Vanity Fair’s Best 40 Rom-Coms of All Time
The 40 best romantic comedies of all time, by Vanity Fair. From How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days to My Best Friend’s Wedding - plus a few Nora Ephron essentials - these are the films that made us believe in love with a punchline.
Items in this hypelist
Ranked from 1 to 40 (highest to lowest)
Something's Gotta Give
Nancy Meyers · 2003
When perpetually single, aging music industry exec Harry Sanborn, and his latest trophy girlfriend, Marin, arrive at her mother's beach house in the Hamptons, they find that her mother, playwright Erica Barry, also plans to stay for the weekend. Erica is scandalized by the relationship and Harry's sexist ways. But when Harry has a heart attack while there, and the doctor prescribes bedrest, his only option is to stay at the Barry home. Left in the care of Erica and his doctor, a love triangle starts to take shape.
Sweethearts
Chris Coelen · 2025
Follow the lives of six teenage couples in Charleston, South Carolina, as they navigate the end of high school and their final summer together as a couple, before heading off to college.
Anyone But You
Will Gluck · 2023
After an amazing first date, Bea and Ben’s fiery attraction turns ice cold — until they find themselves unexpectedly reunited at a destination wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple.
Kissing Jessica Stein
Charles Herman-Wurmfeld · 2002
Jessica, a Jewish copy editor living and working in New York City, is plagued by failed blind dates with men, and decides to answer a newspaper's personal advertisement. The advertisement has been placed by 'lesbian-curious' Helen Cooper, a thirtysomething art gallerist.
Defending Your Life
Albert Brooks · 1991
Is there love after death? After he dies suddenly, the hapless advertising executive Daniel Miller finds himself in Judgment City, a gleaming way station where the newly deceased must prove they lived a life of sufficient courage to advance in their journey through the universe. As the self-doubting Daniel struggles to make his case, a budding relationship with the uninhibited Julia offers him a chance to finally feel alive.
Fire Island
Andrew Ahn · 2022
A group of queer best friends gather in the Fire Island Pines for their annual week of love and laughter. However, desires, dramas, drink and drugs push their bonds to the limits.
The Wedding Banquet
Andrew Ahn · 2025
Frustrated with his commitment-phobic boyfriend Chris and running out of time, Min makes a proposal: a green-card marriage with their friend Angela in exchange for her partner Lee's expensive IVF. Elopement plans are upended, however, when Min's grandmother surprises them with an extravagant Korean wedding banquet.
Never Been Kissed
Raja Gosnell · 1999
Josie Geller trabaja como correctora en un importante periódico, aunque lo que realmente desea es convertirse en periodista. De pronto se le presenta la oportunidad que tanto había estado esperando: su primer trabajo como reportera, en el que deberá infiltrarse en un instituto. Allí revivirá su frustrada adolescencia, pero también conocerá a un profesor que la ayudará a integrarse.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Michael Morris · 2025
Bridget Jones navigates life as a widow and single mum with the help of her family, friends, and former lover, Daniel. Back to work and on the apps, she's pursued by a younger man and maybe – just maybe – her son's science teacher.
Crazy Rich Asians
Jon M. Chu · 2018
An American-born Chinese economics professor accompanies her boyfriend to Singapore for his best friend's wedding, only to get thrust into the lives of Asia's rich and famous.
Emma.
Autumn de Wilde · 2020
In 1800s England, a well-meaning but selfish young woman meddles in the love lives of her friends.
The Big Sick
Michael Showalter · 2017
Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani and grad student Emily Gardner fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail finds himself forced to face her feisty parents, his family's expectations, and his true feelings.
Harold and Maude
Hal Ashby · 1971
The young Harold lives in his own world of suicide-attempts and funeral visits to avoid the misery of his current family and home environment. Harold meets an 80-year-old woman named Maude who also lives in her own world yet one in which she is having the time of her life. When the two opposites meet they realize that their differences don’t matter and they become best friends and love each other.
The Idea of You
Michael Showalter · 2024
Solène, madre soltera de 40 años, comienza un romance inesperado con Hayes Campbell, de 24 años, el cantante principal de August Moon, la banda de chicos más popular del planeta.
Enchanted
Kevin Lima · 2007
The beautiful princess Giselle is banished by an evil queen from her magical, musical animated land and finds herself in the gritty reality of the streets of modern-day Manhattan. Shocked by this strange new environment that doesn't operate on a "happily ever after" basis, Giselle is now adrift in a chaotic world badly in need of enchantment. But when Giselle begins to fall in love with a charmingly flawed divorce lawyer who has come to her aid - even though she is already promised to a perfect fairy tale prince back home - she has to wonder: Can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world?
The Apartment
Billy Wilder · 1960
Bud Baxter is a minor clerk in a huge New York insurance company, until he discovers a quick way to climb the corporate ladder. He lends out his apartment to the executives as a place to take their mistresses. Although he often has to deal with the aftermath of their visits, one night he's left with a major problem to solve.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Donald Petrie · 2003
Ben é um publicitário que aposta com o chefe que faz qualquer mulher se apaixonar por ele em dez dias. Se conseguir, será o responsável por uma cobiçada campanha de diamantes. Andie é uma jornalista que, por causa de uma matéria, está decidida a infernizar a vida de qualquer homem que se aproximar. Os dois se conhecem em um bar e escolhem um ao outro como alvo de seus planos totalmente opostos.
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Mike Newell · 1994
Over the course of five social occasions, a committed bachelor must consider the notion that he may have discovered love.
Moonstruck
Norman Jewison · 1987
37-year-old Italian-American widow Loretta Castorini believes she is unlucky in love, and so accepts a marriage proposal from her boyfriend Johnny, even though she doesn't love him. When she meets his estranged younger brother Ronny, an emotional and passionate man, she finds herself drawn to him. She tries to resist, but Ronny, who blames his brother for the loss of his hand, has no scruples about aggressively pursuing her while Johnny is out of the country. As Loretta falls for Ronny, she learns that she's not the only one in her family with a secret romance.
The 40 Year Old Virgin
Judd Apatow · 2005
Andy Stitzer has a pleasant life with a nice apartment and a job stamping invoices at an electronics store. But at age 40, there's one thing Andy hasn't done, and it's really bothering his sex-obsessed male co-workers: Andy is still a virgin. Determined to help Andy get laid, the guys make it their mission to de-virginize him. But it all seems hopeless until Andy meets small business owner Trish, a single mom.
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
Kevin Rodney Sullivan · 1998
Through good times and bad, Stella and Delilah have always had each other. Now, Stella's so busy building a life that she's forgotten how to really live. But Delilah is about to change all that. What starts as a quick trip to Jamaica, ends as an exhilarating voyage of self discovery as Stella learns to open her heart and find love – even if it's with a man 20 years her junior.
Anora
Sean Baker · 2024
Anora, una joven prostituta de Brooklyn, tiene la oportunidad de vivir una historia de Cenicienta cuando conoce e impulsivamente se casa con el hijo de un oligarca. Cuando la noticia llega a Rusia, su cuento de hadas se ve amenazado, ya que los padres parten hacia Nueva York para intentar conseguir la anulación del matrimonio.
Down with Love
Peyton Reed · 2003
In 1962 New York City, love blossoms between a playboy journalist and a feminist advice author.
His Girl Friday
Howard Hawks · 1940
Walter Burns is an irresistibly conniving newspaper publisher desperate to woo back his paper’s star reporter, who also happens to be his estranged wife. She’s threatening to quit and settle down with a new beau, but, as Walter knows, she has a weakness: she can’t resist a juicy scoop.
My Best Friend's Wedding
P.J. Hogan · 1997
Julianne Potter, una crítica gastronómica, se da cuenta de que está enamorada de su mejor amigo justo el día que él la llama para anunciarle que se va a casar con una chica de la alta sociedad. Sólo dispone de tres días para urdir un plan que le permita impedir la boda.
Sleepless in Seattle
Nora Ephron · 1993
After the death of his mother, a young boy calls a radio station in an attempt to set his father up on a date. Talking about his father’s loneliness soon leads to a meeting with a young female journalist, who has flown to Seattle to write a story about the boy and his father.
Broadcast News
James L. Brooks · 1987
Basket-case network news producer Jane Craig falls for new reporter Tom Grunnick, a pretty boy who represents the trend towards entertainment news she despises. Aaron Altman, a talented but plain correspondent, carries an unrequited torch for Jane. Sparks fly between the three as the network prepares for big changes, and both the news and Jane must decide between style and substance.
Coming to America
John Landis · 1988
An African prince decides it’s time for him to find a princess... and his mission leads him and his most loyal friend to Queens, New York. In disguise as an impoverished immigrant, the pampered prince quickly finds himself a new job, new friends, new digs, new enemies and lots of trouble.
It Happened One Night
Frank Capra · 1934
A runaway heiress makes a deal with the rogue reporter trailing her but the mismatched pair end up stuck with each other when their bus leaves them behind.
Phantom Thread
Paul Thomas Anderson · 2017
In 1950s London, a renowned dressmaker's meticulous lifestyle begins drastically changing as his relationship with his young muse intensifies.
What's Up, Doc?
Peter Bogdanovich · 1972
The accidental mix-up of four identical plaid overnight bags leads to a series of increasingly wild and wacky situations.
Love & Basketball
Gina Prince-Bythewood · 2000
Monica Wright and Quincy McCall grew up in the same neighborhood and have known each other since childhood. As they grow into adulthood, they fall in love, but they also share another all-consuming passion: basketball. As Quincy and Monica struggle to make their relationship work, they follow separate career paths though high school and college basketball and, they hope, into stardom in big-league professional ball.
Groundhog Day
Harold Ramis · 1993
Phil, hombre del tiempo de una cadena de televisión, es enviado un año más a Punxstawnwey, a cubrir la información del festival de El día de la marmota. En el viaje de regreso, Phil y su equipo se ven sorprendidos por una tormenta que les obliga a regresar a la pequeña ciudad. A la mañana siguiente, al levantarse, Phil escucha en el radiodespertador el mismo programa que la mañana anterior.
Roman Holiday
William Wyler · 1953
Overwhelmed by her suffocating schedule, touring European princess Ann takes off for a night while in Rome. When a sedative she took from her doctor kicks in, however, she falls asleep on a park bench and is found by an American reporter, Joe Bradley, who takes her back to his apartment for safety. At work the next morning, Joe finds out Ann's regal identity and bets his editor he can get exclusive interview with her, but romance soon gets in the way.
10 Things I Hate About You
Gil Junger · 1999
Las hermanas Stratford son muy distintas. La guapa y popular Bianca nunca ha salido con un chico, y Kat, su hermana mayor, es una bruja con muy mal genio, y algo arisca, que se ha propuesto rechazar a cualquier chico que demuestre el más mínimo interés por ella. Desgraciadamente, el estricto reglamento que rige el hogar de los Stratford prohibe a Blanca tener novio hasta que su insoportable hermana tenga uno; situación que parece más que improbable teniendo en cuenta que Kat lleva una vida social desastrosa. Blanca está desesperada por ir al baile de fin de curso. Pero su pretendiente, Cameron, guarda una sorpresa...
Notting Hill
Roger Michell · 1999
La historia se centra en William, propietario de una tienda de libros en el popular barrio londinense de Notting Hill, y Anna Scott, la estrella más rutilante del firmamento cinematográfico. Desde el momento en que la actriz entra en la tienda, William se embarca en un cortejo complicado, para el cual cuenta con la inestimable ayuda de sus inseparables amigos, entre los que destaca su compañero de piso el singular Spike, que observa con asombro e incredulidad cómo el bueno de William tiene un romance con una mujer inalcanzable para cualquier otro ser humano.
Bridget Jones's Diary
Sharon Maguire · 2001
Bridget Jones is an average woman struggling against her age, her weight, her job, her lack of a man, and her various imperfections. As a New Year's resolution, Bridget decides to take control of her life, starting by keeping a diary in which she will always tell the complete truth. The fireworks begin when her charming though disreputable boss takes an interest in the quirky Miss Jones. Thrown into the mix are Bridget's band of slightly eccentric friends and a rather disagreeable acquaintance into whom Bridget cannot seem to stop running or help finding quietly attractive.
Clueless
Amy Heckerling · 1995
La superficial, rica y socialmente exitosa Cher está en lo más alto de la escala de valores de su instituto de Beverly Hills. Viéndose a sí misma como una casamentera, Cher primero convence a dos profesores para que salgan juntos.
You've Got Mail
Nora Ephron · 1998
Book superstore magnate, Joe Fox and independent book shop owner, Kathleen Kelly fall in love in the anonymity of the Internet—both blissfully unaware that he's trying to put her out of business.
When Harry Met Sally...
Rob Reiner · 1989
During their travel from Chicago to New York, Harry and Sally debate whether or not sex ruins a friendship between a man and a woman. Eleven years later, and they're still no closer to finding the answer.
