One of the most comforting movie genres is the romantic comedy. With humor, warmth, and sometimes a little cheesiness, rom-coms often provide the perfect entertainment for those looking to unwind.
Fortunately, movie fans can now access some of the greatest rom-coms without leaving the house. Companies such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon have assembled massive libraries of content available for streaming. Across these platforms, viewers can watch many of their favorite flicks, ranging from romance classics to more modern blockbusters.
To help viewers find the best of the genre available, 24/7 Tempo has identified the best rom-coms to stream this week based on user and critic ratings on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) and Rotten Tomatoes.
The term “romantic comedy” can cover a variety of different types of film. Viewers can stream everything from the Audrey Hepburn classic “Roman Holiday” to the Oscar-winning “La La Land,” depending on one’s preference. And for binge-watchers looking to balance out these rom-coms with something more action packed, these are the best action movies to stream this week.
Click here to see the best rom-coms to stream this week.
To determine the best rom-coms that are now available for streaming, 24/7 Tempo identified all of the movies classified as both “romance” and “comedy” by the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) that are available for streaming — based on data from website JustWatch. We then created an index based on each film’s Rotten Tomatoes average critic rating, Rotten Tomatoes average audience rating, and IMDb average user rating. Movies were required to have at least 4,000 user votes on IMDb and have been originally released no earlier than 1950 to encourage cultural relevance.
We averaged the user ratings from Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb and weighted by the number of votes for each. The combined user rating was then averaged with the Rotten Tomatoes critic rating. Editorial discretion was then applied to include or omit titles that we felt did not match the classification of a romantic comedy movie or that deserved inclusion based on other metrics such as cult status or reputation.
25. The Wedding Banquet (1993)
> Starring: Winston Chao, May Chin, Ah-Lei Gua
> Runtime: 106 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Vudu, VUDU Free, Pluto TV, Hoopla
The second feature directed by Ang Lee, who would later direct “Brokeback Mountain” (2005) and “Life of Pi” (2012), is a comedy about a gay man arranging a “marriage of convenience” in order to please his traditional Taiwanese family. Matters spiral out of control when the family actually visits. Critics gave the flick a Freshness rating of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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24. Something New (2006)
> Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Simon Baker, Golden Brooks
> Runtime: 99 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Starz, Starz Play Amazon Channel, DIRECTV, FandangoNOW
“Something New” is a rom-com starring Sanaa Lathan as a rising executive in an accounting firm looking for love who unexpectedly starts a relationship with a free-spirited landscape architect. The movie, directed by Sanaa Hamri, explores the complexities of race and interracial relationships. “Something New” received positive reviews from 72% of audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Among IMDb users, the film has a 6.7 rating out of 10.
23. Say Anything… (1989)
> Starring: John Cusack, Ione Skye, John Mahoney
> Runtime: 100 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Available on: Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, Apple iTunes, Starz Play Amazon Channel, DIRECTV, Microsoft Store, Redbox, FandangoNOW
John Cusack and Ione Skye star in this teenage rom-com from filmmaker Cameron Crowe in which a high school slacker falls for the beautiful valedictorian. Described by Hollywood Reporter’s Kirk Honeycutt as “an easy film to like,” the genre staple has received positive ratings from 98% of critics and 85% of users on Rotten Tomatoes.
22. Sabrina (1954)
> Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden
> Runtime: 113 min
> Rating: G
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, Vudu, Microsoft Store, DIRECTV, Crackle, Popcornflix, Pluto TV, FandangoNOW, CBS All Access Amazon Channel
This charming Cinderella-like tale was directed by Billy Wilder. The film is about a working-class woman named Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn) caught in a love triangle with two brothers from a wealthy family. Clyde Gilmour of Maclean’s Magazine said, “In the department of civilized light entertainment, this long but unlagging romantic comedy is a highly enjoyable entry.” The movie, not to be confused with the remake in 1995, holds a Freshness rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics of 92%, and 89% of audiences liked the movie. The film has a rating of 7.7 out of 10 among IMDb users.
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21. Born Yesterday (1950)
> Starring: Judy Holliday, William Holden, Broderick Crawford
> Runtime: 103 min
> Rating: PG
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW, Amazon Video
“Born Yesterday” was director George Cukor’s take on the Pygmalion tale that was adapted from Garson Kanin’s Broadway hit. The screwball comedy won Judy Holliday a Best Actress Oscar as a rough-around-the-edges chorus girl who is tutored by William Holden on the finer things in life. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a Freshness rating of 97% with 86% of audiences also liking it.
20. Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998)
> Starring: Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott
> Runtime: 121 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Available on: Vudu, Apple iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, HBO Now Amazon Channel, DIRECTV, Cinemax Amazon Channel, Max Go, Redbox, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW
Drew Barrymore and Anjelica Huston lead the cast in this twist on the classic Cinderella folk tale. While maybe more dramatic than the average rom-com, the movie was a critical hit and currently has a 91% Freshness rating.
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19. Victor Victoria (1982)
> Starring: Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston
> Runtime: 134 min
> Rating: PG
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, DIRECTV, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW
Blake Edwards directed this zany rom-com that stars Julie Andrews as a cross-dressing performer who becomes the toast of Paris in the 1930s. The Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes says, “Blake Edwards’ musical gender-bender is sharp, funny and all-round entertaining.” The film holds a 97% Freshness Rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics, and 86% of audiences like the movie.
18. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
> Starring: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal
> Runtime: 115 min
> Rating: Not rated
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Starz, Microsoft Store, Starz Play Amazon Channel, Amazon Video, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” stars Audrey Heburn in probably her most famous role as the flighty and fashionable New York socialite Holly Golightly. Directed by Blake Edwards, written by George Axelrod, and based on Truman Capote’s novel, the film won two Oscars for Henry Mancini for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, and Best Music, Original Song (which he shared with Johnny Mercer). The movie holds an 88% Freshness Rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics, and 91% of audiences liked the Hepburn classic.
17. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
> Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro
> Runtime: 122 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Vudu, Amazon Video, Apple iTunes, Microsoft Store, USA Network, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Netflix, FandangoNOW
Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence star in this film about a man who returns to his parents’ home to attempt to rebuild his life after losing it all. The David O. Russell-directed picture won the Oscar for Best Actress for Lawrence and was nominated for another seven at the awards. On Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of critics and 86% of viewers reported liking it.
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16. The Best Man (1999)
> Starring: Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut
> Runtime: 120 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Starz Play Amazon Channel, Starz, DIRECTV, Redbox, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW
A strong ensemble cast led by Taye Diggs, Nia Long, and Morris Chestnut boosted Malcolm Lee’s directorial debut. The film is about four friends reunited for a wedding of one of their group — a writer whose first novel contains some bombshells about their relationships. The film has a 72% Freshness rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences liked it better, with an 86% approval score.
15. Sideways (2004)
> Starring: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen
> Runtime: 127 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Apple iTunes, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, Vudu, DIRECTV, Starz Play Amazon Channel, Starz, Redbox, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW
“Sideways” was an overwhelming hit with critics, earning a 97% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Oscar-winning comedy about two middle-aged men seeking wine and women is described by the site’s Critics Consensus as “charming, thoughtful, and often funny.”
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14. The Wood (1999)
> Starring: Elayn J. Taylor, Omar Epps, Richard T. Jones
> Runtime: 106 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, Microsoft Store, FlixFling, FandangoNOW, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Starz, HBO Max
A writer reminisces about his youth while tracking down his missing friend prior to that friend’s wedding ceremony in this rom-com from filmmaker Rick Famuyiwa. While the movie was not an overwhelming hit among critics, audiences loved it, with 92% giving it a positive review on Rotten Tomatoes.
13. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
> Starring: Jane Powell, Howard Keel, Jeff Richards
> Runtime: 102 min
> Rating: G
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Vudu, Amazon Video, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW
This exuberant musical successfully transitioned to the big screen from the Broadway stage stars Jane Powell as a frontier bride in Oregon who endeavors to turn her husband’s layabout brothers into respectable gentlemen. Directed by Stanley Donen, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” was one of MGM’s most successful musicals in the 1950s. It holds a Freshness rating of 88% among Rotten Tomatoes critics and was almost just as popular among audiences with 87% liking the film.
12. The Apartment (1960)
> Starring: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray
> Runtime: 125 min
> Rating: Not rated
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, AMC on Demand, Microsoft Store, Redbox, FandangoNOW
The cynical vision of Billy Wilder was never more apparent than in his rom-com “The Apartment,” a film with moments of charm and gentle humor. Jack Lemmon plays an ambitious office worker who loans his apartment to his philandering boss (Fred MacMurray) and other superiors, but things get out of hand when the arrangement involves Lemmon’s girlfriend (Shirley MacLaine). Wilder won the last two of his six Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director. “The Apartment” holds a Freshness rating of 93% among Rotten Tomatoes critics, and 94% among audiences. IMDb users gave the film an 8.3 rating of 10.
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11. Brown Sugar (2002)
> Starring: Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Yasiin Bey
> Runtime: 109 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Available on: Vudu, Amazon Video, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Apple iTunes, DIRECTV, Redbox, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW
“Brown Sugar” stars rom-com veterans Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan as a record executive and a magazine editor, respectively, who’ve known each other since childhood and whose friendship becomes romantic. Carla Meyer of the San Francisco Chronicle said the movie “takes every convention of the romantic comedy genre and turns it on its ear.” The film holds a 90% rating among Rotten Tomatoes audiences.
10. When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
> Starring: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher
> Runtime: 95 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, Vudu, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, Showtime Amazon Channel, FandangoNOW, HBO Max
Rob Reiner directed and Nora Ephron wrote one of the ’80s’ more quotable films that star Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as friends who become lovers. Kate Muir of The Times (U.K.) said of the film, “Quite possibly the greatest romantic comedy since ‘Some Like It Hot.'” “When Harry Met Sally⦔ has a Freshness rating of 90% among Rotten Tomatoes critics, and an 89% rating among audiences. IMDb users gave the film a 7.6 rating of 10.
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9. The Music Man (1962)
> Starring: Robert Preston, Shirley Jones, Buddy Hackett
> Runtime: 151 min
> Rating: G
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, Vudu, YouTube, Amazon Video, DIRECTV, Microsoft Store, Redbox
This rousing Broadway musical brought to the big screen won an Oscar (Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment, Ray Heindorf). It stars Robert Preston as the amiable con man out to steal money from an Iowa town while romancing the town librarian (Shirley Jones). The film is best remembered for its finale “76 Trombones” featuring a marching band. The movie holds a 94% Freshness score on Rotten Tomatoes, and 85% of audiences liked the musical.
8. The Quiet Man (1952)
> Starring: John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald
> Runtime: 129 min
> Rating: G
> Available on: Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, Vudu, YouTube, Apple iTunes, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, Pluto TV, Microsoft Store
Director John Ford’s valentine to his ancestral Irish home won him his fourth and final Academy Award. The movie, about a retired American boxer who finds love with a high-spirited redhead in the village where he was born, stars John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. “The Quiet Man” holds a Freshness rating of 90% among Rotten Tomatoes critics, and 91% among adoring audiences.
7. Groundhog Day (1993)
> Starring: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott
> Runtime: 101 min
> Rating: PG
> Available on: Vudu, Apple iTunes, Microsoft Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, Showtime Amazon Channel, Netflix, Redbox, Hoopla, FandangoNOW
“Groundhog Day” was the perfect comedy vehicle for Bill Murray. The “Saturday Night Live” alum played a cynical weatherman covering Groundhog Day for a local television station. He finds himself reliving the same day over and over, and in the process rediscovers his humanity. Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes calls “Groundhog Day” “Smart, sweet, and inventive.” Critics gave the film a Freshness score of 96%, and 88% of audiences liked the movie. More than 564,000 IMDb users gave the film a ranking of 8.0 out of 10.
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6. The Artist (2011)
> Starring: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman
> Runtime: 100 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Available on: Vudu, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, DIRECTV, FlixFling, Redbox, FandangoNOW, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
Michel Hazanavicius directed and wrote this homage to silent movies about the tumbling fortunes of a silent screen actor and the rising to stardom of a young actress at the dawn of talking movies who develop a relationship. “The Artist” was only the second silent film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. (“Wings” was the first silent film to win Best Picture.) Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes says the movie is “a clever, joyous film with delightful performances and visual style to spare.” Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave the movie a Freshness score of 95%, and 87% of audiences liked the movie. More than 225,000 IMDb users gave the film a ranking of 7.9 out of 10.
5. La La Land (2016)
> Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Rosemarie DeWitt
> Runtime: 128 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Available on: Vudu, Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, YouTube, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, USA Network, FandangoNOW, HBO Go, HBO Now Amazon Channel, HBO Now, HBO Max
The recipient of six Oscars — it was nominated for a total of 14 — 2016’s “La La Land” was a huge critical success. The modern musical about the romance between a pianist (Ryan Gosling) and an actor (Emma Stone) currently has a Freshness rating of 91% and a rating of 8.0 out of 10 on IMDb.
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4. Roman Holiday (1953)
> Starring: Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, Eddie Albert
> Runtime: 118 min
> Rating: G
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, Vudu, Starz Play Amazon Channel, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, FlixFling, Microsoft Store, Popcornflix, Crackle, Amazon Prime Video, Redbox, FandangoNOW, CBS All Access Amazon Channel, Pluto TV
Audrey Hepburn shimmered in her American screen debut as a bored and sheltered heiress who falls in love with an American newsman (Gregory Peck) in Rome. Hepburn took the Best Actress Academy Award, one of three Oscars won by the Willam Wyler-helmed film. “Roman Holiday” has a 98% Freshness rating among Rotten Tomatoes critics, and 93% of audiences liked the movie, and it has a rating of 8.0 out of 10 among IMDb users.
3. Annie Hall (1977)
> Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts
> Runtime: 93 min
> Rating: PG
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Amazon Video, YouTube, Google Play Movies, HBO Now Amazon Channel, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Microsoft Store, Redbox, FandangoNOW, Starz Play Amazon Channel, Starz
“Annie Hall” was a breakthrough triumph for director Woody Allen. The somewhat autobiographical film about a neurotic television writer’s relationship with an aspiring actor/singer won four Oscars. Kathleen Carroll of the New York Daily News said in 1977 that the film was “by far, his most sophisticated, most emotionally complex film.” The film holds a 98% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and 92% of audiences liked “Annie Hall.”
2. Some Like It Hot (1959)
> Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon
> Runtime: 121 min
> Rating: Not rated
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, AMC on Demand, Redbox, FandangoNOW, TCM
“Some Like It Hot” topped a BBC Culture poll in 2017 as the funniest movie of all time. Maybe it’s because stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon spend much of the movie in drag, as members of an all-female band trying to elude mobsters. Or maybe it’s because of Curtis’ over-the-top imitation of Cary Grant as a lonely millionaire seeking love. Critics appreciated the genius of Billy Wilder by giving the film a 95% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with 94% of audiences liking the movie. It has an 8.2 rating out of 10 among nearly 235,000 IMDb users.
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1. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
> Starring: Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds
> Runtime: 103 min
> Rating: Not rated
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Vudu, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW, HBO Max
Produced by MGM during Hollywood’s big studio golden age, “Singin’ in the Rain,” considered to be one of the greatest movie musicals of all time, featured a romance between Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. The film was nominated for two Oscars in 1953, including Best Musical Score, which ultimately was awarded to Alfred Newman’s scoring of the movie “With a Song in My Heart.” Critics Consensus called the movie, “Clever, incisive, and funny” and “a masterpiece of the classical Hollywood musical.” The movie holds an exceptional 100% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with 95% of audiences liking the movie. It has a similarly high 8.3 rating out of 10 among about 210,000 IMDb users.
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