems to always melt perfectly into her dress throughout the entire film is still an important contribution to the movie's enduring high heat factor.