Romantic comedies are one of the most profitable movie industries. Who doesn’t like a little romance? This subgenre has been around for decades. One of the oldest romantic comedies ever made was “Seven Sweethearts.” It was also a charming musical.
But what makes a movie a romantic comedy? Are all romance movies with some jokes considered comedies? Not necessarily. Most romantic comedies follow the same formula. Two future lovers meet for the first time. They run into an obstacle that tears them apart for a little while. But in the end, the two realize their love for each other and return. Romantic comedies have happy endings. Each film is different but they usually end with a grand gesture from the person who realized their feelings. This could be a marriage proposal, an elaborate sorry, or a unique way to fix their problems.
So, what are some of the best romantic comedies ever made? You’ve probably heard of most of these films. “500 Days of Summer” for instance, is a romantic comedy starring Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. In the film, Joseph’s character reflects on their 500-day relationship. While a romantic comedy, there are moments of heartbreak. (Click here for 15 movies with the most unexpected and heartbreaking endings.)
Another excellent romantic comedy is “Love, Simon,” which was well-received when released. This sweet teen love story takes time to develop. We don’t even know who the other person is until the very end where they meet in an elaborate way. What about other romantic comedies you can add to your list to watch?
To determine the best romantic comedies ever made, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of June 2024, weighting all ratings equally. Documentaries were not considered. Director information is from IMDb.
50. Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (72,345 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (452,217 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (65 reviews)
- Directed by: Andy Tennant
49. Moonstruck (1987)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (55,331 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (44,875 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (65 reviews)
- Directed by: Norman Jewison
48. Strictly Ballroom (1993)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (28,771 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (43,364 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (49 reviews)
- Directed by: Baz Luhrmann
47. 500 Days of Summer (2009)
Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (488,439 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (397,183 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (235 reviews)
- Directed by: Marc Webb
46. Broadcast News (1987)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (29,079 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (11,036 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (52 reviews)
- Directed by: James L. Brooks
45. Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
Source: Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Source: Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (46,631 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (51,492 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (49 reviews)
- Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
44. As Good as It Gets (1997)
Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures
Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (286,975 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (378,808 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (79 reviews)
- Directed by: James L. Brooks
43. Bull Durham (1988)
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (51,426 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (51,174 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (71 reviews)
- Directed by: Ron Shelton
42. Midnight in Paris (2011)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (402,967 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (82,703 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (224 reviews)
- Directed by: Woody Allen
41. Pillow Talk (1959)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (16,557 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (20,317 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (30 reviews)
- Directed by: Michael Gordon
40. Say Anything (1989)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (85,993 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (138,784 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (46 reviews)
- Directed by: Cameron Crowe
39. What’s Up, Doc? (1972)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (22,317 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (10,080 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (44 reviews)
- Directed by: Peter Bogdanovich
38. Desk Set (1957)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (8,197 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (6,061 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (24 reviews)
- Directed by: Walter Lang
37. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (680,767 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (260,715 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (260 reviews)
- Directed by: David O. Russell
36. Juno (2007)
Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (503,178 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (549,586 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (217 reviews)
- Directed by: Jason Reitman
35. High Fidelity (2000)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (173,740 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (211,818 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (165 reviews)
- Directed by: Stephen Frears
34. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (172,751 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (242,815 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (53 reviews)
- Directed by: Blake Edwards
33. When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (205,660 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (396,152 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (74 reviews)
- Directed by: Rob Reiner
32. Love, Simon (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (106,016 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (7,815 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (239 reviews)
- Directed by: Greg Berlanti
31. Adam’s Rib (1949)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (20,460 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (10,583 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (28 reviews)
- Directed by: George Cukor
30. Harold and Maude (1971)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (74,795 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (56,538 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (45 reviews)
- Directed by: Hal Ashby
29. The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (49,994 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (20,373 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (38 reviews)
- Directed by: Woody Allen
28. The Awful Truth (1937)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (18,810 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (7,624 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (30 reviews)
- Directed by: Leo McCarey
27. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (331,368 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (139,848 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (265 reviews)
- Directed by: Wes Anderson
26. Born Yesterday (1950)
Source: Kurt Hutton / Moviepix via Getty Images
Source: Kurt Hutton / Moviepix via Getty Images
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (10,661 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (4,796 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (38 reviews)
- Directed by: George Cukor
25. The Wedding Banquet (1993)
Source: Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Source: Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (14,831 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (1,685 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (28 reviews)
- Directed by: Ang Lee
24. Sabrina (1954)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (62,060 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (55,338 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (44 reviews)
- Directed by: Billy Wilder
23. Trouble in Paradise (1932)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (13,893 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (4,093 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (27 reviews)
- Directed by: Ernst Lubitsch
22. The Big Sick (2017)
Source: Courtesy of Amazon Studios
Source: Courtesy of Amazon Studios
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (137,232 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (32,924 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (303 reviews)
- Directed by: Michael Showalter
21. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (69,456 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (31,111 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (57 reviews)
- Directed by: Woody Allen
20. Play It Again, Sam (1972)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (25,675 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (11,224 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (35 reviews)
- Directed by: Herbert Ross
19. Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures
Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (58,969 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (39,185 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (51 reviews)
- Directed by: Howard Hawks
18. Groundhog Day (1993)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (595,765 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (416,991 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (84 reviews)
- Directed by: Harold Ramis
17. The Lady Eve (1941)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (20,504 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (7,571 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (47 reviews)
- Directed by: Preston Sturges
16. Manhattan (1979)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (136,504 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (51,871 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (69 reviews)
- Directed by: Woody Allen
15. Ninotchka (1939)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (20,101 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (6,837 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (36 reviews)
- Directed by: Ernst Lubitsch
14. Holiday (1938)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (15,539 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (6,665 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (26 reviews)
- Directed by: George Cukor
13. My Man Godfrey (1936)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (22,597 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (7,668 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (37 reviews)
- Directed by: Gregory La Cava
12. His Girl Friday (1940)
Source: vectortatu / Getty Images
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (56,106 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (24,333 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (67 reviews)
- Directed by: Howard Hawks
11. Amélie (2001)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
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Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (775,194 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (469,388 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (186 reviews)
- Directed by: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
10. Annie Hall (1977)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (258,110 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (153,824 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (84 reviews)
- Directed by: Woody Allen
9. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (948,653 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (571,910 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (250 reviews)
- Directed by: Michel Gondry
8. Roman Holiday (1953)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (133,359 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (63,537 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (60 reviews)
- Directed by: William Wyler
7. The Apartment (1960)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (172,183 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (38,259 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (72 reviews)
- Directed by: Billy Wilder
6. Some Like It Hot (1959)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (254,537 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (82,393 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (65 reviews)
- Directed by: Billy Wilder
5. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (66,253 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (47,240 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (101 reviews)
- Directed by: George Cukor
4. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (30,166 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (11,972 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (37 reviews)
- Directed by: Ernst Lubitsch
3. The Princess Bride (1987)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (408,278 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (527,843 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (78 reviews)
- Directed by: Rob Reiner
2. It Happened One Night (1934)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (98,815 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (33,748 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (97 reviews)
- Directed by: Frank Capra
1. City Lights (1931)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (176,008 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (27,144 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (54 reviews)
- Directed by: Charles Chaplin