Let me start this off by saying that by no means are these the only romantic comedies on Netflix, nor are they the absolute best you could find anywhere else. But they are my favorites, therefore they grant a Top 10 list. I hope my insight is the slightest bit valuable, even if it just keeps you busy for an hour or two.
I dedicate this list to everyone who has nothing to do on a Tuesday or Wednesday night. I urge you to send this list to your friends and family you know love a good (yes, sometimes cheesy) romantic movie. To those who are in between binge watching TV shows and need a break. To those who think they have conquered all Netflix has to offer but are missing some hidden treasures, here are my favorite Rom-Coms streaming on Netflix right now.
In no particular order...
1. "Amélie"
Don't let the subtitles scare you. Amélie, released in 2001, is a French film about an innocent and naive waitress in Paris who becomes a professional do-good-er. After finding and returning a treasure box in her apartment, Amélie decides to devote her life to the people around her. In her own slightly fantastical and quirky way, she finds love and herself through a series of escapades. This movie is both light-hearted, funny, and thought provoking.
2. "The Princess Bride"
The Princess Bride is a cult-followed classic that I somehow made 19 years without watching, but now I'm obsessed. One of the older choices on this list, The Princess Bride was released in 1987. Only an hour and a half long, an elderly man tells a story of fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, and miracles to his sick grandson that's sure to keep you on the edge of your seat, rooting for Buttercup and Wesley to live happily ever after.
3. "The Prince & Me"
Sticking with the prince/princess theme, this 2004 film is less well-known and totally predictable but such a guilty pleasure. It tells the story of a pre-med student named Paige who aims to travel the world with Doctors Without Borders. She meets Edvard, who enrolls at her school as "Eddie" because he sees one of those "Girls in Wisconsin" videos. Eddie and Paige fall for each other, until he reveals he is the Danish crown prince. Paige follows him to Copenhagen and you can figure out the rest. The Danish royal family is one of the best parts and you might actually find yourself laughing at a cheesy romance movie, just maybe.
4. "Stuck in Love"
Stuck in Love is another "Love Actually" format look-alike but it still holds its own. The film centers on a broken family where the father is still in love with his ex wife. His two children, Sam and Rusty, respond to the divorce in different ways. The plot follows the family's different stories as they fall in and out of love. The acting is far above a typical Rom-Com and I find the characters really interesting. Overall, "Stuck in Love" is still pretty clichéd but a feel good movie with a few twists.
5. "Clueless"
If you haven't already seen this movie then I'm not sure what rock you've lived under. Based on Jane Austen's novel "Emma," Cher is a high school student in Beverly Hills that lives a charmed life. At first she seems superficial, but she uses it to hide her wit and intelligence. She reminds us all that it does not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty, aptly summing up refuge issues in America. There's a surprise love interest towards the end, but if you've read "Emma" it's not a surprise at all. This movie will never get old and I hope it never stops streaming on Netflix.
6. "Just Friends"
I don't remember this movie being released in 2005 but I recently found it on Netflix and anything with Ryan Reynolds is a gem. A successful (and now hot) music manager is forced to return home for Christmas where he meets his old high school crush and best friend. His unfortunate experiences in high school turned him into a womanizer and now he tries to be more than just friends with his old best friend. This movie has Ryan Reynolds' "Deadpool"-type humor and wit and it is a must-watch before it's gone.
7. "The Switch"
Jennifer Aniston is pretty much the queen of Rom-Coms and this movie is no different. "The Switch" follows a woman who decides to have a child using a sperm donor. After a series of drunk events, her best friend ends up being the father, to neither of their knowledge. He slowly realizes the child is his as the, slightly eclectic and adorable, little boy grows up. Released in 2010, Netflix rated this movie a little over three stars. I wouldn't recommend watching it more than once but if you're looking for something new this is your movie.
8. "Beginners"
I love this movie because I love both Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer. Six months after his mother dies, Oliver's father (75 years old) confesses to him that he is gay. Oliver himself is afraid of failing, afraid of commitment, afraid to trust, he has never had a meaningful relationship. He learns to trust and to accept commitment, and they're both beginners. The icing on top of this movie is a talking dog that puts the whole thing in perspective.
9. "One Day"
"One Day" is my favorite novel so naturally it's one of my
favorite Romantic Comedies. This movie begins with Dexter and Em who share
a night together after their college graduation. From then on, they are only
shown on the same day every year in the movie to see where their lives are now.
I definitely prefer the days that they are together but sometimes they're not.
Warning: this one is really sad so if you're not ready to shed a tear I would
choose another on this list.
10. "13 Going On 30"
I wanted to end this list on a classic. "13 Going On 30" is beloved but I'm sure there are plenty of people who have passed it by. The title pretty much summarizes the plot: a girl makes a wish on her 13th birthday and wakes up the next day as a 30 year old woman. Hilarity ensues. This movie has endless one-liners that you can't help but quote and watch over and over again.