Romantic comedies have always held a special place in cinema, even if the genre often gets overshadowed by bigger blockbusters. When done right, they’re warm, witty, and timeless. Here’s our pick of the top three ultimate romcoms.
We begin with The Devil Wears Prada. While it doesn’t fit the romcom mold perfectly, it still carries plenty of the charm and humor that make the genre shine. The story follows Anne Hathaway’s character as she takes on a demanding assistant role at a high-fashion magazine. Her biggest obstacle is her boss Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep. Streep’s razor-sharp performance earned her an Oscar nomination and remains the main reason the film is unforgettable. As Anne Hathaway explained, there were times she forgot she was even acting: “There were several times that I was so caught up in the fact that I was acting with Meryl Streep that I would just really forget that I was actually playing a character and I would forget that it was my turn to speak. And so I think… basically all the scenes in the movie where I look terrified and intimidated by her, I am not acting.”
Our second pick is Notting Hill, a Julia Roberts classic that has become a benchmark for the genre. Roberts plays a famous movie star who unexpectedly falls for Hugh Grant’s humble bookshop owner. The chemistry between the two is undeniable, though Hugh admitted he was intimidated at first: “Well yes. Up to a point she was, when she arrived on the film I was pretty scared. She is a very big star and all that. But she is also quite silly and I soon realised that we were on a wave length, you know, we could just throw food at each other and it would be alright.” The mix of star-crossed romance and quirky British humor makes Notting Hill an essential watch.
And finally, no list of romcoms would be complete without Pretty Woman. Released in 1990, it remains one of the most beloved date-night movies of all time. Julia Roberts shines as a Hollywood escort who unexpectedly falls for Richard Gere’s wealthy businessman. The movie has everything you’d expect from the genre: opposites attracting, the fairytale “princess” arc, and plenty of charm. Interestingly, the original script was much darker, but Disney softened the tone. As Gere recalls: “Disney bought this script, and then liked the premise very much but didn’t like the style and the tone of it. And wanted to make it more of a fable. Which they did. It turned into a fable.” Roberts added that the flexibility of the production gave the story its lasting appeal: “Sometimes, we would do a given scene four different ways. We’d do it with a lot of dialogue. We’d do it with maybe half the dialogue and we do it kind of funnier and then we do it a little bit more dramatic. And so essentially, we could have one of four, five movies.”
These three films stand tall in a genre often criticized for mediocrity. With unforgettable performances, witty scripts, and plenty of heart, they’re the perfect romcoms to revisit, whether for a cozy night in or simply to rediscover the magic of classic love stories.
